Although it is unaccredited[1] by the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland, it's Honors Bachelors and Masters level courses in Applied Theology and Transformational Leadership are validated by York St John University,[2] and so confirms to the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education of England and Wales regulations.

The Irish Bible School was founded in 1982 in Coalbrook, County Tipperary, by the Reverend Warren Nelson,[4] a Church of Ireland minister.

[citation needed] The School of Biblical Christianity (SBC) was founded in 1992 to offer evening classes to Bible students in the Dublin area.

Based at the Grace Bible Fellowship, Pearse Street, where Jacob Reynolds was pastor, in 1998 SBC came to be known as the Leadership Institute, after their main programme.

The IBI secured new validation from York St John University, School of Humanities, in 2014, which was renewed in 2017 for another six years.