Purpose

This article outlines how NIMAA staff should apply the Core Skills & Externship Eligibility Policy and manage the internal process when a student becomes ineligible to attend externship due to incomplete or unsatisfactory Core Skills.

This article should be used alongside the existing Core Skills & Externship Eligibility Policy KB article, which is linked here: https://nimaa.zohodesk.com/portal/en/kb/articles/nimaa-policy-core-skills-externship-eligibility

Student-Facing Policy Summary

NIMAA requires students to demonstrate competency in designated clinical and administrative Core Skills before and during externship. This supports student success, patient safety, and partner site expectations.

Students must complete and demonstrate competency in all required Core Skills by the end of each instructional block to remain eligible for externship.

Certain skills are identified as Mandatory during each block. Failure to complete Mandatory skills by the stated deadline may result in the student being unable to continue attending externship.

Core Skills Requirements

Students are expected to meet the following requirements:

• Complete all required Core Skills by the end of each instructional block.

• Complete all skills listed as Mandatory in the end-of-block Core Skills Update email by the stated due date.

• Earn a score of 85% or higher on each required skill.

• Track their own progress and meet all Core Skills deadlines.

Students who receive an unsatisfactory score may be required to complete additional review and practice, seek faculty support, and/or repeat assessments.

Externship Eligibility Requirements

To continue attending externship, students must successfully complete all required Core Skills by the end of each block.

Students must also complete all skills listed as Mandatory in the end-of-block Core Skills Update email by the due date in order to continue hours at their externship site.

Students who do not meet Core Skills requirements may be delayed from externship or withheld from externship until overdue skills are completed.

Inability to attend externship as scheduled may result in the student not meeting required externship hours within the block and/or program. This may affect the student’s ability to graduate.

NIMAA reserves the right to make final decisions regarding whether a student may continue attending externship.

Student Responsibilities

Students are responsible for:

• Attending required labs and seminars.

• Monitoring their Core Skills progress.

• Completing Core Skills by the stated deadlines.

• Seeking support from faculty when needed.

• Completing additional practice, review, or reassessment when required.

Internal Staff Process

1. Faculty Review Student Eligibility

Faculty are responsible for reviewing Core Skills completion and determining whether a student is eligible to continue attending externship.

Faculty should review:

• Required Core Skills for the block.

• Skills listed as Mandatory in the end-of-block Core Skills Update email.

• Student scores on each required skill.

• Whether the student has met the minimum required score of 85% or higher.

• Any outstanding, incomplete, or unsatisfactory skills.

Faculty should consult with the Director of Education if there are questions about determining a student’s eligibility.

2. Faculty Notify Leadership

When faculty determine that a student is ineligible to continue externship, faculty must email the student list to:

• Director of Education

• Director of Business and Partnership Development

The email should include:

• Student name

• Cohort/block

• Reason the student is ineligible

• Specific incomplete or unsatisfactory Core Skills

• Whether the issue involves a Mandatory skill

• Any relevant due dates or missed deadlines

• Any faculty notes or recommended next steps

3. Director of Education Sends Student Notification

The Director of Education will send the Externship Eligibility Status email to the student.

This email notifies the student that they are no longer eligible to attend externship, effective immediately.

The student should not continue attending externship unless or until NIMAA confirms they are eligible to return.

4. Business and Partnership Development Follow-Up

The Director of Business and Partnership Development should be informed so any necessary externship site communication or coordination can occur.

Externship site communication should be handled carefully and should only include information necessary for scheduling and site coordination.

Important Notes for Staff

• Students should not be told they may continue attending externship if they have not met Core Skills eligibility requirements.

• Faculty should not make exceptions without consulting the Director of Education.

• The Director of Education is responsible for the official student notification.

• NIMAA may require the student to complete additional review, practice, faculty support, or reassessment before returning to externship.

• Externship ineligibility may affect the student’s ability to complete required hours and graduate on time.