Admissions Requirements

Admissions Eligibility and Requirements

Minimum Admissions Requirements

To enroll at AIMS Education, applicants must meet the following minimum requirements:

• Be at least 18 years old at the time of enrollment
• Possess a high school diploma or equivalent
• Pass the required entrance exam or qualify for a waiver
• Demonstrate basic computer skills
• Meet the college’s minimum technology requirements

Immigration Status

Applicants who are physically present in the United States must be legally present at the time of enrollment and must maintain a status that permits attendance through the first day of class. Acceptable statuses include, but are not limited to:

• U.S. citizenship
• Lawful permanent residency
• Non-immigrant status that permits study
• Other authorized statuses that permit an individual to be legally present in the United States and attend an educational institution

Applicants residing outside the United States who are seeking initial F-1 student status may complete the admissions and enrollment process before entering the United States but must obtain F-1 student status before entering the country and beginning their first semester. Refer to the International Student Eligibility and Requirements section for additional information.

As an exception to the requirement above, applicants who are legally present in the United States and are seeking to change their status to F-1 may complete the admissions and enrollment process while their change-of-status request is pending. Applicants whose current status does not permit study may not begin classes until USCIS approves the change to F-1 status.

Physical Location Requirement

All AIMS Education programs include distance education coursework. Students located within the United States and its territories must be physically located in a state or territory in which AIMS is authorized to provide distance education. A student’s physical location is collected at the time of enrollment and may be established through government-issued identification, a signed student attestation, or other documentation demonstrating physical location.

This enrollment location requirement does not apply to international applicants residing outside the United States who are seeking initial F-1 student status. International students must obtain F-1 student status and enter the United States before beginning their first semester.

AIMS Education is an approved member of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA). As a SARA member, AIMS is authorized to enroll students located in 49 states (all except California), the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Submission of Admissions Documents

Except when provisional enrollment has been approved, applicants are required to submit all required admissions documents prior to enrollment. Admissions documents include but are not limited to the following:

Application for Enrollment

An online application must be submitted to initiate the application/enrollment process.

2 Forms of Identification

Acceptable forms of identification include a valid driver’s license, passport, social security card, employee ID, student ID, birth certificate, certificate of citizenship, certificate of naturalization, and U.S. government issued ID; one form of ID must include a photograph. All identification documents must be valid and current, as applicable.

Applicants following the international admissions process for F-1 student status are only required to submit a valid passport identification page. A second form of identification is not required.

Proof of High School Education

All students must show proof of high school completion or equivalent. Valid proof of minimum educational requirements includes but is not limited to the following: high school transcript, high school diploma, college degree, GED certificate, or academic credential evaluation.

Homeschooled students must submit a GED certificate or state-issued high school diploma to meet the minimum education requirement.

Online high school diplomas may be recognized if the issuing school is operated by a public school district or state agency, or is accredited/recognized for secondary education by a state-recognized, regional, national, or internationally recognized K–12 accrediting body, including Cognia/SACS CASI, MSA-CESS, ACS WASC, NEASC, or an equivalent recognized accreditor. If the validity of the high school and/or documentation provided cannot be verified, the student will need to obtain a GED.

Public high school diplomas from U.S. territories are considered equivalent to high school diplomas earned in the United States. If the diploma is in a language other than English, a translation is required.

Foreign credentials may require evaluation from a recognized evaluation company.

Letter of Reference

Applicants for all selective programs must submit one professional or academic letter of reference. Your letter of reference should be a professional or academic reference letter written by a supervisor, colleague, teacher, coach, or mentor. It should highlight your academic abilities, professionalism, personal qualities, and any unique skills or talents. The letter must be typed, signed, and written in English or accompanied by an English translation.

Statement of Purpose

Applicants for all selective programs must submit a statement of purpose. The statement of purpose provides applicants an opportunity to describe their academic and professional background, accomplishments and strengths, interest in the selected program and field, educational and career goals, preparation for college-level study, and reasons for choosing AIMS.

Transcripts

Applicants for all selective programs must submit official transcripts from any colleges they have attended.

Entrance Examinations

Programs Requiring the Wonderlic Exam

Applicants who are seeking admission to an open enrollment program are required to take the Wonderlic exam. The minimum required score for enrollment is 12. Three exam attempts are permitted per enrollment period.

Applicants for the Medical Assistant, Patient Care Technician, Pharmacy Technician, and Sterile Processing Technician programs are also required to take the Wonderlic exam.

Programs Requiring ACCUPLACER

The ACCUPLACER tests for Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic are required for all degree programs and the Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist program. The minimum required score for each test is 250. Two attempts of each test are permitted per enrollment period.

AIMS Education will accept official copies of ACCUPLACER tests taken at other institutions within the past 2 years.

Entrance Exam Waivers

Waivers for the Wonderlic exam and ACCUPLACER tests are granted to applicants who have earned an associate degree or higher from an accredited U.S. college or university, or who have completed foreign postsecondary education determined by AIMS to be equivalent to an associate degree or higher.

Applicants qualifying for an entrance exam waiver based on education completed outside the United States must also submit a valid TOEFL or IELTS score report or receive an approved English Proficiency Exam Waiver. Score reports are only valid for 2 years after the test date. The minimum required scores to be eligible for an entrance exam waiver are as follows:

• TOEFL iBT – 79 (taken before January 21, 2026)
• TOEFL iBT – 4.0 (taken on or after January 21, 2026)
• IELTS Academic – 6.0

Graduates of a clock-hour program at AIMS Education within the past 5 years, who are enrolling in the equivalent degree program, will also receive a waiver for the ACCUPLACER tests.

Academic Integrity

At AIMS Education, we uphold the highest standards of academic integrity to ensure fairness in our admissions process. As part of this commitment, all applicants are expected to complete the admissions entrance exams honestly and independently.

Cheating and Misconduct

Any form of cheating, including but not limited to using unauthorized materials, receiving assistance from others, providing false information, or failing to follow exam guidelines, is strictly prohibited.

Consequences of Suspected Cheating

Applicants who are suspected of cheating may face the following consequences:

• Application Hold: Your application may be placed on hold, and you will not be allowed to proceed with the admissions process.
• Retake Requirement: You may be required to retake the exam on campus under the supervision of a proctor.

Interview

Applicants who earn a passing score on the entrance examination or receive an approved waiver may advance to the applicable interview stage. Applicants to selective programs complete a procedural pre-screening interview with the Admissions team before advancing to the formal application interview. Refer to the Admissions Process section for additional details.

Criminal Background Check

A criminal background check is required at the time of enrollment for the Pharmacy Technician program, and prior to the first clinical internship course for most other programs. EKG/Phlebotomy, Medical Billing and Coding, and Cardiac Monitor Technician do not require background checks. Students are required to use the vendor provided by the school. If it is discovered that a student has a criminal record, then the school reserves the right to dismiss the student. Students who are dismissed for cause are still liable for appropriate program costs up to the date of dismissal. Exact costs are determined by the terms of the enrollment contract.

In addition, all students must complete a self-background check during the enrollment process. Any student who is discovered to have lied on the self-background check may be dismissed from his/her program immediately. Students enrolled in EKG/Phlebotomy, Medical Billing and Coding, and Cardiac Monitor Technician, may be required to complete a criminal background check (at their own expense) if they disclose a past criminal history.

Drug Screening

A drug screening is required prior to the first clinical internship course for most programs. EKG/Phlebotomy, Medical Billing and Coding, and Cardiac Monitor Technician do not require drug screenings. Students are required to use the vendor provided by the school. If a student’s drug screening comes back positive, then the school reserves the right to deny admission or dismiss the student. Students who are dismissed for cause are still liable for appropriate program costs up to the date of dismissal. Exact costs are determined by the terms of the enrollment contract.

Students who disclose a history of drug use may be required to complete a drug test prior to starting class, or at any time during enrollment, at their own expense. The school administration reserves the right to dismiss any student who does not adhere to the school’s Drug and Alcohol Policy. Students who are dismissed for cause are still liable for appropriate program costs up to the date of dismissal. Exact costs are determined by the terms of the enrollment contract.