The Adventist University of Africa (AUA) is accredited by the Government of the Republic of Kenya through its Commission for University Education (CUE) in accordance with the Kenya Universities Act of 2012. A Letter of Interim Authority (LIA) to establish a private university based in Kenya was granted on May 9, 2008. The University was granted a charter by the Government of Kenya on March 4, 2013, enabling AUA to be autonomous and to confer accredited degrees.

AUA is also accredited by the Adventist Accrediting Association of Seventh-day Adventist Colleges and Universities (AAA), which is the denominational accrediting authority for all tertiary and postgraduate educational programs and institutions owned by the Church. Regular AAA visits focus on the quality of the programmes offered and the implementation of the Seventh-day Adventist philosophy of education.