MAA EXTERNSHIP
Medical Administrative Assistant Externship in Kentucky
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on front-office healthcare experience across The Bluegrass State. Build administrative skills, professional connections, and a pathway to employment.
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Flexible
Hours
40-80
Hours Recommended
4,200+
KY Medical Offices
$0
Externship Cost
1,900+
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 Kentucky
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, rural health, addiction 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 Kentucky
Kentucky has thousands of medical offices, clinics, and healthcare facilities with front-office positions. Here are potential externship sites by region.
Louisville Metro (Jefferson County)
Kentucky's largest city with Norton Healthcare, UofL Health, and Baptist Health.
Medical Groups & Health Systems:
Norton Medical Group, UofL Physicians, Baptist Health Medical Group, Passport Health Plan physicians, Clark Memorial physicians
Specialty Clinics:
Louisville Cardiology, Norton Orthopedic, UofL Dermatology, Norton Cancer Institute, Brown Cancer Center
Hospital Systems:
Norton Hospital, UofL Health Mary & Elizabeth Hospital, Baptist Health Louisville, Jewish Hospital, Norton Children's
💡 Louisville is Kentucky's healthcare capital. UofL is state's academic center. Southern Indiana accessible across the river.
Lexington/Central (Fayette, Scott Counties)
University of Kentucky and horse country with UK HealthCare and CHI Saint Joseph.
Medical Groups & Health Systems:
UK HealthCare physicians, CHI Saint Joseph Medical Group, Central Baptist physicians, Lexington Clinic
Specialty Clinics:
Gill Heart Institute, UK Orthopedics, UK Dermatology, Markey Cancer Center
Hospital Systems:
UK Albert B. Chandler Hospital, CHI Saint Joseph Hospital, Baptist Health Lexington, Shriners Children's
💡 Lexington has UK HealthCare-Kentucky's only academic medical center. Horse industry brings unique healthcare needs.
Northern Kentucky (Kenton, Boone, Campbell Counties)
Cincinnati suburbs with St. Elizabeth Healthcare.
Medical Groups & Health Systems:
St. Elizabeth Physicians, Tri-State Primary Care, Northern Kentucky Community Health, HealthPoint Family Care
Specialty Clinics:
St. Elizabeth Heart Institute, Orthopedic Associates of Northern Kentucky, Northern Kentucky Dermatology, St. Elizabeth Cancer
Hospital Systems:
St. Elizabeth Edgewood, St. Elizabeth Florence, St. Elizabeth Ft. Thomas, St. Elizabeth Covington
💡 Northern Kentucky is Cincinnati metro-access Ohio healthcare jobs. Cross-river commuting is common.
Bowling Green/Western (Warren, Daviess Counties)
Growing region with Med Center Health and Owensboro Health.
Medical Groups & Health Systems:
Graves-Gilbert Clinic, Med Center Health physicians, Owensboro Health Medical Group, Primary Care Centers of South Central Kentucky
Specialty Clinics:
Bowling Green Cardiology, Orthopedic Associates of Bowling Green, Dermatology Associates, Med Center Cancer Center
Hospital Systems:
Medical Center at Bowling Green, Owensboro Health Regional Hospital, Greenview Regional Hospital, TriStar Greenview
💡 Western Kentucky is growing. Bowling Green has automotive manufacturing driving population growth. Lower cost of living.
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 Kentucky?
Free to enroll. Free to learn. Pay $850 only when you're ready to certify.
No credit card required • No FAFSA • No obligation