Get started debt free in a career in healthcare! Erie partners with the National Institute of Medical Assistant Advancement (NIMAA) to train individuals interested in pursuing a career as a Medical Assistant (MA).
In only 8 months you could be prepared for a rewarding career in community health.
The $6,798 tuition cost will be fully covered by Erie Family Health Centers for students who agree to work for Erie for a minimum of 2,500 paid hours upon graduation.
- Applications for Fall 2025 open on March 19, 2025 and close on May 28, 2025
- Early Decision Application Deadline: April 23, 2025
- Regular Application Deadline: May 28, 2025
Questions?
Call NIMAA at 720-710-9050, email their admissions team at admissions@nimaa.edu.
You may also reach out to Erie at nimaa@eriefamilyhealth.org.
- 8 month long part-time program, including flexible online learning and hands-on in-clinic experience.
- Clinical experience begins right away, students must spend at least 240 hours in clinic.
- Erie’s Spring cohort (March start) trains out of Erie’s two suburban locations, Erie Evanston/Skokie located in Evanston and Erie HealthReach Waukegan located in Waukegan
- Erie’s Fall cohort (September start) trains out of two of Erie’s city-based sites, Erie Division Street and Erie Foster Avenue
- As it is a part-time program, many students keep an part-time outside job.
- NIMAA’s graduation rate is 89%
- Students must be 18 years of age or older by completion of the program.
- Proof of a high school diploma, GED or equivalent.
- Valid proof of identification.
- Program fees: $760
- Tuition fees: $6,798*
*Fully covered by Erie Family Health Centers for students who agree to work for Erie for a minimum of 2,500 paid hours upon graduation. Loan details available upon application.
The National Institute for Medical Assistant Advancement (NIMAA) is a nonprofit education institute that trains Medical Assistants to work effectively in today’s high-performing primary care settings. Students gain hands-on learning in leading primary care clinics, including Erie Family Health Centers.
Erie Family Health Centers currently trains more than 200 healthcare students and professionals each year, making it a leader in medical education. Erie is a nationally-recognized community health center with a respected 62-year history of providing high-quality, comprehensive health care to all members of the family. Erie now serves more than 80,000 patients at 13 state-of-the art health centers across Chicago and the northern suburbs.
Program FAQs
The program is 29-weeks long and requires a commitment of approximately 30 hours/week. Each student’s weekly schedule varies based on their assigned clinical time and online content can be completed on their own schedule.
There will be no application fee for fall 2025 and $760 of book, material and exam fees ($540 due at the beginning of the program, $220 due by approximately the midpoint of the program).
See the NIMAA tuition and fee page for more information. If accepted into the Erie program, Erie can pay the $6,798 tuition payment directly to NIMAA on the students behalf in the form of an interest-free loan. All other fees are the student’s responsibility to pay directly to NIMAA by the dates indicated.
Yes, you may can apply, but a high school diploma or GED certificate must be completed prior to the program start date.
Erie Family Health Centers’ MA Externship Sites
Erie Division Street Health Center
2418 W. Division
Chicago, IL 60622
Erie Foster Avenue Health Center
5215 N. California
Chicago, IL 60625
Erie MA Training Program Coordinator: Victoria Fernandez
NIMAA@eriefamilyhealth.org
Call (312) 666-3494 to schedule an appointment.
For our suburban locations call (847) 666-3494
Erie Family Health Centers received the USA Today Top Workplaces 2024 Award, the Top Workplaces 2024 Purpose and Values Award, and the Top Workplaces 2024 Healthcare Industry Award, recognizing that our shared belief in Erie's mission and values drives everything we do.