Association of Independent Christian Colleges & Seminaries

Accreditation is quality control, designed for consumer protection. It is a collegial process based on self and peer assessment for improvement of academic quality and public accountability. It provides an external, third-party evaluation of the level of a school’s ethical standards, financial integrity, and academic credibility. The accrediting process requires institutions to examine their goals, operations, and achievements, followed by the expert criticism and recommendations of a visiting team of professional examiners, and later by the official vote of the accrediting board.

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Association of Independent Christian Colleges and Seminaries (AICCS) is an independent not-for-profit corporation chartered as an accrediting agency for small Bible colleges and specialized Christian schools, institutes and seminaries. It is dedicated to assisting those institutions of Christian higher education in achieving a quality, non-regional accreditation, characterized by academic excellence and ethical practices.

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Because of the AICCS Board of Directors’ convictions in support of religious freedom, Christian liberty, and the separation of church and state, AICCS has never applied for affiliation with any federal government agency. AICCS, therefore, is not recognized by the United States Department of Education. Credits earned at any AICCS-accredited institution are accepted by all other AICCS schools, but these credits are not automatically transferable to other colleges or seminaries.

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Persons whose professional or career goals require certification by a state or federal government agency should check in advance to determine whether a degree from an AICCS-accredited school would be acceptable. Individuals needing to earn a regionally accredited degree in one of the disciplines offered by an AICCS-accredited institution may wish to investigate comparable programs offered at more traditional on-campus colleges currently accredited by a regional association recognized by the United States Department of Education.