Distance Learning Center @ TestPrepReview.com

It is possible to become a Certified Public Accountant through a distance learning accounting program. One must earn a bachelors degree that contains Certified Public Accounting courses and one must pass a Certified Public Accounting exam to become a CPA. Each state has a Board of Accountancy who licenses the CPA upon passing the exam. When considering a distance learning accounting degree from a non-local school, one should make sure the school he or she will be attending is state specific or passing the required state exam will be difficult. Earning a master’s degree will help the graduate earn a higher salary and a larger number of job opportunities, as will having experience in the career field. The accounting degree requirements can be satisfied through a distance learning accounting program, but it is very important the potential student verifies that the university is approved by the professional organization for CPA’s, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Whether the potential student wants to earn a title of accountant or CPA must be considered when choosing a distance learning accounting program. Most states do not have specific educational requirements for those who want to earn the title of accountant. Becoming a CPA requires the passing of a state certification exam. Most employers want accountants to be CPA’s because being a CPA is a requirement in administering audits of U.S. corporations that are traded publicly.

Certain personality traits are important when pursuing a distance learning accounting degree. A person who wants to become an accountant should love manipulating numbers, be a logical thinker, be able to work alone and with a client. The person should have strong reading comprehension skills because the subject matter in a distance learning program may be difficult to learn without an instructor showing in detail how to work out problems. It would be wise to create a virtual team that is involved in the same distance learning accounting program to meet with on the internet or phone to help with the added struggles of a distance learning accounting education.

The history of community college distance learning can be traced back to a California task force created in 1970-1972 with the purpose of introducing new technology into the educational process. As a result of the task force, Coastline Community College was created which was the first campus that existed virtually and offered community college distance learning courses only. Dallas Community College soon followed but instead of using televised courses as Coastline did, they created videotapes that contained classes that could be accessed at the student’s convenience. Through the 80s and 90s many other community colleges developed distance learning programs.

The internet increased rapidly the availability of community college distance learning courses. With the internet, two-way communication between the instructor and student was possible, called synchronous communication. This gave the faculty and students the feeling that they were part of a dynamic classroom environment. As the number of community college distance learning courses being offered dramatically increased, the instructors became a little hesitant. Many have feared that less jobs would be available in future more classes are offered online with less time spent in the classroom led by a professor.

Community college distance learning provides a cost-effective way for people to earn an accredited education. Many partner with 4 year universities who also offer courses in a distance learning format. Because community colleges are public universities with federal funding, tuition rates are the same whether taking a distance education course or traditional classroom course. Community college distance learning courses can be accessed online, through print-based materials, and on the television, many community colleges partnering with PBS, or the Public Broadcasting Service. For someone with a full-time job or a stay-at-home mom, an education is possible through community college distance education. If a person is in a rural location can attend classes with distance education.

Most community colleges offer advice on if a student is a good candidate for participating in community college distance learning. One of the most important factors is ensuring the student is technically knowledgeable. The student must have access to a computer, be able to navigate through websites, and create documents to take an internet course. Those wanting to attend community college distance learning programs must be self-motivated because of the less structured environment. An instructor will not be there to tell the student when and what to study 2-3 times a week as with a traditional classroom. If the student gets behind on the coursework, he or she has difficulty catching up. The student has to be able to learn through reading rather than hearing, another personality trait one must consider when deciding to participate in community college distance education.

The Sacramento County Office of Education has created the California Distance Learning Project. The goal of the California Distance Learning Project is unique in that the site is designed for people looking for an educational resource for both people looking for traditional education and those who may not be attempting to attend a traditional school. In order to remain competitive as a state, California has decided to provide the California distance learning website as a service for all who want to learn, and the information can be accessed at any time of the day or night. With a large immigrant population in California, many of the residents speak English as their second language. The website allows these citizens to get advice in forum that can be read and accessed at their own pace, giving them time to read and understand what they are learning. The California Distance Learning Project is provided through the Innovation Program which began in 1995. Adult schools and school district can use 5% of their block grant annually on distance education programs approved by the California Department of Education. These programs have certain criteria to meet including requiring an instructor and the ability for communication to be back and forth between the instructor and students. There are 12 different ways to access the courses, from online to checking out videocassettes, so a computer is not a requirement to participation in this California Distance learning opportunity.

The website, cdlponline.org, contains articles on a variety of subjects where interested parties can find information and learn material that is not part of a traditional class or degree program. The California Distance Learning Project website includes articles on how to find a job and employment opportunities in California. Real estate advice and how to save money for large purchases can be accessed through the site.

The California Distance Learning Project provides access to several websites that direct potential students to distance education websites that provide formal education for those wanting to advance on a path to a degree or professional certification. The California Virtual Campus is a database of more than 4,400 courses available in the distance learning format offered in California. If the user wants to apply for federal financial aide or wants to apply for admission at any of the California Community Colleges, detailed help is available through the site. The University of Wisconsin sponsors the Distance Education Clearninghouse website, which can be accessed through the California Distance Learning Project website. This site provided national and international distance education opportunities.

The Army Training Requirements and Resources System is an army distance learning program that offers army specific courses to advance a members army and future civilian career. Through the system, Army personnel can view and manage courses they choose to take, all free of charge. The system was designed to allow members of a certain career field to have first choice on classes that directly relate to their career thus allowing them to advance through the ranks and be successful at their job duties. By using the ATRRS Army distance learning program, the Army can forecast what training materials and supplies they need by watching the demand for classes and can better keep the materials updated.

Another Army distance learning program is offered through earmyu.com. Pricewaterhouse Coopers, LLP has brought together access to 29 accredited universities for the Army to have access globally. The colleges are diverse, ranging from the ability to obtain a degree in aviation from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University to a more technologically based degree from Penn State University’s online campus. Some colleges, like Baker College is a private university. Others, such as the University of Alabama, are public. The universities are aware and understanding of the lifestyle of an army soldier which allows for greater flexibility within the classes. The incentive to attending college through earmyu.com is that the tuition is paid for by the government. Upon registration into this Army distance learning program, new students receive a laptop, printer, and e-mail account to help enable them attend college online.

The Army Correspondence Course Program is an Army distance learning program that offers an avenue for army personnel to take more than 700 courses. These courses, offered through the Army Institute for Professional Development are point based, so as the soldier passes tests, he or she can earn points which are considered in promotion opportunities. Video Teletraining is available to soldiers at all times through the Teletraining Network and Satellite Education Network. These networks use government connections offering availability all over the world at most military commands. The website armyfocus.com offers test questions and answers and provides study materials for the correspondence courses for a $12 monthly fee.

A member of the Army can approach his or her educational development through army distance learning programs. The benefit of this avenue is that the soldier can continue school even if they are moved from base to base because distance education can be accomplished from nearly anywhere in the world.  As long as the student has access to the mail or internet, most distance education programs can be completed. As with any other distance learning, the college and method of study is the choice of the student or member of the Army. Because of deployment, the Army member should check with the college of choice to see if there is a deployment policy. If the military member is deployed to an area of war or to a region of the country where access to communication is impossible, an Army distance learning program would be more understanding of the circumstance. If participating in Army distance learning and one is deployed, the university will allow the student to drop the course and retake it when he or she returns without loss of tuition or fees. The college may require a copy of the orders and a signed letter from an appropriate supervisor to make this exception. This policy allows members of the Army to participate in distance learning without fear of failing or losing money.

As long as the university and program is accredited and approved by the VA, the Montgomery GI Bill will cover army distance learning. If the army member is active duty, he or she can use government education benefits to pay for their education. Proof of passing grades must be provided to get tuition and books covered. Army distance learning can be obtained through the Army Training Requirements and Resources System which can be accessed world-wide and provides specialized courses to advance a career in the Army and these classes are free. The Army is also partnered with the American Distance Education Consortium through earmyu.com to obtain army distance education. This system brings 29 colleges to a centralized location which offer distance learning opportunities to the army soldier.

A university with an accredited distance learning program will be approved by the U.S. Department of Education or the same type of federal agency in a foreign country. To become accredited, representatives from various educational programs come together and evaluate the university in question on the basis on many factors including the value of the curriculum, the resources the program has access to, and the caliber of the educational program as a whole. Once the federal government approves the results of the accreditation group, the university’s accredited distance learning program will appear on list of National and Regional Accredited Agencies and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation list.

Many universities will claim to have an accredited distance learning program and list agencies they are accredited by, but the potential student should verify that the accreditation of the university is valid. Many colleges make claims of earning a degree in a year from home. Upon contacting the university, the potential student may find that he or she can earn a degree by paying an inflated tuition amount, but with little coursework involved. The university may be in the business of making money and handing out as many diplomas as possible, disregarding a quality education. The negative result of not checking the accreditation lists to ensure one is attending an accredited distance learning program  prior to beginning is that after the student has spent his or her time and money, the actual degree may be worthless when entering the job market.

Even with a degree from an accredited distance learning program, employers and higher educational institutions have some difficulty recognizing the education or certification as being as valuable as a traditional degree because distance learning is a new form of education. With this uncertainty, the student would be wise to make sure the university he or she is attending is valid and accredited so he or she can assure a potential or current employer by proving the accreditation if the need arises. If the student plans on furthering his or her education at a traditional university, he or she should check with the college of choice to make sure all credits earned from the accredited distance learning program will be recognized. Some of the educators are part of the accrediting agencies so they are a good source in making educational choices.

Distance learning is learning that takes place outside of a traditional classroom environment. The first distance learning program began in the 1940s as the U.S. mail provided a way for people to learn through correspondence. Though distance learning was uncommon then since the introduction and familiarity of the internet has grown, so has the number of people involved in distance learning. Distance learning is typically thought of as being offered online. However, some distance learning is print based, relying heavily on reading a textbook and submitting assignments through the mail. Some is videocassette based, television based, where students watch the class on the Television, or a combination of all of the above.

The benefit of distance learning involves flexibility. Many working individuals who are pursuing an education need the 24 hour a day access that distance learning programs provide. Rather than having a classroom where the student must physically attend class, the student can complete his or her coursework virtually. Some distance learning programs are self-paced and self-taught, without the use of an instructor. Students are required to research the subject they are taking and take tests to pass the class. This type of distance learning offers the student complete freedom to complete the coursework as he or she sees fit.  Other distance learning offers an instructor who provides due dates and test schedules, and a specific start and end date for the class. These courses are more structured and are typically offered through traditional universities offering distance education classes. The communication between the student and professor or student and other students in the class can be through e-mail and discussion boards, where the student must wait for a response. Another type of communication is through live chats or web camera based interaction where the discussion is dynamic and live.

There are many different avenues to obtaining a distance learning education. Many colleges or state universities offer some or all courses towards specific certifications or degrees through their distance education departments. If the specific degree is not offered through a public universities, private universities like the University of Phoenix offers an alternative. The distance learning courses are significantly more expensive than public universities, but all coursework can be completed online and the university offers bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees. For working professionals, the extra money for tuition is worth the ability to attend school while working full-time, which is a requirement of attending the University of Phoenix.