Nearing the end of your Under Graduation in Psychology, you must be wondering how to proceed forward. After having spent four years completing either you Bachelor of Arts (B.A) or Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) degree in Psychology, you can either opt for a job or pursue a Master’s in Psychology degree for better career prospects.

For those who want to continue onto graduate level courses but are tired of attending classes and piling on college debt, an Online Master’s Psychology Degree Accredited is an ideal choice.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in the year 2014-15, 26,773 master’s degrees in psychology were conferred by post-secondary institutions.

However, before investing in an online master’s degree in psychology, it is essential that you are certain about all the ins and outs of the program you have chosen. Here’s the ultimate guide to help you out with pursuing an Online Master’s Psychology Degree Accredited:

1. CHOOSE YOUR SPECIALIZATION

At the master’s level, there are various subfields that you can complete your education in. Some of the common specializations are counseling psychology, school, and educational psychology, clinical psychology, industrial or organizational psychology, experimental psychology, criminal psychology, developmental psychology and sports psychology. Besides these, there are more specialty areas in psychology that you can choose from.

While choosing your specialization, ensure that the program matches your preference and your career objectives.

2. CHECK THE ACCREDITATION OF THE PROGRAM

Accreditation guarantees that the master’s degree you will receive meets the standards set by higher education institutions, professionals, and industrial organizations. American Psychological Association (APA) and Association of State and Provincial Psychology Board (ASPPB) are reputed accreditation agencies in the psychology field, but they only accredit doctoral level degrees.

For master’s degree, accreditation is done by the following agencies:

1. National Association of Psychologists (NASP)

2. Council of Accreditation of Counseling & Related Programs (CACREP)

3. Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE)

4. Masters in Psychology Accreditation Council (MPAC)

5. Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE)

Along with these agencies, institutional accreditation institutions also provide accreditation, but the entire school is accredited and not just a single program.

It is extremely crucial to verify the accreditation status of the programs and the universities before you apply as lack of accreditation may result in an entirely useless degree.

3. RESEARCH ON YOUR OPTIONS

Now that you have determined your specialization and are aware of the accreditation levels use the magic of Google to find accredited online master’s degree programs. Once you have a list of options, analyze them by their accreditation, curriculum, tuition fees, duration, and eligibility criteria. Do not make the mistake of compromising quality for cost as your master’s degree will open the doors to a successful career.

4. SHORTLIST YOUR PREFERENCES

Now that you have a list of online programs that match your preferences, further shorten the list by comparing the kind of student resources that the online university supplies to its students. Online library resources are a must as you will need unlimited access to a variety of reference books to complete your master’s program.

Furthermore, compare the technical, academic, financial and career support services these shortlisted online programs offer. Aim to select a program that provides you nearly 24/7 support services for your convenience.

Choose a program that best suits your preferences and meets all your set criteria.

5. APPLY BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE!

Now that you have chosen a program that you are eligible for and which meets your criteria apply before the deadline. Hurry before all the seats are filled up for the program.

An Accredited Online Master’s Psychology Degree will pave the way for a successful career in psychology. Moreover, you can even apply for an APA accredited doctoral degree once you have attained your master’s degree in psychology.