What Is Accreditation Candidacy?

What accreditation candidacy means

Accreditation candidacy is a formal status awarded to an institution that has passed an initial eligibility review and demonstrated the potential to meet ITAA standards but has not yet achieved full accreditation. Candidacy indicates the institution has supplied core governance, financial, academic and operational information sufficient for ITAA to accept it into a structured evaluation pathway.

Candidacy is not full accreditation, does not grant statutory degree-awarding powers, and does not replace any governmental registration, licence, or regulatory approval the institution may require. Institutions and students should treat candidacy as a developmental phase aimed at preparing the organisation for a final accreditation decision. (See ITAA locked statements: "ITAA is a private theological accreditation agency.")

Purpose and typical activities during candidacy

The candidacy period focuses on institutional improvement and documentary verification. Typical activities include:

• Completing a comprehensive self-assessment against ITAA Standards.
• Developing or strengthening policies for governance, academic quality, assessment, and learner support.
• Submitting required documentary evidence (catalogues, staff CVs, curriculum maps, financial statements) for review.
• Participating in targeted mentoring, site visits, or remote verification activities as arranged by ITAA.
• Resolving any gaps identified in the initial review to demonstrate sustained compliance.

The goal is to produce auditable, consistently applied systems so the institution can proceed to a full accreditation decision.

Duration and timelines

Candidacy timelines vary by institution size, complexity, and existing systems. Typical candidacy periods range from several months to two years. ITAA sets specific interim deadlines and milestones for report submission, evidence provision, and verification activities. Institutions should consult their formal candidacy letter for exact dates and requirements.

Failure to meet milestones may delay progress or result in suspension of candidacy. Institutions remain responsible for maintaining accurate public information about their status at all times.

What candidacy does and does not guarantee

During candidacy, ITAA provides evaluative oversight, feedback, and guidance toward meeting ITAA Standards. Candidacy signals that an institution is within an ITAA evaluation pathway and that ITAA recognises the institution for review purposes.

However, candidacy does NOT:

• Confer governmental recognition or statutory degree-awarding powers. (Locked: "ITAA does not grant statutory degree-awarding powers.")
• Replace licensing, registration, or other legal obligations an institution holds in its jurisdiction. (Locked: "ITAA accreditation never overrides local law.")
• Guarantee a positive final accreditation decision; final accreditation follows satisfactory completion of all evaluation requirements.

Responsibilities of institutions during candidacy

Institutions holding candidacy must:

• Maintain truthful public statements about their accreditation status and progress.
• Comply with all applicable national, state/provincial and local laws and hold any licences or registrations required to operate and to issue qualifications. (Locked: "Institutions remain solely responsible for compliance with all applicable national, state or provincial, regional, and local laws.")
• Submit required documentation and respond to ITAA requests within agreed timelines.
• Implement corrective actions and quality-improvement plans identified during reviews.
• Notify ITAA promptly of significant institutional changes (ownership, governance, campus closures, major programme changes).

Non-compliance, misrepresentation, or failure to address required corrective actions can lead to suspension or withdrawal of candidacy.

How students and stakeholders should interpret candidacy

Students, employers and partners should view candidacy as evidence that an institution is undertaking a recognised quality-assurance process with ITAA toward full accreditation. Candidacy indicates progress on governance and quality systems but is not equivalent to final accreditation or to governmental recognition. Prospective students should verify the institution’s current accreditation status on ITAA’s verification services and confirm any statutory recognition needed for employment, licensure, or credit transfer in their jurisdiction.