Online college degrees are only as old as the Internet itself. However, distance learning programs, the alternative to a traditional residential college degree route, can trace their roots back to the late 1800s in the form of mail-based correspondence courses. Feminist pioneer Anna Elliot Ticknor, for example, founded "The Society to Encourage Studies at Home" in 1873. These mail-based courses offered individuals who often had neither the time nor the financial means to attend a residential college program an opportunity to earn a degree at home. Today's Internet-based "virtual" colleges are simply a technology-enhanced face-lift of the "snail-mail" correspondence courses of yesteryear.
Individuals have two basic types of online psychology certification programs to choose from: an online-only or "virtual" program, or a blend of online and traditional classroom work or "hybrid" program. Each has its benefits and limitations. Virtual degree programs are entirely Internet-based and offer learner-driven content. Although open to any age range, many virtual schools are geared toward adult learners who are employed or may be raising families. Hybrid degree programs represent both the traditional approach of a "brick and mortar" education with a modern twist--significant coursework offered outside of the classroom. Traditional colleges are increasingly introducing programs that offer hybrid coursework to reflect the needs of technology-savvy youth.
Flexibility is paramount when highlighting the benefits of a virtual psychology certification or degree. A virtual course offers 24-hour access to content. This allows the learner to work full-time, raise a family and still earn a college degree without leaving the confines of home.
Marketability differentiates a virtual from a traditional hybrid degree, especially when discussing a degree in psychology. Although virtual colleges are becoming increasingly respected and acknowledged by employers, there is still a stigma attached to a degree earned entirely online. This becomes readily apparent when discussing a healthcare-related advanced degree such as one needed to practice psychology. According to a 2006 New York Times article, 96 percent of potential employers would choose an applicant with a traditional doctoral degree over an individual who'd earned a degree online.
Aside from the issues of credibility and potential marketability, there is a glaring limitation to virtual psychology certification: lack of hands-on clinical experience. Psychology is a social-service field. It is nearly impossible to duplicate online what can be learned through face-to-face experience with a client or patient. Hybrid courses offer a wealth of clinical experience in the form of supervised internships, but often these positions are unpaid. This can prevent some individuals from pursuing a hybrid degree.
Regardless of which route you choose, it is imperative that you research your program's credentials thoroughly. There is an alarming trend of dubious online institutions which offer college degrees with little to no school backing that degree. These are commonly referred to as "diploma mills." At first glance, they may appear to be legitimate colleges. Oftentimes, these "schools" will even pick names that sound similar to established colleges. Closer inspection usually reveals that these are nothing more than questionable businesses that aren't interested in expanding your knowledge, but are eager to expand their bank accounts. Make sure that the program awarding your degree has been accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and/or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
Certification requirements from psychology programs vary by state. Be sure to research the laws of the state in which you wish to practice to ensure that your certification will be accepted.