If you are thinking about furthering your education by enrolling in online degree programs, it is important to find a credible school that offers accredited online degrees. This will ensure that employers recognize your qualifications. Other schools will also recognize your qualifications in case you need to transfer credits or take advanced courses for a master’s degree or a Ph.D. Having accredited online degrees will spare you the effort of retaking courses to meet the standards of your new school.
One of the best ways to make sure that you get an accredited online degree is by checking to see if the online college has been certified by the Distance Education Training Council (DETC). The Council has existed since 1955 and that assure correspondence schools provide accredited degrees.
The advantage of using schools that offer accredited online degrees approved by the Council is that these certifications are recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. These two organizations recognize the DETC as a legitimate accreditation institution because the Council scrutinizes schools that provide long-distance education thoroughly and make sure they meet the requirements to provide a quality degree.
If you are planning to transfer credits from an accredited online degree to a regionally accredited school, chances are high that the regional school will allow the transfer. Most regional schools recognize accredited online degrees that have been approved by the DETC. Some regional schools are hesitant to recognize even accredited online degrees, but with time, this is poised to change as attitudes about distance learning evolve.
The key is to carry out adequate research and identify schools that will accept credits transferred from an online program. Then get in touch with the school and find out what their transfer policy is. You are bound to get many schools that are able to accept your credentials.
Some schools have declared that they will take any students who have accredited online degrees. For instance, schools under the Higher Education Transfer Alliance reached an agreement that they would take students who have accredited online degrees approved by the Council and the other accrediting groups. The credits are fully recognized and unconditionally accepted, enabling you to continue with your education.
This means that before you enroll for any online or distance learning degrees, make sure to first check whether it offers accredited online degrees that are approved by legitimate accreditation bodies. This will spare you the heartache of discovering that your degree is not recognized in the job market or by other educational institutions.
