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NIMAA takes place over 29 weeks for about 30 hours/week. Instruction takes place online through live and recorded sessions, interactive materials in the learning management system, and online discussion groups. At the same time, students observe and practice the skills they are learning online at externship clinics under the supervision of experienced medical professionals during instructor-led remote labs and in-clinic experiences with clinical staff.
Check out our Tuition and Fees page for more information about tuition, fees, and payment options.
Yes! More information about financial aid can be found on our website here, or contact the NIMAA Finance Team at [email protected].
We have partnered with Meritize to provide our students with financing options to fund your education. With a Meritize Loan, you can get credit for your merit and potentially improve your loan options by sharing your academic history, military background, or work experience. If approved, full deferment during school is available for certain products.
Check your loan options in minutes without impacting your credit score at https://apply.meritize.com.
Terms and Conditions apply. Meritize branded loan products are educational loans issued by Blue Ridge Bank (“Bank”), National Association, Member FDIC. The Bank and Meritize reserve the right to modify or discontinue products and benefits at any time without notice. To qualify, a borrower must be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or hold a valid work authorization document, and meet the Bank’s underwriting requirements. If approved for a loan, the actual loan amount, term, payment, and APR amount of the loan that a customer qualifies for may vary based on credit determination, state law, and other factors.
NIMAA is an online program that also requires students to gain 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 to be able to meet that requirement. Check out our Admissions page for the full list of externship site locations.
Check out our page Structure and Curriculum for more information.
NIMAA students require consistent access to a personal computer and Internet connection that can support completion of all online coursework requirements and participation in the weekly synchronous seminars. Minimum hardware, software and Internet requirements are described in our student catalog.
Prospective students unsure of whether their personal equipment will meet this requirement can contact the NIMAA IT team at [email protected] with any questions.
Graduates receive a certificate from NIMAA and are supported by our exceptional instructional team to sit for a credentialing exam of their choice.
NIMAA is built to train new MAs. For continuing education, we suggest the Weitzman Institute's UpSkillMA program.
Traditional MA training programs can be expensive and long. In many of these programs, students spend several months in the classroom before ever stepping foot in a health care setting. In addition, they often do not focus on primary health care, and are limited to the role of the MA in a private medical office or hospital setting.
NIMAA is different! We have made it a priority to keep our program affordable and efficient, so our students graduate faster and with less debt. NIMAA also places students in a health care setting from day one. Students get to observe and practice their skills throughout the whole program, instead of just at the end.
NIMAA prepares students for an elevated MA role in an integrated, patient-centered primary care health team. NIMAA teaches collaborative and critical thinking skills, population management, patient panel management, and patient education in addition to the traditional MA curriculum.
While we can't guarantee employment placement upon graduation, we offer ongoing employment placement assistance. The NIMAA externship experience places students in a healthcare facility for the duration of the 29-week program. These externship partners often hire NIMAA students after they graduate.
According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, MA jobs will grow by 23% by 2023, much faster than the average growth for other jobs. The MA role can be the first step in a medical career.
Primary care is the care of your day-to-day health. Your Primary Care Provider (PCP) might be a doctor, a nurse practitioner, or a physician assistant. They are the person you see for your annual check-up, who keeps track of your overall health, and will refer you to a specialist for certain needs. With primary care, you have someone who knows who you are, knows your medical history, and knows your needs, to give you better care. They help you prevent problems in the future by helping you stay healthy today.
Team-based care is one way to provide primary care. With team-based care, each patient has a full team of people dedicated to their needs. That team can include the PCP, a nurse, a medical assistant, and sometimes other roles like a behavioral health clinician or specialist. Medical assistants are an important part of this team.