MAA EXTERNSHIP
Medical Administrative Assistant Externship in Indiana
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on front-office healthcare experience across The Hoosier State. Build administrative skills, professional connections, and a pathway to employment.
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Flexible
Hours
40-80
Hours Recommended
6,500+
IN Medical Offices
$0
Externship Cost
2,900+
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 Indiana
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 — Primary care, cardiology, orthopedics, oncology, family medicine, sports medicine
- ✓ 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 Indiana
Indiana has thousands of medical offices, clinics, and healthcare facilities with front-office positions. Here are potential externship sites by region.
Indianapolis Metro (Marion, Hamilton, Hendricks, Johnson Counties)
State capital and healthcare hub with IU Health, Ascension St. Vincent, and Community Health.
Medical Groups & Health Systems:
IU Health Physicians, Ascension Medical Group, Community Physician Network, Franciscan Physician Network, Eskenazi Health
Specialty Clinics:
Indiana Heart Physicians, OrthoIndy, Forefront Dermatology Indiana, IU Health Simon Cancer Center
Hospital Systems:
IU Health Methodist, Ascension St. Vincent, Community Hospital North, Eskenazi Health, Riley Children's
💡 Indianapolis has 50% of Indiana healthcare jobs. IU Health is state's largest employer. Competitive but abundant.
Fort Wayne/Northeast (Allen, Elkhart Counties)
Manufacturing region with Parkview Health and Lutheran Health.
Medical Groups & Health Systems:
Parkview Physicians Group, Lutheran Medical Group, IU Health Fort Wayne physicians, Community Health physicians
Specialty Clinics:
Fort Wayne Cardiology, Orthopedics Northeast, Fort Wayne Dermatology, Parkview Cancer Institute
Hospital Systems:
Parkview Regional Medical Center, Lutheran Hospital, IU Health Fort Wayne, Elkhart General Hospital
💡 Fort Wayne is Indiana's 2nd largest city. Growing healthcare market with lower cost of living than Indy.
South Bend/Michiana (St. Joseph, LaPorte Counties)
Notre Dame region with Beacon Health and Memorial Hospital.
Medical Groups & Health Systems:
Beacon Medical Group, Memorial Medical Group, Notre Dame affiliated clinics, HealthLinc
Specialty Clinics:
South Bend Cardiology, South Bend Orthopaedics, Michiana Dermatology, Beacon Cancer Care
Hospital Systems:
Beacon Memorial Hospital, Elkhart General, St. Joseph Regional, LaPorte Hospital
💡 South Bend serves Michigan border region. Notre Dame brings academic influence. Cross-border opportunities exist.
Evansville/Southern Indiana (Vanderburgh, Warrick Counties)
Ohio River region with Deaconess Health and Ascension St. Vincent.
Medical Groups & Health Systems:
Deaconess Clinic, Ascension Medical Group Southwest, Ohio Valley Heart Care, Evansville Primary Care
Specialty Clinics:
Tri-State Cardiology, Premier Orthopedics, Southern Indiana Dermatology, Deaconess Cancer Center
Hospital Systems:
Deaconess Midtown, Ascension St. Vincent Evansville, Deaconess Gateway, Deaconess Henderson (KY)
💡 Evansville serves tri-state region (IN/KY/IL). Lower cost of living with solid healthcare opportunities.
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 Indiana?
Free to enroll. Free to learn. Pay $850 only when you're ready to certify.
No credit card required • No FAFSA • No obligation