Many students are concerned about accreditation, and rightly so. Accreditation is one way for prospective students to know that a school and the programs which is offers have been recognized be an association higher than itself. Unfortunately, misunderstandings have misled some students. Many are confused as to what accreditation is. In this section we at New Life Bible School want to explain what accreditation actually is so that you, the student, will be more informed concerning your educational choices. Whether you choose to study NLBS or not, we hope that this information will serve you as you research and find the program that God has for you.
Basically, accreditation is a way by which educational institutions determine the acceptance of credits of degrees. There are two main forms of accreditation-Independent and Regional. Because the purpose of accreditation is to provide a way for educational facilities to determine the acceptance of credits and degrees, and because all accreditation is purely voluntary, many institutions who choose not conform to governmental restrictions, but do wish to provide high quality education choose some form of independent accreditation.
New Life Bible School is a educational facility that has declined seeking regional (Governmental) accreditation based on the desire to teach the whole Word of God. We will not compromise the Biblical message and therfore do not seek the approval of government recognized accreditation. However, we do want to provide our students with exceptional study opportunities, course material. For this reason, NLBS has established a partnership with Minnesota Graduate School of Theology as an associate school. MGST will receive all courses offered at New Life Bible School. Minnesota Graduate School is accredited with Accrediting Commission International, it is the largest independent accrediting commission in the world.
We chose Independent accreditation for the following reasons:
1) Independent accreditation enables us to discharge the call of God on this ministry without obligatory liberal academic impositions and state or governmental direction that normally accompanies other accreditation.
2) Most independent academic institutions choose governmental or regional accreditation so they can qualify for state and government funding. This also means high tuition costs for their students. Having no need for this kind of funding, NLBS is able to pass on the savings to our students through our low-tuition programs.
3) Because of the global nature of our institution, neither governmental nor state accreditation can provide the necessary authority that ACI afford us.
New Life Bible School offers academic programs that are specifically designed to equip students who feel the call of God on their life and wish to build a ministerial career or to further their Christian education.
Individuals seeking employment in government-licensed positions such as public school teachers, state-licensed psychologists or psychiatrists, and non church-related counselors definitely need government-recognized accredited degrees. Generally, people working in ministry positions do not need a government-accredited degree. In fact, a number of churches take a stand against the Church voluntarily placing itself under government regulations.