Soti Marquez is working in her new field, but getting here wasn't a smooth journey.

Soti Marquez says, "I dropped out of high school when I was a young teenager. When I decided to go back to school I went through some programs."

She chose an online degree program recommended by the department of labor.
"I was so excited and happy when I found out weeks later I was told I passed the exam and I had my high school diploma. I was the first person in my household to get a diploma". Says, Marquez.

But it turns out her diploma was not valid. Although she used it for several years at various jobs, when she enrolled at college it was not accepted.

"I just basically wasted almost a year for nothing because it has no value whatsoever so it made me feel terrible." Says, Marquez.

So how is it possible that so many companies advertise online programs that are not accepted by most accreditation boards? Eyewitness News went searching for answers. Officials tell us these companies may be accredited, but often times by a parent company and not a state for federal board.

Educators say the best way to find out if an online program you are interested in will be accepted is to go the the registrar's office and review the list of accepted schools. If the name isn't in this book, chances are it won't get you very far.

Dale Aldridge, Adult Education Director at Southwest Georgia Tech says, "There is no such thing as an online GED. You can go online and prepare for the GED, but there is no online GED program at this time."

Officials say before you enroll in any online program, you should do your homework first.