Life Bible Institute receives its accreditation through the Christian Life School of Theology Global. CLST Global has met the requirements for exemption from applicable Georgia law as a religious institution under the provision of the Post-Secondary Educational Authorization Act, Georgia Code 20-3-100 et seq. As a result, CLST Global awards a variety of Ministry Certificates, Diplomas and Degrees ranging from an Associate of Theology to a Doctor of Theology.

CLST Global is a member of the International Association of Bible Colleges and Seminaries. The IABCS is a standards-based certification association registered as an accreditation body. The IABCS provides certification that CLST Global adheres to standardized operating requirements in keeping with, and acceptable to, other institutions of higher education. Membership allows CLST Global to maintain its evangelical integrity, while operating according to the highest academic standards. You can view additional information about IABCS here. Make this a link for www.iabcs.org

CLST Global is a member of the Academic Council for Educational Accountability (formerly known as the Apostolic Council for Educational Accountability). ACEA was founded to provide academic credibility through accountability and association. ACEA is a network of Christian education and Christian training programs and schools. Information about ACEA is available here.

CLST Global is a member of the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) and is approved by ACSI to issue Continuing Education Units (CEU) to CLST Global students and to students at CLEN member schools such as Life Bible Institute. This means that CLST Global courses are recognized by many Christian schools for meeting their teachers’ continuing education requirements. ACSI is the largest provider of programs and services to Christian schools in the world and serves thousands of pre-school, elementary, and secondary institutions. More information about ACSI can be obtained from their website here.

Christian Life School of Theology Global is known worldwide for its excellence as a School of Theology. Their faculty, graduates, and students are, and are becoming, apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers preparing God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up … (Ephesians 4:11-12). At Life Bible Institute this is our heart as well and the main thrust of our educational outreach.

Existing and potential students often contact LBI asking about its accreditation. What they often mean, however, is whether or not LBI completion units are transferable. There is a difference with an entity that abides by a set of standards: i.e. accreditation, and transferability of completed course work.

Students from CLEN schools such as LBI have successfully transferred completion units to many schools around the country, either by means of an assessment of prior learning or a specific articulation agreement. Every transfer, however, is at the full discretion of the receiving school. They decide if and how completion units will contribute to the goal(s) of their program.

It is important to remember that LBI completion units represent theological training and ministerial preparation. Not all schools are theologically friendly. A college of business, nursing, or education may not find that theological coursework will complement or transfer into their program. For this reason, it is very important that students begin with the end in mind. However, Christian universities often have a required “Bible core” for all majors. LBI completion units may transfer into that “core.”

For a list of accredited colleges and universities that have an articulation agreement with Life Bible Institute through our partnership with CLEN and CLST Global, please contact us.

Active students who have completed courses in educational venues other than LBI and/or have previous ministerial experience may receive recognition for their work. This requires the submission of transcripts, certificates, diplomas and/or a ministerial resume to our office for evaluation. The completion units awarded through this procedure are used to help determine the level of placement of the student.

There is a fee for completion units awarded for ministerial experience and unaccredited theological education. We encourage you to take time to submit all transcripts and, if applicable, any ministerial experience in your request for evaluation. You will need to follow all directions on the form we give you in order to receive the best evaluation possible.

The Academic Dean follows these general guidelines in awarding completion units for prior learning:

• Individuals must be active students before requesting an evaluation of work for which they hope to receive recognition.
• Units awarded are officially applied to a student’s transcript only upon completion of the residency requirement of five courses (15 units) and payment of applicable fees unless other agreements have been officially entered into by LBI.
• Students are responsible to gather all transcripts, resumes, certificates, diplomas, etc., for submission to the LBI Office.
• Although the number of completion units awarded may be limited by the number of years of experience documented, the review of material submitted will be concerned primarily with the skills, knowledge, and abilities gained rather than on the length of experience.

Students may Request an additional Evaluation of Prior Learning before beginning a new degree program.

Students having earned college credit or degrees from accredited institutions in fields other than theology may receive up to sixty (60) units for this work. This placement is determined by the evaluation of transcripts submitted by the requesting student and endorsed by our Academic Dean. Courses must have a GPA of 2.0 or more (C). Grades of D or below will not be accepted.

Students having earned college credit in theology courses from accredited institutions may receive full or partial recognition for their work. This placement is determined by the evaluation of transcripts submitted by the requesting student and endorsed by the Dean of LBI. Courses must have a GPA of 2.0 (C) or higher. Grades of D or below will not be accepted.

Units are not awarded for this work.

Students will attach a transcript for each school or class attended. The successful completion of courses will be counted toward Advance Standing. A fee/unit will be charged.

Ministerial experience completion units may be awarded to applicants, especially licensed and ordained ministers. Ministerial experience is recognized up to a maximum award of sixty (60) units for full-time ordained ministers and licensed ministers and eighteen (18) units for lay ministers. Evaluation requests must specify whether ministrial work is full-time or part-time. Copies of licenses and/or ordination certificates must be submitted.

Units awarded as Advanced Standing help place the student in an advanced level of his/her program of study. Awarded units will not be applied until all applicable fees are paid, and the student completes 15 units of course work to establish residency. From this point, LBI adds the awarded units for prior learning, and the student works forward to the next higher level of study. If a degree point has been reached or passed, the student may apply for the award of the appropriate degree.