Students are admitted to the NESA program at the beginning of each fall semester, and each entering class proceeds through the carefully integrated program. There are both day and evening class sections, and classes are held year-round with breaks between semesters. Student interns may be required to continue practice during breaks. Students may pursue full or part-time study during the day or evening. Applicants are advised that master's-level degree programs require substantial home study in addition to classroom participation. Students are strongly advised not to work full-time while enrolled as full-time students.

Most of NESA's core curriculum courses are scheduled during three to four days or evenings per week (15 to 18 classroom hours) throughout the three-year program. On occasion, weekend seminars may be required. Some co-requisite classes may also be scheduled on weekends. During the first two years of the program, students are required to complete 30 hours of clinical assistantship each semester in addition to the regularly scheduled course work. In the third year of the program, three clinical rotations are required each week in addition to regularly scheduled course work.