With so many choices of online teaching degree programs out there, you must be sure to figure out which one is best for you before you begin committing time, effort, and money. With a little introspection as well as well-informed research, you will be starting your first class in the perfect online teaching degree program in no time at all. Here is a checklist of 7 things you should do when choosing an online teaching degree program:

1. Check the institution’s accreditation, fees, courses, and faculty. Be sure to make sure the school is respectable and find out about all fees, including application and matriculation, paying special attention for any "hidden" fees–ask specifically if you must. Look for courses that will hold your interest and benefit your career as well as for faculty that you respect. Don’t be afraid to Google your future professors!

2. Check your state’s requirements for teaching certification and licensure. The University of Kentucky College of Education has a great searchable database at Certification Requirements for 50 States. Always be sure that the online teaching degree program you’re interested in will qualify you for the certification you are seeking.

3. Talk to teachers and volunteer in classrooms, if possible. Firsthand interviews and experience will help you decide whether teaching is you and also help you narrow down which type of teaching degree you would like to pursue–whether you’d be best working with preschool age or high school age students, for example.

4. If you are taking a course to advance your career, be sure it will do so. Read course descriptions carefully to be sure that you’re not simply repeating courses you’ve already taken or re-learning material you already know. Make sure courses will be expanding your skill set, especially regarding communication, critical thinking, leadership, and management.

5. Compare and contrast with other online teaching degree programs as well as with traditional university programs. Make sure the courses and degree you choose offer exactly what you’re looking for; the best way to get an idea of what you want is to look around and make lists of topics or disciplines you’d ideally like covered in your program. You may not get a 100% match, but the more your list has in common with your chosen program, the better.

6. Be sure you can fulfill the time and study commitments required. Match up the work loads and schedules of courses with the time you have available and choose the program that best fits with your other commitments.

7. Talk to former and current students of the school or program. Word of mouth is still one of the best ways to find out information, so try to find those who have already been where you would like to go; needless to say, if you find a lot of successful graduates of the program during your search for information, that’s a good sign.