Not all degrees are equal. Once you've earned a certificate or degree, your options depend a lot on what kind of accreditationyour school was granted. Before beginning classes at any school, check to make sure the school will meet your expectations and help you achieve the goals you have set for yourself. Different people have different motivations for taking classes online. If your goal is simply to learn for your own enjoyment, then choosing a non-accredited¹ institution may be a fine option. However, if your goal is to get a better job or transfer to another school, it is essential that you choose a school that is accredited by the proper associations. Comparing the following options will help you make the choice that is right for you:

不是所有的学位都是合适的。在你取得了学位证明之后，你在工作上的选择性很大程度上是由你就读的学校被授予什么样的认可而决定的。在开始就读任何学校之前，要确保该校能够满足你的期望，能帮助你达到你为自己设立的目标。每个人选择网校的动机都不相同。如果你只是为了自己的兴趣而学的话，那么选择一个未经认可的教育机构也许是个不错的选择。但是，如果你是为了找一份更好的工作，或者以转校为目的的话，那么你就有必要选择一家获得正规机构认可的学校。遵照以下步骤可以帮助你做出适合自己的最佳选择：

1.If your school is accredited by the proper regional agency, your degree will be accepted pretty much everywhere。

如果你就读的学校是被正规的区域机构认可的合格学校，很多地方都会接受你的学位。

1)Employers will accept your degree。

雇主会接受你的学位。

2)Most schools will accept your credits through transfer。

在转校的时候大部分学校会接受你的原有学分。

3)Your degree is equivalent to a degree granted by a traditional college。

你的学位证书会与传统大学颁发的学位证书相当。

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

如果你就读的学校经过了远程教育培训机构的认证，你的学位证明会被一部分雇主接受，而另一部分雇主会拒绝你。

1)More employers are beginning to accept online degrees。

越来越多的雇主接受在线学位。

2)Some traditional colleges will accept your credits, others will not. In a 2001 study, two out of three DETC students who tried to transfer credits to another institutions were successful。

一些传统大学会接受你的学分，而另一些则不会。在2001年，三分之二的学生在不同的教学机构之间成功转换学分。

3)You may need to prove the legitimacy² of your degree to others. However, this is still a validoption。

你需要向其他人证明你的学位的合法性。这仍然是个正确的选择。

3. If your school is accredited by a professional organization (such as the American Library Association)， your degree will be honored by those in your profession。

如果你就读的学校是由专业机构认证的，你的学位在你的工作领域就能得到尊重。

1)Employers in your specific field will accept your degree。

在你的专业领域的雇主会承认你的学位。

2)Some traditional colleges will accept your credits, depending upon both the school you took them through and the professional organization。

一些传统的学校会接受你的学分，而这是由你选择的学校和认证的专业机构确定的。

3)Your degree is equivalent to degrees granted by traditional schools accredited through your professional organization。

被专业机构认证的学校提供的证书与传统学校颁发的证书相当。

4.If your school is not accredited or is accredited by an agency that is not accepted as legitimate⁴, your degree will be rejected by most employers and schools。

如果你的学校没有得到认证，或者认证机构不是合法的，你的学位证书就会被大部分雇主和学校拒绝。

1)Most employers will not view your degree as valid³. You may need to provide evidence to prove that your education is legitimate。

大部分雇主都不会承认你的学位证书的合法性。你要提供能够证明你接受的教育合法性的证明。

2)Generally speaking, traditional colleges will not accept your credits。

一般来说，传统学校不会接受你的学分。

3)In most cases, your degree will be considered inferior to degrees granted by traditional institutions。

大部分情况下，你的学位证书将会被视为比不上传统学校颁发的证书。