Application Process
Thank you for your interest in NIMAA! You'll find all the information you need to complete your application on this page. If you ever have any questions you can always contact our team directly.
Want to learn more about our unique medical assistant training program? Join us at one of the following Zoom informational sessions to hear more about how we combine flexible online learning with hands-on in-clinic experience. We will discuss the role of a medical assistant, program requirements, the admissions process and more!
NIMAA is an online program that also requires students to complete 240 hours of clinical experience at one of the many externship organizations that work with us. Students applying for the program must be located near one of our approved externship partners.
We are excited to work with the following healthcare organizations to support the externship experience for the Fall 2026 Cohort. Externship site availability may vary by cohort and is subject to change.
To view clinic addresses and additional requirements the organization may have, please click here.
Colorado
- Denver Health and Hospital Authority
- Salud Family Health
- Tepeyac Community Health Center
- Colorado Coalition for the Homeless
Connecticut
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
- Cass County Health Department
- Esperanza Health Centers
- Friend Health Center
- Hamdard Health Alliance
- PCC Community Wellness Center
- PrimeCare Community Health, Inc.
- Tapestry 360 Health
Indiana
Missouri
Montana
New York
Oregon
Pennsylvania
- Esperanza Health Center
- River Valley Health
- The Primary Health Network
- The Wright Center for Community Health
- Wayne Memorial Community Health Centers
Rhode Island
Utah
West Virginia
NIMAA has cohorts every year. Spring cohorts start classes in March, and our Fall cohorts start in September.
Fall cohort: applications open in March
Spring Cohort: applications open in September
The specific dates for our upcoming cohort, Fall 2026, are listed below.
Applications open: March 18th - May 27th
Early admissions deadline: April 22nd (submit your application between March 18th - April 22nd to be considered for Early Admissions)
Deadline to complete enrollment forms: August 5th
Classes begin: September 1st
For a more detailed list, please visit: https://www.nimaa.edu/program/program-calendars/
The NIMAA medical assistant program is designed to be affordable.
We offer multiple payment options for the program, including online and check. For more information about tuition and fees, click here. Please contact us at [email protected] for more information, contact NIMAA's Financial Aid Team at [email protected]
NIMAA was recently approved to participate in the Federal Student Aid (Title IV) program. Click here for more information.
Minimum requirements to apply to NIMAA are:
- Proof of a high school diploma, GED or equivalent (an official translation by a qualified agency of a foreign transcript demonstrating U.S. HS diploma/GED equivalency is required)*
- Literacy in written and spoken English, with additional bilingual requirements at some externship sites
- Minimum age of 18 years old by the date of graduatio
- Residence in a state where NIMAA offers its program
- Passing a background check
- The student must be able to perform the work required in the program without limitation. The student will refrain from attending clinical hours if any illness or injury would interfere with patient safety
*If you have the required qualifications but do not have access to appropriate documentation due to extenuating circumstances, please contact NIMAA Admissions at [email protected] to discuss.
These are the steps in the application process:
- Complete the online NIMAA application. You don't have to finish it all at once. You will receive an email with a link to complete it later, if needed.
- Complete a phone call with a NIMAA admissions representative.
- Select applicants will participate in an externship interview.
If you successfully complete the three steps above, your application will be submitted for review by the Admissions Committee. From there, you will either receive one of the following via email:
- Offer of admissions
- Offer of placement on the admissions waitlist
- Rejection
Selection for the program is based on the NIMAA Admissions Committee’s review of all aspects of your application, including the following:
- Writing samples demonstrating a desire to pursue a career as a medical assistant
- An interview with a member of the NIMAA Admissions team
- An in-person interview with an official NIMAA externship organization partner
- A background check (see background check criteria here)
If you receive an offer of admissions to NIMAA, congratulations! The next step is to complete the enrollment process. You will be required to do the following:
- Formally accept your offer of admissions
- Complete your onboarding paperwork
- Provide proof of required immunizations
- Provide proof of your high school diploma, GED, or equivalent
- Provide ID showing your date of birth and residency in your state
- Complete the background check initiated by NIMAA and successfully pass that background check (see background check requirements here)
- Review the published payment schedule
- Read the NIMAA Catalog and sign the Catalog Acknowledgement
- Sign your Enrollment Agreement (not available until onboarding paperwork is complete)
For applicants who are placed on the NIMAA waitlist:
- Complete your Waitlist Confirmation form
- NIMAA will remain in contact with you regarding your status on a regular basis prior to program start
- If NIMAA is unable to offer admissions in the cohort you applied to, you will have the option to participate in a rollover admissions process for the following cohort. Please note this is not a guarantee that you will be admitted into the next cohort.
NIMAA has two admissions periods: early and regular with the main difference being that early admissions has earlier deadlines and are reviewed by the admissions committee before the regular admissions candidates.