MAA EXTERNSHIP
Medical Administrative Assistant Externship in California
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on front-office healthcare experience across The Golden State. Build administrative skills, professional connections, and a pathway to employment.
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Flexible
Hours
40-80
Hours Recommended
45,000+
CA Medical Offices
$0
Externship Cost
18,500+
Annual Openings
Why Get an MAA Externship?
A Medical Administrative Assistant externship gives you real-world front-office healthcare experience that employers value. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical secretaries and administrative assistants earn a median salary of $40,000+ with strong job growth. Hands-on experience sets you apart from other candidates.
An externship helps you:
- ✓ Practice scheduling, patient check-in, and EHR systems in a real medical environment
- ✓ Build professional references from healthcare supervisors
- ✓ Discover which medical office setting fits you best (primary care, specialty, hospital)
- ✓ Convert your externship into a job offer — many sites hire their externs
New to healthcare? EHired offers free training to prepare you for AMCA MAAC certification. An externship is optional but highly recommended for building confidence and connections.
⚠️ Important: EHired does NOT place, arrange, or supervise externships. You contact facilities directly to arrange your own placement. This self-managed approach gives you flexibility to choose sites near your home and build direct relationships with potential employers.
How to Find an Externship in California
Follow this step-by-step process to secure a front-office healthcare externship.
Identify Potential Sites
Look for healthcare facilities with front-office administrative staff:
- ✓ Physician practices — Primary care, family medicine, internal medicine
- ✓ Specialty clinics — All specialties-cardiology, orthopedics, dermatology, oncology, primary care, urgent care
- ✓ Hospital admissions/registration — Front desk, patient access
- ✓ Urgent care centers — FastMed, Concentra, CityMD
- ✓ Medical billing companies — Revenue cycle management
- ✓ Health insurance offices — Claims processing, member services
Prepare Your Approach
Get ready before contacting sites:
- ✓ Update your resume — Include EHired training, any office/admin experience
- ✓ Prepare a pitch — "I'm completing MAA training and seeking hands-on front-office experience"
- ✓ Highlight your skills — Computer proficiency, customer service, attention to detail
- ✓ Be flexible — Offer to work their schedule, start immediately
- ✓ Dress professionally — Business casual for in-person visits
Make Contact
Reach out to facilities directly:
- ✓ Call first — Ask for the office manager or practice administrator
- ✓ Visit in person — Drop off resume, ask to speak with manager
- ✓ Email if provided — Brief, professional, attach resume
- ✓ Explain the arrangement — Unpaid, flexible hours, eager to learn
- ✓ Follow up — If no response in 1 week, call again politely
Complete Your Externship
Make the most of your experience:
- ✓ Track your hours — Log date, hours, and tasks performed
- ✓ Learn actively — Ask questions, volunteer for tasks
- ✓ Be reliable — Show up on time, every time
- ✓ Build relationships — Get to know staff, show appreciation
- ✓ Ask about openings — Express interest in future employment
Sample Script: Calling a Medical Office
"Hi, my name is [Your Name]. I'm completing a Medical Administrative Assistant training program and I'm looking to gain hands-on front-office experience through an externship. I'm wondering if your practice might have room for an extern? I'm flexible with scheduling, I'm proficient with computers and EHR systems, and I'd be happy to help with patient check-in, scheduling, phones, and whatever the front desk needs. Would it be possible to speak with the office manager about this opportunity?"
Key points to emphasize: You're trained, you're free help, you're flexible, and you can handle phones and computers. Many medical offices are understaffed at the front desk and welcome extra help.
Where to Find Externships in California
California has thousands of medical offices, clinics, and healthcare facilities with front-office positions. Here are potential externship sites by region.
Los Angeles Metro (LA, Orange, Ventura Counties)
Nation's 2nd largest city with Kaiser, UCLA Health, Cedars-Sinai, and hundreds of medical groups.
Medical Groups & Health Systems:
Kaiser Permanente Southern California, UCLA Health, Cedars-Sinai Medical Group, Providence Medical Associates, MemorialCare Medical Group
Specialty Clinics:
LA Cardiology Associates, Cedars-Sinai Orthopedics, UCLA Dermatology, City of Hope Oncology
Hospital Systems:
UCLA Medical Center, Cedars-Sinai, Providence St. Joseph, Kaiser Los Angeles, Hoag Memorial
💡 LA is massive and competitive. Kaiser is California's largest HMO. Bilingual Spanish essential in many areas.
San Francisco Bay Area (SF, Alameda, Santa Clara, San Mateo Counties)
Tech hub with UCSF, Stanford Health, Kaiser, and Sutter Health.
Medical Groups & Health Systems:
UCSF Health, Stanford Health Care, Sutter Health Bay Area, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, John Muir Health
Specialty Clinics:
Palo Alto Medical Foundation, Stanford Cardiovascular, UCSF Dermatology, Silicon Valley Orthopedics
Hospital Systems:
UCSF Medical Center, Stanford Hospital, Kaiser Oakland, John Muir Walnut Creek, El Camino Health
💡 Bay Area has highest wages but extreme cost of living. Tech companies offer premium healthcare benefits.
San Diego Metro (San Diego County)
Military presence with Scripps, Sharp, and UC San Diego Health.
Medical Groups & Health Systems:
Scripps Clinic, Sharp Rees-Stealy, UC San Diego Health, Kaiser San Diego, Rady Children's physicians
Specialty Clinics:
Scripps Cardiology, Sharp Orthopedics, UC San Diego Dermatology, San Diego Cancer Center
Hospital Systems:
Scripps La Jolla, Sharp Memorial, UC San Diego Medical Center, Rady Children's Hospital
💡 San Diego has military healthcare (Naval Medical Center). Excellent lifestyle draws healthcare workers.
Central Valley (Fresno, Sacramento, Bakersfield)
Agricultural heartland with Kaiser, Dignity Health, and UC Davis.
Medical Groups & Health Systems:
Kaiser Permanente Central Valley, Dignity Health Medical Foundation, UC Davis Health, Sutter Health Sacramento, Community Medical Centers
Specialty Clinics:
Fresno Heart & Surgical, Valley Orthopedics, Central California Dermatology, UCSF Fresno
Hospital Systems:
UC Davis Medical Center, Community Regional Fresno, Dignity Health Mercy, Kaiser Sacramento
💡 Central Valley has lower cost of living than coast with growing healthcare demand. Bilingual Spanish very valuable.
What You'll Learn During Your Externship
A front-office healthcare externship exposes you to real administrative workflows. Here are skills you'll develop:
Appointment Scheduling
Booking, rescheduling, and managing patient appointments. Learning scheduling software and optimizing provider calendars.
Patient Check-In/Out
Greeting patients, verifying demographics, collecting copays, updating contact information, and discharge procedures.
EHR/EMR Systems
Navigating electronic health records like Epic, Cerner, or Athena. Entering data, scanning documents, managing patient charts.
Insurance Verification
Verifying patient coverage, understanding copays/deductibles, prior authorizations, and eligibility checks.
Billing Basics
Understanding CPT and ICD codes, charge entry, payment posting, and patient billing inquiries.
Phone & Communication
Professional phone etiquette, message taking, patient callbacks, and coordinating with clinical staff.
Ready to Start Your MAA Career in California?
Free to enroll. Free to learn. Pay $850 only when you're ready to certify.
No credit card required • No FAFSA • No obligation