Get a high school diploma or general equivalency diploma (GED). Make sure you have the necessary secondary school prerequisites to achieve an associate's degree. Most community colleges, trade or vocational schools -- those that award associate's degrees -- require proficiency in college-level material to graduate, so you need the educational background to ensure your success in college.
Talk to a college counselor at the school you want to attend about which kind of associate's degree is right for you and narrow the kind of study you want to pursue. There are essentially three basic kinds of associate degrees -- an Associate in Arts (A.A.), Associate in Science (A.S.) and an Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.). Discuss with the counselor the duration of time you can dedicate toward your studies.
Choose a program of study from a college catalogue -- you'll most likely have to pick one upon entrance into a program at a community college or technical school -- after speaking with the college counselor. Apply to a program and pay application fees, which are usually separate from tuition. Specialized programs such as nursing or radiology may require additional application or lab fees.
Register for classes. Take at least 12 credits per term if you want to be a full-time student and achieve your degree more quickly. You can decrease or increase credit hours during the first week of classes -- check with your school on the applicable add/drop period.