If you still harbor any doubt about the need for further education, just check the classifieds in a metropolitan newspaper or online and look for yourself at the employment criteria, particularly if you are interested in higher-paying positions and professional employers.

From asbestos abatement and accounting to zookeeping, distance learning programs offer a wide variety of subjects and degrees. There are virtually no common—and very few uncommon—careers for which you cannot study online. Some of the first and oldest online degree providers are still among the highest-rated; be sure to check out several sites and find the one or two that best fit your needs and pocketbook. Verify that they can meet all of your needs for support and counseling and make sure that the program you are interested in will satisfy the requirements of your current or prospective employer. Don’t forget about scholarships, association and government grants, and employer-sponsored financial assistance if tuition, books, and fees are a financial issue. Most accept good distance learning programs as easily as traditional ones.

By using a search engine or several search engines, you will likely find more information than you can review and absorb in one sitting. Start now; take the time you need to make a careful search and do a thorough evaluation.

If you are working at a job simply because you have to, as it was all that you could find, and if there is something else that appeals strongly to you for which you have the aptitude and for which there is a viable market, this is the time to think carefully about possible distance learning programs in which you might enroll. There is nothing insurmountable to prevent you from preparing yourself for your dream job. If your current employer is paying your education costs, you will, of course, have to be sure your program meets their requirements for reimbursement. If you are in a position where you can make the choice totally independently, the world is open to you.

Distance learning programs make it possible for nearly anyone, anywhere, anytime to accumulate academic credit toward their goal; the hardest thing about the online programs may be choosing the best one for your circumstances and interests. Have fun as you take on your dream and work toward it; a good education and job preparation never hurt anyone’s career or bank balance.