Of course, every Theological Seminary was unknown when it first began, and it usually requires years of consistent performance to build a good reputation. Christian educational institutions need all the credibility that they can get, but it's usually difficult to become nationally known. But with some outside assistance you can become more widely know faster.

In the commercial world of today, consumers have learned that all is not what it appears to be so "buyer beware." Likewise, if a student is going to expend time, effort, and money to obtain a degree, it is particularly important to know of the legitimacy, integrity, and prestige of the institution from which it comes. And how can a prospective student know if the school he is considering is of good quality or not? Well, they realize that an outside viewpoint is more likely to be objective. So, an accrediting agency is a kind of consumer protection agency in the field of education to ensure as far as possible that a school is what it says it is and does what it says it does.

So the first question in the mind of an informed prospective student is, "Is your school accredited, and by whom?"

All other things being equal, a smart prospective student would definitely prefer an accredited school over an unaccredited one. Accreditation also assures other schools, agencies, and organizations that you school:

• Has appropriately and clearly defined objectives,
  
• That you offer valid programs and meet with acceptable standards in the world of education.
  
• That what you promise, you deliver.

Schools are not legally required to become accredited, but it is a very desirable standing. Accredited status means a school has voluntarily undergone a comprehensive examination to determine that it operates at a worthy level of performance.

• There as secular education and there is religious education.

• Secular schools seek secular education, and sacred schools receive sacred accreditation—each by their own peers.

• Religious institutions need no secular accreditation because they offer no secular degrees.

• Secular accreditation associations in turn are recognized by governmental agencies. They trace their authority back to the capitol of a country, like Washington, D.C.

• Religious accrediting associations are recognized by the Church of Jesus Christ, which has no supreme central office on earth. Our authority is derived directly from Heaven.

• Civil and religious interests are different and have separate realms of jurisdiction.

• The State is not superior to the Church. The Church need not wait for approval from the secular world.

• Civil agencies should not be dictating standards of Christian education, any more than a police officer should be directing the worship of God.

• Theological Seminaries should not be accredited by accrediting associations that are "recognized" by an agency of the federal government, because it is contrary to the Biblical principle of "Separation of Church and State," indicated by Christ when He said, "...Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's..." (Mark 12:17).

• What business does a Christian educator have going to the world of unbelievers for recognition and acknowledgement when 2 Corinthians 6:14 clearly tells us, "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?"

• A Christian educational institution securing accreditation from an association which is attached to a governmental agency is a Scripturally condemned and unholy union as James 4:4 says, "Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God?"

It is highly unethical for a Bible Institute to accredit itself. It is like a minister ordaining himself. But such worthless self-accreditation is exactly what most degree mills do. They try to conceal the fact that their so-called school and so-called accrediting association is at the same place by offering no address for the accrediting association, which is why some accrediting associations are unlocatable.

But the W.W.A.C. has nothing to hide because we know where we stand with God and with man. We also know that we can't please everyone, but we are not afraid of honest questions and reasonable requests. All of our member schools are welcomed and encouraged to list our name and address in their catalogs and bulletins. And you may rest assured, that when called upon to verify your accreditation with us, we shall render ample support.

• Upgrade standards of scholarship among evangelical educational institutions.
  
• To award certificates of accreditation to deserving schools.
  
• To continue to monitor compliance with set standards.

The W.W.A.C. is part of the Full Gospel of Christ Fellowship, Inc. The Board of Directors of the F.G.C.F.I. has formally announced its full recognition, endorsement, and approval of the W.W.A.C.

The W.W.A.C. holds itself accountable to God, the Church, the laws of the land, and the general public. We are non-governmentally connected and we do not engage in partisan political activities. Unlike regional accrediting associations which are limited to one area, we were established as a multi-national association of Christian Educational Institutions.

1. There should be a legal instrument or formal document creating and naming your educational institution.

2. It should state your purpose and clearly define your educational objectives.

3. You should have a Board of Directors, who have agreed to serve on it (usually three to nine in number).

4. All officers and faculty of your school must exemplify good Christian character. Immoral or unbecoming conduct by a staff or personal must not be tolerated.

5. If you are going to confer academic degree, you should check with your state's Higher Education Coordinating Board to obtain religious exemption. Most states do not charge a fee for this.

6. You must be totally honest in your school advertisements, catalogs, etc. All promotional literature must be truthful.

7. All full-time instructors should possess an earned degree.

8. Faculty to student ratio must reflect a realistic work load, so teachers can provide sufficient care and encouragement to individual students.

9. Admission policies must be in accordance with federal anti-discrimination laws (i.e., students must not be excluded from any educational program on the grounds of race, color, or national origin).

10. Institutions must provide students with a catalog, bulletin, or information sheet describing its curriculum, certificates, and fees. The literature should also not mislead the reader into believing that the accreditation from the W.W.A.C. is connected in anyway with any governmental agency.

11. All degree candidates should hold a high school diploma, a G.E.D., or the equivalent.

12. All schools must be in general harmony with fundamental Christian teachings.

13. On campus colleges must provide adequate classroom facilities to accommodate student needs. They should be safe and conducive for learning.

14. Schools should require a minimum of one year to the equivalent for each level of their certificates.

15. Students must be advised of all fees, tuition, and refund policies prior to admission.

16. There should be sufficient office space to maintain files and student records. Students shall have access to their own transcripts.

17. Christian schools must understand their vital relationship with local Churches; inasmuch "...as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it..." (Ephesians 5:25).

18. Schools should be able to demonstrate a satisfactory period of ethical operation.

We accredit Christian schools on both the undergraduate and graduate levels—both colleges with campuses and colleges without campuses. But none of our Christian educational institutions offer any secular programs or degree.

The W.W.A.C. is whole-heartedly dedicated to foreign missions and especially happy to include colleges and universities located overseas, provided they communicate with us in English.

Some of our schools started out as modest as a weekly class for local students in a storefront building. And we included some small special interest institutions who have elected non-traditional methods of instruction delivery such as audio and video tapes, and the popular correspondence courses.

We have representatives in many cities of the U.S.A. that could visit your school to acquire this first-hand knowledge for evaluation, although in some places, especially overseas, this must be handled by special evaluation reports. It is unnecessary to insist upon expensive on-site inspections in some cases because of the high degree of mutual respect and trust between the W.W.A.C. and our member schools.

1. APPLICANT or PROVINCIAL STATUS: This means that a school has submitted an application with the fee, and we have acknowledged that the school is in existence.

2. ASSOCIATE or CANDIDATE STATUS: The interval between our examining your application and your receiving a Certificate of Accreditation. It may mean that you are working to meet a certain requirement to rise up to our standards or it might mean that you are awaiting an on-site visit and report approval, or that we are in the process of verifying the special evaluation reports. Hopefully this will be a relatively short period of time.

3. FULLY ACCREDITED MEMBER STATUS: This means that the on-site visit report has been approved, or the special evaluation reports have been verified and accepted, and that the W.W.A.C. has concluded that you have met or exceeded the minimum standards set, and that your school have been awarded the Certificate of Accreditation.

Each member institution id also required to submit an annual report on the form provided by the W.W.A.C. at the time.