Oh, the places you’ll go with a college degree. With that diploma in hand, the possibilities seem limitless. But the reality is that once you’ve earned that certificate or degree, your career options largely depend on the type of accreditation your college has been granted. Just like you can’t start practicing medicine with a paralegal degree, you can’t pursue a career in welding without proper accreditation to back up your credentials.

If you’re worried about whether an employer will accept a degree from an online university, you can rest assured that employers will be happy to take you on board—just as long as your school is accredited by the U.S. Department of Education. Remember that not all colleges and universities are created equal! Before signing up for classes, be sure to check that your school will help you meet your career goals. If you are interested in learning for the sake of learning, taking a course at a non-accredited school is a fine option. But if your ultimate goal is to get a good job or transfer to another school, it is important that you choose a college that is accredited.

Here are the criteria that you can use to make the choice that is right for you (and help you land you a great job!):

1) If your school is accredited by the proper regional agency, your degree will be accepted anywhere. Regional accreditation is the most widely accepted type of certification. If you want your degree to be universally recognized, make sure that you check out your school’s credentials before enrolling. With a regional accreditation diploma:

• all employers will accept your degree
• most schools will accept transfer credits
• your degree will be equivalent to any other degree at a “traditional” college

The school should be accepted by one of the six agencies:

Middle States Commission on Higher Education – Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands

New England Association of Colleges and Schools – Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont

North Central Association of Colleges and Schools – Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

Northwest Association of Accredited Schools – Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools – Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia

Western Association of Schools and Colleges – California, Hawaii, the Pacific Basin

2) If your school is accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council, your degree will be accepted by some and rejected by others

The Distance Education and Training Council (DETC) is the largest accrediting agency that focuses solely on online colleges. With a degree from a DETC school:

• the majority of employers accept online degrees
• most traditional schools will accept your degree. In a 2001 study, two out of three DETC students who tried to transfer credits to other colleges were successful. That number is only expected to grow!

3) If your school or college is accredited by a professional organization, your degree will be accepted by the people in that profession

• Employers in your field will accept your degree
• Depending on the type of professional organization and your school, some traditional colleges will accept your transfer credits

4) If your school is not accredited by an agency, your degree will not be accepted by employers and universities

• Traditional colleges and universities won’t accept your transfer credits
• The majority of employers will view your degree as invalid
• But don’t let a non-accredited school stop you from furthering your education! If you want to learn for the sake of learning, by all means, take any and every type of class!

Proper accreditation can mean the difference between a degree that gets you a job and a degree that isn’t worth more than the ink that is used to print it. Why is accreditation so important? Well, anyone can hand out a fake diploma. If your school has the proper credentials, you can be sure that your diploma will definitely count!

So, in a nutshell, you should remember that:

• Regional accreditation is your best bet
• DETC may not be accepted at every college or business
• Any other type of accreditation may not be recognized

The moral of the story is to do your research before handing over your tuition check! Best of luck in the college search!