MAA EXTERNSHIP
Medical Administrative Assistant Externship in {{state_name}}
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on front-office healthcare experience across The Prairie State. Build administrative skills, professional connections, and a pathway to employment.
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Flexible
Hours
40-80
Hours Recommended
14,000+
IL Medical Offices
$0
Externship Cost
6,200+
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 {{state_name}}
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-academic medicine, community health, primary care, specialty 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 {{state_name}}
{{state_name}} has thousands of medical offices, clinics, and healthcare facilities with front-office positions. Here are potential externship sites by region.
Chicago Metro (Cook, DuPage, Lake, Will Counties)
Nation's 3rd largest city with Northwestern, University of Chicago, Rush, and Advocate Aurora.
Medical Groups & Health Systems:
Northwestern Medical Group, University of Chicago Medicine, Rush Health, Advocate Medical Group, Loyola Medicine
Specialty Clinics:
Chicago Cardiology Institute, Midwest Orthopedics at Rush, Northwestern Dermatology, Robert H. Lurie Cancer Center
Hospital Systems:
Northwestern Memorial, University of Chicago Medical Center, Rush University Medical Center, Advocate Christ, Loyola
💡 Chicago is a major healthcare hub. Academic centers offer prestigious externships. Competitive but abundant opportunities.
Springfield/Central Illinois (Sangamon, McLean Counties)
State capital with HSHS, Memorial Health, and OSF HealthCare.
Medical Groups & Health Systems:
HSHS Medical Group, Memorial Physician Services, OSF Medical Group, Springfield Clinic
Specialty Clinics:
Prairie Cardiology, Orthopedic Center of Illinois, Springfield Dermatology, Simmons Cancer Institute
Hospital Systems:
HSHS St. John's Hospital, Memorial Medical Center, OSF Saint Francis Peoria, Carle BroMenn
💡 Central Illinois has government healthcare jobs. Springfield Clinic is one of Midwest's largest multi-specialty groups.
Quad Cities/Northern Illinois (Rock Island, Winnebago Counties)
Iowa border region with UnityPoint, Trinity, and OSF.
Medical Groups & Health Systems:
UnityPoint Clinic, Trinity Medical Group, OSF Northern Illinois, Mercyhealth physicians
Specialty Clinics:
Cardiovascular Medicine PC, ORA Orthopedics, Dermatology Associates of Rockford, Genesis Cancer Center
Hospital Systems:
UnityPoint Trinity, OSF Saint Anthony Rockford, Mercyhealth Javon Bea Hospital, SwedishAmerican
💡 Quad Cities spans Illinois/Iowa. Cross-border opportunities exist. Rockford is Chicago's western healthcare satellite.
Southern Illinois (St. Clair, Madison Counties)
St. Louis metro suburbs with BJC, SSM Health, and HSHS.
Medical Groups & Health Systems:
BJC Medical Group, SSM Health Medical Group, HSHS St. Elizabeth's physicians, Anderson Medical Group
Specialty Clinics:
Cardiac Consultants, Illinois Bone & Joint, Southern Illinois Dermatology, Siteman Cancer Center South
Hospital Systems:
Memorial Hospital Belleville, SSM Health St. Mary's, HSHS St. Elizabeth's, Anderson Hospital
💡 Southern Illinois is St. Louis metro-access Missouri healthcare jobs. Lower cost of living than Chicago.
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 {{state_name}}?
Free to enroll. Free to learn. Pay $850 only when you're ready to certify.
No credit card required • No FAFSA • No obligation
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about MAA externships in {{state_name}}: