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When deciding to pursue education to further your career, your first option is to determine the level of degree you need, that is, undergraduate (associate or bachelor's degree) or postgraduate level (graduate certificate, master's or doctoral degree). You must assess how much time you have available for your studies and when you can study. There are career education study programs which are totally classroom based, those which are 100% online, or are a mixture of the two. Classroom based career education programs are available during the day and evenings and have full and part time options. Condensed career education programs mean you will need to devote much more time to your studies each week.
When undertaking career education, you should consider a number of factors when matching your degree with career choice. Do you meet the admission requirements, or do you need to undertake further prerequisite study first? Check whether your career education degree program is accredited and/or approved by the relevant authorities and professional organizations. Accreditation means that your degree program and its provider have met minimum standards.
You should also check out how relevant the degree curriculum is to your career choice. Many career education degrees have similar names, but their content can differ widely. Take a look at programs that use tutors and guest speakers who are themselves involved in your chosen career field, for programs which make use of real-world case studies, and which offer internships to gain practical experience. If appropriate, check whether your degree program prepares you for licensure. Finally, ask what career services the career education program provider offers, such as networking events and workshops.
Your career education planning hub, the Career and Educaion Directory offers extensive resources for researching and planning for your career education.