Program Overview Total Program Hours: 960 Total Program Weeks: 29 Credential: Certificate Program Occupational Objective Graduates from NIMAA’s 29-week medical assistant training program will gain the competencies and knowledge to be eligible to apply for an entry-level position in the medical assisting profession. Method of Delivery Instructional Hours: 720 Delivery Method: Full Distance Education Content is delivered online via NIMAA’s Learning Management System and features engagement and learning activities from accompanying web-based didactic and simulation platforms. The courses are taught by NIMAA’s qualified instructors and require student participation in web-based synchronous and asynchronous lectures, instructional meetings, online simulations, group discussions, exercises, and assignments. Required synchronous videoconferencing sessions take place once a week and student attendance and active participation is graded. Instruction also includes four Interactive Weeks in which students engage in an interactive group case study of a patient with complex needs. Externship Requirement Externship Hours: 240 The program includes an externship at a primary healthcare clinic. The concurrent externship allows students to observe and practice the required competencies through hands-on experience while under the supervision of the externship site as well the course instructor. The externship is concurrent with the academic lessons for the entire 29-week program. NIMAA will place students at an externship site within 100 miles of the home address listed on their admissions application. The externship experience complements and extends the online learning into the authentic practice environment of the clinic. While observing and practicing onsite at the externship site, the student is under the supervision of the externship site as well as that of NIMAA.