MAA EXTERNSHIP
Medical Administrative Assistant Externship in {{state_name}}
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on front-office healthcare experience across The Hawkeye State. Build administrative skills, professional connections, and a pathway to employment.
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Flexible
Hours
40-80
Hours Recommended
3,200+
IA Medical Offices
$0
Externship Cost
1,400+
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 — Primary care, family medicine, rural health, cardiology, orthopedics
- ✓ 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.
Des Moines Metro (Polk, Dallas Counties)
State capital with UnityPoint, MercyOne, and Broadlawns.
Medical Groups & Health Systems:
UnityPoint Clinic, MercyOne Medical Group, Iowa Clinic, Broadlawns Medical Center, Primary Health Care
Specialty Clinics:
Iowa Heart Center, Des Moines Orthopaedic Surgeons, Dermatology PC, MercyOne Cancer Center
Hospital Systems:
MercyOne Des Moines, UnityPoint Iowa Methodist, Broadlawns Medical Center, MercyOne West Des Moines
💡 Des Moines has 35% of Iowa healthcare jobs. Insurance industry headquarters (Principal, Wellmark) drive demand.
Iowa City/Corridor (Johnson, Linn Counties)
University of Iowa Health Care and Mercy Iowa City.
Medical Groups & Health Systems:
University of Iowa Physicians, Mercy Iowa City Medical Group, Eastern Iowa Health Center, Community Health centers
Specialty Clinics:
UI Heart & Vascular, UI Orthopaedics, UI Dermatology, Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center
Hospital Systems:
University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, Mercy Iowa City, St. Luke's Hospital (Cedar Rapids)
💡 Iowa City has UI Health-state's only academic medical center. Prestigious externship opportunity. Cedar Rapids nearby.
Quad Cities (Scott County)
Mississippi River region with Genesis Health and UnityPoint Trinity.
Medical Groups & Health Systems:
Genesis Medical Group, UnityPoint Clinic Quad Cities, Community Health Care Quad Cities, Family Resources
Specialty Clinics:
Cardiovascular Medicine, ORA Orthopedics, Genesis Dermatology, Genesis Cancer Center
Hospital Systems:
Genesis Medical Center, UnityPoint Trinity Rock Island (IL), Unity Point Trinity Bettendorf
💡 Quad Cities spans Iowa/Illinois. Cross-border opportunities. Manufacturing and healthcare are major employers.
Sioux City/Western Iowa (Woodbury, Pottawattamie Counties)
Nebraska border region with UnityPoint and MercyOne.
Medical Groups & Health Systems:
UnityPoint Clinic Sioux City, MercyOne Siouxland, CNOS physicians, Siouxland Community Health
Specialty Clinics:
Cardiology Center of Siouxland, Sioux City Orthopedics, Plains Dermatology, June E. Nylen Cancer Center
Hospital Systems:
MercyOne Siouxland, UnityPoint St. Luke's Sioux City, Jennie Edmundson (Council Bluffs)
💡 Western Iowa serves tri-state region (IA/NE/SD). Council Bluffs is Omaha metro-access Nebraska 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 {{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}}: