Understanding the NIMAA Program

Understanding the NIMAA Program

This article provides a high level overview for how the program is structured. Please read through this information carefully before completing your phone interview.

Disclaimer: The official source of program details, policies, and requirements is the current year's program catalog. Please refer to the catalog  on the NIMAA website for the most up-to-date and authoritative information.

Program Overview

This program is designed to provide a balance of online coursework and hands-on training to ensure students develop both theoretical knowledge and practical skills. 
This pie chart visually represents the balance between online instruction and hands-on externship in the program. The left half of the chart represents online instruction, which includes asynchronous coursework, interactive activities, and live virtual sessions. The right half represents hands-on externship, where students gain practical experience through in-person training at their externship site.

Learning Formats

This program includes different types of learning formats. Here’s what they mean:
Asynchronous
Virtual Synchronous
In-Person Synchronous
Asynchronous

Coursework that you complete on your own schedule, with deadlines to keep you on track. There are no set meeting times.

Virtual Synchronous

Live online sessions where you interact with instructors and classmates in real-time via Zoom.

In-Person Synchronous
Hands-on training sessions, such as skills labs and externship hours, where you practice skills in a live setting.

Time Commitment

Students should plan for approximately 30 to 35 hours per week, which includes both online and in-person components:
Online Instruction (15-20 hours per week)

  • Online Coursework
    Coursework is completed asynchronously with weekly deadlines. Includes lessons, assignments, discussion boards, and interactive activities.

  • Weekly Seminar: 1-hour live session on Zoom every Wednesday at 2:00pm ET / 1:00pm CT / 12:00pm MT / 11:00am PT / 7:00 or 8:00am HT (depending on daylight savings time).

    • This session allows students to engage in discussions with instructors and peers.

  • Weekly Huddle (30 minutes, live on Zoom)

    • Held only on weeks without a skills lab.

    • Assigned time (students do not pick their huddle or skills lab time).

    • Provides time to discuss questions, updates, and upcoming skills.

Hands-On Externship (10-15 hours per week)

  • Externship Hours (Minimum of 10 hours per week)

    • Students start by shadowing medical assistants and progressively practice skills on live patients.

    • Schedule is coordinated between the student and the externship site.

  • Skills Labs (Approximately every other week, 4 hours per session)

    • Skills labs times are assigned and will occur at the same start time on the same day of the week each time they occur. Weeks that do not have a skills labs will instead have a skills huddle on Zoom (see above). 

    • Provides a structured environment to practice skills before working with live patients.

  • Externship Begins in Week 3

    • Some students may have an in-clinic orientation during Intro to Clinic Week (week 1). This will be coordinated directly by the externship coordinators.


Key Program Details

Total Duration: 29 weeks (4 blocks)

Weekly Schedule:
  1. Online Coursework: 15-20 hours (asynchronous, weekly deadlines)
  2. Live Weekly Seminar: 1 hour (Wednesdays at designated times)
  3. Weekly Huddle: 30 minutes (only on weeks without skills labs)
  4. Externship: Minimum of 10 hours per week
  5. Skills Labs: Every two weeks, 4 hours per session

Overview for New Students

As you begin your journey in the Medical Assistant program, it’s important to understand how each component works together to support your success. This program is designed to build your knowledge, clinical skills, and professional readiness through a combination of coursework, hands-on experience, and guided support.
New Student Focused Information Sessions
These one-hour sessions are designed to introduce key aspects of the program and the technology you will use to support your success. Offered during Intro to NIMAA (Week 1), these sessions are led by the instructional team and include guided demonstrations and time for questions and answers. While attendance is encouraged, these sessions provide valuable insights and practical guidance to help you confidently navigate the program from the start.
Externship Hours
Starting in Week 3, you will begin your externship, gaining real-world clinical experience by working alongside your Preceptor in a healthcare setting. You are required to complete a minimum of 10 hours per week, except during Applied Medical Assisting (AMA) Weeks and Pause Weeks. Students who have not completed the block minimum of 60 hours should work with their Externship Site to schedule time to make up hours during AMA Week. These hours contribute toward the 240 total externship hours required for graduation and are a critical part of developing your patient care skills. 
Seminars
Seminars are live, instructor-led sessions held weekly via Zoom as part of your Seminar course in Populi. These sessions take place every Wednesday at 12:00 PM MT / 1:00 PM CT / 2:00 PM ET and last one hour. Seminars reinforce course concepts, provide opportunities for discussion, and allow you to connect with your instructor and peers. Seminar attendance is a program requirement for graduation, and students must maintain a minimum attendance rate of 90% to meet this requirement.
Skills Labs
Beginning in Week 5, Skills Labs are required, hands-on sessions where you will practice and demonstrate Core Skills Competencies. These sessions are typically held in 4-hour blocks at your Externship Organization (EO) in a designated area. Skills Lab hours are separate from externship hours and do not count toward the required 10 externship hours per week. Skills Lab attendance is a program requirement for graduation, and students must maintain a minimum attendance rate of 90% to meet it.
Huddles
Huddles begin in Week 2 and take place in weeks when Skills Labs are not scheduled. These 20–30-minute sessions occur on the same day and at the same time as your assigned Skills Lab and are held via Zoom, accessed through your Core Skills course in Populi. Huddles are an integral part of the program's learning and support structure, providing a consistent opportunity to check in with your instructor, ask questions, and stay on track with your progress. While not tied to a graded attendance requirement, participation is strongly encouraged as it directly supports student success and readiness for Skills Labs and externship performance. 
Applied Medical Assisting (AMA) Weeks
The final week of each block is designated as AMA Week. During this time, there are no externship hours. Instead, you will complete a group case study project and individual assignments that allow you to apply what you’ve learned in a comprehensive, practical way. 
Pause Weeks
Pause Weeks occur between blocks and provide a short break from scheduled coursework and externship hours. This time is intended for rest and reset before beginning the next block. 
Professional Development Week
Professional Development Week is designed to prepare you for your transition into the workforce. This week, you will participate in live virtual sessions covering topics such as continuing education units (CEUs), resume writing, interview preparation, workplace success, and professional networking. Sessions are recorded for those unable to attend live. More detailed information will be provided during Block 4. 

Your Support Team

Throughout the program, you will be supported by a dedicated team:
Instructor
Guides your learning, leads seminars, huddles, and skills labs, and evaluates your progress (Contact: Please email your assigned instructor directly through Populi)
Student Services Specialist
Assists with non-academic questions and support needs (Contact: studentservices@nimaa.edu)  
Preceptor
Supervises and mentors you during your externship experience 
Site Facilitator
Assists with Skills Labs at your externship site  
Program Coordinator
Helps coordinate program activities at your externship location 
 If you ever have questions or need support, you are encouraged to reach out to the instructional team. Staying engaged, organized, and proactive will help ensure your success throughout the program. 

Example Weekly Schedule (Week with a Skills Lab)

Here’s an example of what a typical week may look like when a skills lab is scheduled:

Monday: 6 hours of online coursework Tuesday: 2 hours of online coursework, 4-hour shift at externship site Wednesday: 1 hour of online coursework, 4-hour skills lab, 1-hour live seminar Thursday: 4-hour shift at externship site, 3 hours of online coursework in the evening Friday: 4 hours of online coursework, 4-hour shift at externship site Saturday: 3 hours of online coursework Sunday: 2 hours of online coursework

This sample schedule demonstrates how students balance online coursework, live sessions, and in-person training throughout the week.

For additional details, refer to the program calendar to confirm important dates, including your specific start date and Intro to Clinic week.

If you have any questions, reach out to admissions@nimaa.edu. We’re here to support you every step of the way!



    • Related Articles

    • Seminar & Skills Lab Attendance

      Seminar and Skills Labs attendance is an essential part of your education and future career as a medical assistant. These sessions are designed to provide you with the knowledge and hands-on experience that are crucial to your success in the medical ...

    • NIMAA Policy: Core Skills & Externship Eligibility

      Overview Before beginning and continuing externship, students must demonstrate competency in essential clinical and administrative skills known as Core Skills. These skills ensure you are prepared for real-world clinical settings, support patient ...

    • Communicating About Core Skills With Your Preceptor

      Core skills are an essential part of the NIMAA program. Because of this, NIMAA has worked to make it more straightforward to communicate with your preceptors on what skills you are able to practice in clinic versus what you still need to learn in ...

    • Reporting student externship attendance and skills performance

      To report student externship attendance and satisfactory performance of core competencies: Click here to access the reporting form. This link can also be found in each of your weekly reminder emails. The form will display. Enter the student's name, ...

    • Communicating Student End-of-Block Progress

      Instructor Guide: Communicating Student End-of-Block Progress This guide outlines the required process for instructors to communicate End-of-Block progress to students. It includes when and how to send the End-of-Block Progress Update email, as well ...