Medical Assistant Program General Requirements and Program Policies
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Health and Medical Requirements
In accordance with Northwestern Memorial Hospital policy, all accepted candidates will undergo a criminal background check and 10-panel drug screen at the expense of NMH. The objectives of these requirements are to enhance patient health and safety, facilitate student access to affiliated clinical facilities, and ensure professional certification eligibility. In addition to successfully passing a mandatory background check and drug screen, accepted students must be at least 18 years of age and provide evidence of the following health and medical information:
Drug Screen Results Negative results: for applicants whose test results are negative, if other portions of the post-offer assessment are acceptable, the student may enroll and begin the program of study. Positive results: Applicants whose test results are positive will be advised by the Medical Review Officer (MRO) or designee. The MRO will also determine if the applicant has established a satisfactory explanation for the positive result. If not, the applicant’s acceptance offer will be rescinded and the student will be denied entry into the program. Criminal Background Check All accepted students must sign a release form authorizing NMH to request and conduct a criminal background check as permitted by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The criminal background check will be conducted after a candidate accepts the offer to attend an NMH clinical program as a part of the onboarding process. NM Academy reserves the right to rescind an offer of acceptance based on adverse information discovered during the criminal background check with final decisions adjudicated in partnership with the Division of Human Resources. Technical Standards The following abilities and characteristics are defined as technical standards, which are established by the faculty and deemed necessary for a student to matriculate, remain in good standing, and achieve the competencies required for graduation from the medical assistant program. The NM Academy therefore requires applicants to confirm their ability to comply with these standards, with or without reasonable accommodation, as a condition of admission to the medical assistant program. |
Technology Requirements
Students must have reliable internet connectivity and a computer (desktop or laptop) with the minimum systems requirements outlined below. Hardware:
Admissions Policy The Medical Assistant program welcomes students from all backgrounds and is dedicated to providing equal opportunity to applicants. The program does not discriminate in the recruitment and admission of students or in the operation of its educational programs or activities. Applicants are considered for admission based on individual merit and without regard to age, race, color, national origin, religion, culture, language, physical or mental disability, socioeconomic status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, parental status, military or veteran status, or source of income in the provision of educational services. The Admissions Committee utilizes a holistic review approach that considers all aspects of an application and offers admission to the most qualified applicants. Applications are evaluated on the basis of the applicant's academic performance, references, personal statement, and personal interview with members of the Admissions Committee. Based on these factors, applicants are ranked for admission. Applicants will be notified of the program’s admissions decision via email well in advance of the program’s start date. The Medical Assistant program reserves the right to deny admission, continued enrollment or re-enrollment to any applicant or student whose personal history and background indicate that his or her presence at Northwestern Medicine would endanger the health, safety, welfare, or property of its patients, visitors, and employees or interfere with the orderly and effective operation of Northwestern Medicine's functions. Please note: NMHC is not able to admit international students for the MA Program at this time and does not offer student visa sponsorship. Foreign Transcript Evaluation Foreign transcripts must be evaluated and translated into U.S. equivalency by Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE), an independent evaluation provider. Applicants who have obtained a high school diploma or degree at an institution outside the U.S. are required to submit with their application a full translation of the transcript into U.S. equivalency. ADA Policy |