Abstract: In recent years, rural education has come to the forefront. Data has shown increasing numbers of schools in rural areas lack qualified educators to teach in high need areas like special education and early intervention. In the most rural and isolated communities, there might not be a single college or university for hundreds of miles. Those with teaching licenses typically cannot leave their jobs to pursue additional endorsements. This paper delves into the use of distance education as a means of allowing those in rural areas to attend an online program to obtain training and licenses needed to fill vacant teaching positions and asserts that these programs are critical to rural educators earning the credentials needed to fill positions in these high need areas and to provide quality professional development to rural school districts. Keywords: education, distance learning, rural areas, high need area, technology, computer