Getting an MBA degree requires three things; dedication, time, and hard work. Getting an MBA degree online requires one more major component; time management. With the emergence of online MBA degrees, professional business men and women and recent business graduates alike are now able to get their MBA degrees on their own time, without having to work their careers around their schooling.

Finding a school that offers an online MBA degree is relatively easy on the onset. You do a little research, make a list of schools that offer online degrees, and choose the best one. That’s it—right? Not if you’re worried about stature. Some schools that offer online MBA degrees are well known. Some are not. Whether or not this status or name recognition is important to you will be a determinant in choosing a school.

It’s advisable to contact the head of the MBA department at the schools you are most interested in. Ask questions, take notes, and don’t be shy about finding out things such as workload, time commitment requirements, etc.

Typically, obtaining an online MBA degree will take you the same amount of time as if you attended classes. Some programs allow for faster advancement if your schedule allows. This, too, may be a determinant in deciding upon an appropriate school.

Once you’re enrolled in a program, you’ll typically have regular assignments and papers to be completed via computer. You may also have weekly e-mail sessions. Typical tests are sometimes given, but they are assumed to be open book, since you’re taking them from your home or office and not in a traditional classroom.

Getting an online MBA is easier than ever before. Now, you can fit your degree around your life. For some people, an online degree isn’t a viable option. They may need the classroom interaction. But for others, it can be a way to obtain a degree they once thought was out of reach.