The Kaplan concept began in 1938 when Stanley Kaplan began tutoring students, many of them immigrants, in the basement of his family home. By 1984, there were approximately 100 Kaplan testing preparation centers around the U.S., and the company was acquired by the Washington Post. In the 1990s, the company grew to include many types of educational services, and in 2000, entered the higher education market. Over the years, Kaplan’s educational market has grown worldwide.
| Overall Score (about) | 45.1 |
| Admission Success rate | N/A |
| Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty | 108 : 1 |
| Retention (full-time / part-time) | 77% / N/A |
| Enrollment Total (all students) | 323 |
Students wishing to study at Kaplan Career Institute—Nashville have a choice of three fields: Criminal Justice, Paralegal, and Allied Health.
Those wishing to pursue a criminal justice associate’s degree study criminal investigation, juvenile delinquency, criminal behavior, crime and loss prevention, corporate security, and law enforcement. The program provides not only general education courses and an emphasis on various types of law enforcement, but also hands-on approaches to theories and techniques, and real life applications through externships. A firearms training simulator allows students to experience real-life simulated scenarios, make split second decisions in use of force taken from real police records, participate in judgment training, develop observation skills, and train on equipment used by law enforcement officials.
Careers open to those with a criminal justice associate degree include homeland security, airport security, private security, undercover security, security management, border patrol, loss prevention, and juvenile detention officer.
In the paralegal area, students can pursue either a general practice paralegal certificate or a paralegal associate of applied science degree. The Kaplan program is the only American Bar Association approved paralegal program in Nashville. The certificate program prepares students for a variety of entry-level paralegal jobs in such legal settings as firms, corporations, or government agencies. Those with paralegal certificates are equipped to do a number of jobs upon graduation, including legal research, drafting of documents, and law office management. The paralegal associate’s degree takes the coursework further. Those pursuing this option will gain a basic understanding of the main areas of law and the court system, and will take coursework in legal research, civil litigation, contracts, criminal law, wills, trusts, and estates, and personal injury and tort law. Entry level positions open to those who obtain this degee include paralegal, legal specialist, legal receptionist, office administrator, office manager, and many others.
In the Allied Health area, students can earn diplomas to become dental assistants, medical assistants, and medical billing and coding specialists. Graduates may find a good job market upon graduating, as Nashville is a major healthcare town.
As the population ages, there will be more need for medical and dentistry services. The dental assistant program provides training in radiographs, tray setups, instrument sterilization, four-handed dentistry, impressions, equipment maintenance, model trimming, charting, and reception duties. Students learn office management and communication, record management and ethics, and also get hands-on experience in chairside assistance, dental emergencies, identifying structures and teeth, as well as codes, in the oral cavity, dental radiology, and preventive dentistry.
The medical assistant diploma program prepares students for entry level jobs as medical assistants, clinical laboratory aides, hospital donor unit assistants, blood bank donor assistants, office and laboratory assistants. Kaplan states their program focuses on evolving trends in healthcare so that students can graduate with needed skills and enter right into the workforce. Students get a hands-on education to allow them to assist a physician with physical exams, minor surgical procedures, administering injections, recording vital signs, performing EKGs, venipuncture and routine tests, among other duties. Students also receive needed instruction in computer and administrative skills to round out knowledge needed in a medical setting. Students are also offered help in preparing for the certified medical assistant exam.
Kaplan also prepares students to become medical billing and coding specialists, other growing fields. Medical billers calculate amount due from patients, prepare invoices and follow up to make sure payment has been made. Medical billers also often negotiate with insurance companies on payments or reimbursements. Medical coders assign codes to medical procedures and treatments according to industry standards.
The curriculum covers such topics as health insurance, office procedures, medical coding and terminology, as well as coding and insurance, databases, medical bookkeeping and terminology, transcription and records management.
Graduating students may seek entry level opportunities at medical offices and clinics, home health agencies, hospitals, insurance agencies, medical billing companies, medical group practices, and nursing homes.
Kaplan says that as soon as you contact the school, you are matched with a representative who will guide you through the admissions process. The representative will help you identify interests and career goals, discuss career options, arrange for a personal tour of the campus, and get you started in the admissions process.
Applicants must either be a high school graduate, have a GED, or a home study certificate or transcript from a home study program, equal to the high school level, that is recognized by your home state. You can request admissions information either online or by calling Kaplan’s toll-free telephone number.
Credits can be transferred among Kaplan institutions, with some restrictions. Credits may or not may not transfer between a Kaplan institution and a non-Kaplan institution.Talk to your representative to see if your credits will transfer.
Students at Kaplan Career Institute—Nashville have a number of financial aid options available. Students can apply for federal or state grants, which do not have to be repaid. Students can also apply for loans and scholarships and work/study. Kaplan Career Institute students are eligible for Title IV federal student loan programs, and the school also offers tuition discounts for qualified military personnel, veterans, and military spouses.
The school’s website has a lot of information pertaining to how to apply for financial aid, or you can ask your school representative how to start the process.
Kaplan Career Institute—Nashville is conveniently located near the Nashville airport and major interstates. There are many apartment communities nearby, and downtown Nashville—with all of its fun activities—is only minutes away.
Kaplan Career Institute has instituted a commitment to students—that students don’t have to pay for the introductory course in their program (except for application fee). If you feel the program is not right for you, you can drop out after the introductory course without further obligation.
The school is accredited by the Commission of the Council on Occupational Education, and the individual programs are accredited and approved by various organizations.
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