Admission Requirements

Admission Eligibility and Requirements

General Requirements

The minimum admission requirements include a high school diploma or equivalent, a passing score on the required entrance exam, basic computer skills, and meeting the minimum technology requirements.

Immigration Status

All domestic students must have one of the following:

  • U.S. citizenship
  • Legal residential status in the U.S.
  • Non-immigrant status which permits student to attend school

Physical Location Requirement

Students must be residents of a state in which AIMS is authorized to provide distance education courses. Each student’s state of residence is collected at the time of enrollment. The state of residence is determined by the student’s government issued identification, signed student attestation, or other documentation proving physical location.

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

Submission of Admission Documents

Applicants are required to turn in all required admission documents prior to enrollment. Admission 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, U.S. government issued ID, etc. At least one form of ID must include a photograph, and all forms of ID must be current.

Proof of High School Education

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

Online diplomas are only recognized if the school is accredited by an organization recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education, or the school is run by a local school district or state government agency. 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 will be considered equivalent to high school diplomas earned in the United States. If the diploma is in a language other than English, a translation will be required.

Foreign credentials may require evaluation from a recognized evaluation company.

Proof of Associate Degree (DCS applicants only)

Students who apply to the Diagnostic Cardiac Sonography (DCS) certificate program must submit proof of an associate degree or higher.

Letter of Reference

Applicants for all degree and certificate programs must submit a letter of reference. The letter must be typed, signed, and specify your program of interest. Professional or academic reference letters are recommended (E.g., supervisors, coworkers, teachers, coaches, professors, etc.).

Statement of Purpose

Applicants for all degree and certificate programs must submit a statement of purpose. This is your opportunity to convince the admissions committee why you should be selected. Your statement should be a cohesive narrative that focuses on your accomplishments, strengths, scholarly and professional goals, personal motivations, and reason for pursuing the field of study.

Transcripts

Applicants for all degree and certificate programs must submit official transcripts from any colleges they have attended.

Entrance Examinations

Open Enrollment Programs

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

Selective Application Programs

Applicants seeking admission to a degree program are required to take the ACCUPLACER tests for Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic. The minimum required score for each test is 250. Three 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 12 months. 

Entrance Exam Waivers

Waivers for the Wonderlic exam and ACCUPLACER tests will be granted to applicants who have earned an associate degree or higher from an accredited U.S. college or university.

Applicants who graduated from a college or university outside of the United States must also submit a valid TOEFL or IELTS score report. The minimum required scores to be eligible for a waiver are as follows:

  • TOEFL iBT – 79
  • TOEFL pBT – 550
  • TOEFL cBT – 213
  • IELTS – 6.0

Interview

All applicants are required to complete an interview with a school official. Applicants for certificate of achievement programs will generally interview with an admissions representative. Certificate and degree programs require an interview with the program director, director of academic affairs, and/or director of enrollment.

Criminal Background Check

A criminal background check is required for the Pharmacy Technician program at the time of enrollment and prior to the first clinical internship course for most other programs. Phlebotomy, 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 Phlebotomy, 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 for the Pharmacy Technician program at the time of enrollment and prior to the first clinical internship course for most other programs. Phlebotomy, 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.

Physical Examination and Immunizations

Students are given a student health packet at the time of enrollment which includes a physical examination form, tuberculosis (TB) screening form, and immunizations checklist. The physical form must be submitted by the first day of class. All other student health documents must be submitted by the deadlines provided in the packet. Students who do not submit the required documentation may face suspension or dismissal from their program.

Tuberculosis (TB) Screening

Students enrolled in the Medical Assistant, Patient Care Technician, Phlebotomy, and EKG/Phlebotomy programs are required to submit the TB screening by the first day of class. All other programs require the TB screening to be submitted prior to starting the first clinical internship course. Students may submit previous test results if the test was conducted no more than 12 months prior to the given deadline.

Immunizations

Students are required to show proof of the following immunizations – hepatitis B, measles, mumps, rubella, varicella, tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis. Medical records, immunization cards, and/or blood titer results, must be submitted with the immunizations checklist. The checklist serves as a guide but will not be accepted as proof of immunization.

Some clinical sites will only accept blood titers as proof of immunization. Therefore, blood titer results that show immunity are recommended in lieu of medical records.

Clearance

Students enrolled in programs that include invasive lab training (E.g., Phlebotomy Technician, Medical Assistant, etc.) will not be allowed to participate in any hands-on lab training until the required health documents are submitted. Upon submission, students will receive clearance to begin lab training.

Exempt Programs

The student health packet is not required for students enrolled in the Medical Billing & Coding, Pharmacy Technician, and Cardiac Monitor Technician programs.

Meningococcal Vaccine

The meningococcal vaccine requirements apply to all programs. Students who are required to receive the vaccination must submit proof of immunization prior to the first day of class. Provisional enrollment is not allowed for the meningococcal ACWY vaccine. 

Pending Admission Documents

Students who have not submitted all required admission documents by the first day of class, or other provided deadlines, may be permitted to provisionally enroll. Students who are provisionally enrolled must abide by the deadlines provided by the admissions department. Failure to submit all required documents by the provided deadlines may result in suspension or dismissal.

Distance Education Requirements

Please visit the Hybrid Learning page for more information about distance education requirements.

Visit Our Campus

Take the first step in achieving your career goals by visiting the AIMS campus. During your school visit you'll get to meet one-on-one with an admissions specialist. They'll help you choose the right career path and answer any questions you have. You'll also get the chance to tour the AIMS campus, including all of our classrooms, medical labs, and student facilities.