Fees & Membership

Overview

The International Theological Accreditation Association (ITAA) provides independent theological accreditation intended to protect students and encourage transparent, high-quality theological education. ITAA is a private theological accreditation agency.

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW FREE — As of June 2026, ITAA no longer charges a non-refundable application fee.

Fee model and what you pay

ITAA operates a single-institution licence model: accreditation is granted to the institution as a whole and is not charged per programme. There are no tiers, levels, or per-programme annual fees. Institutions pay:

• an initial application fee to cover documentation review and site or virtual evaluation;
• a single annual accreditation licence fee that covers the whole institution (not charged per programme); and
• separate review or change-of-status fees where an institution requests additional evaluations (for example, new campus approval or major programme additions).

We are committed to providing an affordable accreditation process while maintaining high standards. Below is a breakdown of our fees:

Application Administration Fee: 99 USD — now 0 USD.

With the implementation of new technologies that streamline registration checks, document reviews, and verification processes, as well as a sponsor who came on board to cover application fees, we no longer charge a non-refundable administration fee. The process has become significantly more efficient and less time-intensive. Once approved, only the annual accreditation fee will apply.

Annual Accreditation Fee: 249 USD.

The Annual Accreditation Fee of 249 USD becomes payable only after an institution has successfully achieved accreditation. This fee must be renewed each year to maintain active accreditation status.

Unlike CEQA’s standard accreditation model—where annual fees apply not only institutionally but also per programme (short courses, diplomas, degrees, etc.)—the ITAA Theological Accreditation Framework operates on a full institutional basis.

This means the 249 USD annual fee covers the entire institution, including all approved theological programmes, such as:

• Short courses and ministry workshops
• Certificates and diplomas
• Undergraduate and postgraduate theological degrees
• Distance-learning and online theological programmes

No additional annual fees are charged per programme; the institution is covered comprehensively under a single accreditation licence.

Institutions operating across multiple campuses are subject to the additional campus fees and eligibility requirements set out below.

Comparison with other models

Unlike CEQA’s standard accreditation model—where annual fees apply not only institutionally but also per programme (short courses, diplomas, degrees, etc.)—the ITAA Theological Accreditation Framework operates on a full institutional basis.

This means the 249 USD annual fee covers the entire institution, including all approved theological programmes, such as:

• Short courses and ministry workshops
• Certificates and diplomas
• Undergraduate and postgraduate theological degrees
• Distance-learning and online theological programmes

No additional annual fees are charged per programme; the institution is covered comprehensively under a single accreditation licence. This approach is intended to reduce administrative duplication and support comprehensive institutional development rather than per-programme billing.

Multi-Campus Accreditation Fee Structure

Many theological institutions operate across multiple campuses, centres, or ministry extensions. To support these organisations, ITAA offers a discounted multi-campus accreditation model, provided all campuses meet the eligibility requirements outlined below.

Standard Additional Campus Fee (Shared Curriculum & Governance)

If all campuses operate under the same institutional identity, including:

• identical curriculum and programme structure;
• a unified governance and quality assurance system;
• shared organisational registration, subject to any separate local registrations required by law as explained below; and
• certificates and awards issued under the same institutional name;

then the following discounted annual rates apply in addition to the institution’s annual accreditation fee:

• 20 USD per additional campus per year for the first 10 additional campuses.
• 10 USD per additional campus per year for each additional campus beyond the first 10.

This structure applies to institutions such as Horizon Bible School, which may have 13 campuses across 7 countries while maintaining the same curriculum, the same governance, and the same institutional accreditation licence.

All qualifying campuses are treated as branches of one accredited institution.

When the Discount Does Not Apply

If campuses differ in any of the following ways, they are treated as separate institutions:

• independent governance or leadership structures;
• independent quality assurance systems;
• certificates or qualifications issued under a different institutional name; or
• substantial differences in curriculum, programme structure, or institutional policies.

In such cases, each campus will be charged:

• 75 USD per campus per year; and
• applicable application fees, as these campuses require separate evaluations.

Summary of Campus Accreditation Pricing

ITAA Requirements for “One Institution – Multiple Campuses”

Even if campuses have separate local registrations required by law, ITAA looks at the institutional structure, not simply the legal registration number. All applicable registration details must nevertheless be provided during the application process and will be verified and reviewed where applicable.

To be treated as one institution, the following must be unified:

1. Unified Governance Structure

All campuses must fall under one governing authority, for example:

• One Board or Executive Council
• One Principal or President overseeing all campuses
• One Quality Assurance Director for the whole institution
• One shared management chain

This means that even if campuses are legally registered separately in different countries, they are governed from a single headquarters.

2. Shared Accreditation Identity

All campuses must:

• trade under one institutional name;
• use the same branding and institutional identity; and
• issue certificates under the same accrediting body and mother institution, even if local laws require separate company registrations.

3. Shared Curriculum & Academic Standards

All campuses must use the same:

• Curriculum and programmes
• Learning outcomes
• Assessments
• Learner support systems
• Policies and procedures
• Quality assurance framework

This is the biggest factor ITAA checks.

4. Centralised Quality Assurance System

All quality assurance must be overseen by one central system, including:

• One quality assurance manual
• One assessment policy
• One moderation system
• One certification policy
• One internal audit process

Local campuses may have administrators, but the quality assurance authority must remain central.

5. Centralised Academic Oversight

Examples include:

• One Academic Director
• One Academic Board or Council
• A shared teaching philosophy and delivery model

6. Operational Integration

Although campuses may manage local operations such as staffing, timetables, tax, and finance, they must still follow:

• One human resources policy
• One Student Handbook
• One institutional framework
• One code of conduct
• One grievance policy

7. No Independent Identity

To qualify as a branch under the shared institutional accreditation licence, a campus must:

• use the parent institution’s brand rather than its own independent brand;
• operate under the parent institution’s accreditation rather than its own independent accreditation;
• issue certificates under the parent institution’s name rather than its own independent name; and
• deliver the shared institutional curriculum rather than create its own independent curriculum.

It must operate as a branch, not an independent institution.

To begin your application, visit our Applications page to access the application form:

Access the Application Form

Membership, renewal and non-financial obligations

Membership and accreditation status require ongoing compliance with ITAA standards and timely payment of the annual licence fee. Accredited institutions must:

• maintain truthful public statements about their status and qualifications;
• notify ITAA promptly of significant institutional changes (ownership, legal status, campuses, or major programme changes);
• ensure they hold all licences, registrations, approvals or authorisations required by their national, state/provincial and local law before issuing qualifications; and
• cooperate with periodic reviews and audits as set out in ITAA standards.

Institutions remain solely responsible for compliance with all applicable national, state or provincial, regional, and local laws. Accreditation status does not replace governmental recognition where required.

Practical next steps for institutions

1. Read the Important Accreditation Information and confirm national/regional legal requirements for operating and awarding qualifications.
2. Review ITAA standards and the Process & Requirements guidance to prepare documentation.
3. Submit an application with the required documentation.