Definitions

Members - Those institutions that hold accredited and candidate status.

• Accredited Status: Those institutions that substantially meet or exceed the Standards of the Association and give evidence of continual striving toward excellence.
• Candidate Status: A pre-accredited status granted to those institutions that show promise of achieving accreditation within four (4) years. 

Applicants - a pre-membership status granted to those institutions that meet the Association’s Conditions of Eligibility and that possess such qualities as might provide a basis for achieving candidate status within four (4) years.

Affiliates - Affiliate status is available to credible institutions of biblical higher education who presently lack either readiness or inclination to seek accreditation but who seek the benefits of ready access to ABHE services, resources, and networking.  Affiliation with the Association is not to be confused with the accreditation process.

Further information regarding the accreditation process is available under "Accreditation."  An overview of  "Affiliate Status" with ABHE is under "Services."