Accreditation
Statement of Accreditation
Turner Theological Seminary is authorized by the Georgia Nonpublic postsecondary education commission to offer degrees in theology, divinity, religious education and ministerial training under Georgia statutes that exempt religious colleges and seminaries. Turner currently only offers a hybrid master's program to Georgia residents. Continuing education, non-degree certificate programs are offered to nonresidents and international students online.
See Degree and Certificate Programs for further information.
Turner Theological Seminary is a member of the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS) [15935 Forest Road, Forest, VA 24551; Telephone: (434) 525-9539; e-mail: info@tracs.org, having been awarded Candidacy as a Category III institution by the TRACS Accreditation Commission on October 22, 2025. This status is effective as of July 1, 2025, and is good through June 30, 2030. TRACS is recognized by the United States Department of Education (ED), the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), and the International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE).
Turner Theological Seminary (TTS) is currently seeking application for accreditation with the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) showcasing commitment to academic excellence and independence.
Overview of our Faith and Historical Journey & Milestones
Turner Theological Seminary (TTS) has embarked on a significant path toward independent accreditation, marking a pivotal chapter in our institutional history.
Separation from ITC Consortium March 2024: TTS formally notified the Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC) of its intent to pursue independent accreditation.
TRACS Application Journey
1. TRACS accreditation process began on April 26, 2023. December 2023: Hired TRACS Consultant
2. June 2024: TTS submitted its initial application to the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS).
3. Feedback and Revisions
August 2024: Feedback from TRACS highlighted areas requiring revision.
November 2024: TTS addressed the concerns and resubmitted the application, which was subsequently approved. Turner Theological Seminary is now an approved applicate with Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS).
December 2024: Application Approved
4. TRACS Self-Study Process for Candidacy
November 2024: Comprehensive self-study in progress.
January 9, 2025: TRACS granted approval for Self-Study Proposal.
May 2025: Submit Self-Study Report
June 2025: Self-Study Report Approved
5. TRACS Site Visit:
July 28 - August 1, 2025: TRACS evaluation team scheduled for an onsite visit.
September 2025: Submit final report to TRACS
6. TRACS Candidacy Approval
October 22, 2025: The TRACS Accreditation Commission voted to grant Turner Theological Seminary (TTS) Candidate status as a Category III institution approved to offer the following educational program: • Master of Divinity (72 semester credit hours)
7. TRACS Self-Study Process for Full-Accreditation
November and December 2025: Comprehensive self-study in progress.
SACSCOC Accreditation Journey
1. January 2025: Hired SACSCOC Consultants
2. August 2025: Submitted application to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
3. November 2025: Candidacy Committee Authorized for Site Visit.
4. Candidacy Status: Pending Candidacy Committee affirmation of designated Core Requirements and Standards of the Principles of Accreditation.
ATS Accreditation Journey
1. November 2024: Hired ATS Consultant
2. August 2025: Submitted application to the Association of Theological Schools (ATS).
3. October 1, 2025: ATS Application Approved.
4. November 18, 2025: ATS Site Visit. Received recommendation fpr ATS Board of Directors tp review application and site visit report.
5. April 2026: ATS Board of Directors Review Application & Staff Visit Report
6. June 2026: ATS Biennial Meeting for Membership Recommendation
The Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS)
TRACS was founded in 1979 as a voluntary, non-profit, self-governing organization to promote the welfare, interests, and development of postsecondary institutions whose mission is characterized by a distinctly Christian purpose, as defined in the agency’s Foundational Standards.
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TRACS is recognized by both the United States Department of Education (DE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) as a national institutional accrediting agency for Christian post-secondary institutions, colleges, universities, and seminaries.
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TRACS is a member of the International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE). INQAAHE is a worldwide association of over 200 organizations active in the theory and practice of quality assurance in higher education.
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TRACS is also a member of the American Council on Education (ACE). ACE has over 1,700 organizations that collectively promote, protect and advocate for students, faculty, and administrators in higher education. ACE is the most visible and influential higher education association in the nation and is at the center of federal policy debates concerning issues related to higher education legislation across the country.
Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS)
15935 Forest Road, Forest, VA 24551
(434) 525-9539 | email: info@tracs.org
The Southern Association of Colleges and
Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) is an institutional accreditor for quality assurance in higher education. SACSCOC accredits institutions that award associate, baccalaureate, master’s, or doctoral degrees, including those offered via distance and correspondence education, and direct assessment within these institutions. It serves as the common denominator of shared values and practices among its members in the United States and international institutions of higher education approved by the SACSCOC Executive Council, Board of Trustees, and the Appeals Committee of the College Delegate Assembly.
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
1866 Southern Lane,
Decatur, GA 30033
404.679.4500 | email: questions@sacscoc.org
The Association of Theological Schools (ATS)
Membership in The Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS) is open to schools in North America that offer graduate professional theological degrees, are demonstrably engaged in educating professional leadership (i.e., offering at least one professional graduate degree) f1or communities of the Christian or Jewish faiths, and meet the Association’s membership eligibility criteria. Current ATS member schools reflect a broad spectrum of doctrinal, confessional, and theological perspectives.
Since 1936, the ATS Commission on Accrediting has maintained standards for its member schools, developed and approved by the membership—always with a focus on how those standards can help member schools improve in educational quality for the sake of their students.
About ATS
More than 270 graduate schools of theology in the United States and Canada form The Association of Theological Schools. Member schools conduct post-baccalaureate professional and academic degree programs to educate persons for the practice of ministry and for teaching and research in the theological disciplines. These schools differ from one another in deep and significant ways but, through their membership in ATS, they demonstrate a commitment to shared values about what constitutes good theological education.
One Mission: To promote the improvement and enhancement of theological schools to the benefit of communities of faith and the broader public.
One Vision: To foster and support innovation in theological schools and to strengthen the Association's 100-year legacy of quality theological education.
The Association of Theological Schools (ATS)
10 Summit Park Drive
Pittsburgh PA 15275-1110
(412) 788-6505 | email: communications@ats.edu