MAA EXTERNSHIP
Medical Administrative Assistant Externship in {{state_name}}
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on front-office healthcare experience across The Garden State. Build administrative skills, professional connections, and a pathway to employment.
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Flexible
Hours
40-80
Hours Recommended
8,500+
NJ Medical Offices
$0
Externship Cost
3,200+
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.
Northern New Jersey (Bergen, Passaic, Essex, Hudson Counties)
Most densely populated region with major medical groups, hospital systems, and specialty practices.
Medical Groups & Health Systems:
Hackensack Meridian Medical Group, Atlantic Medical Group, RWJBarnabas Health Medical Group, Valley Medical Group, Holy Name physicians
Specialty Clinics:
Valley Cardiology, Orthopedic Institute of NJ, Dermatology Associates, Regional Cancer Care Associates
Hospital Systems:
Hackensack University Medical Center, Morristown Medical Center, Saint Barnabas, Clara Maass, Valley Hospital
💡 Northern NJ has highest demand. Bilingual Spanish increasingly valuable. Many practices near NYC offer competitive wages.
Central New Jersey (Middlesex, Monmouth, Somerset, Mercer Counties)
Growing healthcare corridor along Route 1 and I-95. Mix of academic and community practices.
Medical Groups & Health Systems:
Rutgers Health Group, Penn Medicine Princeton, CentraState Medical Group, Robert Wood Johnson Medical Group
Specialty Clinics:
Central Jersey Cardiology, Orthopedic Associates of Central Jersey, Princeton Dermatology, Rutgers Cancer Institute
Hospital Systems:
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, Penn Medicine Princeton, CentraState Medical Center, Capital Health
💡 Central NJ has strong medical office market near pharma companies. RWJ and Princeton offer academic opportunities.
Shore Region (Ocean, Atlantic, Cape May Counties)
Seasonal tourism creates unique healthcare patterns. Retiree population drives specialty needs.
Medical Groups & Health Systems:
Shore Medical Group, AtlantiCare Physician Group, Ocean Medical Center practices, Inspira Medical Group
Specialty Clinics:
Shore Cardiology, Ocean Orthopedics, Shore Dermatology, Regional Cancer Care Shore
Hospital Systems:
Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Ocean Medical Center, AtlantiCare Regional, Southern Ocean Medical Center
💡 Shore region has seasonal fluctuations. Summer brings higher volume. Retiree population means geriatric specialty demand.
Southern New Jersey (Camden, Burlington, Gloucester Counties)
Philadelphia suburbs with Virtua and Cooper health systems. Cross-border opportunities with PA.
Medical Groups & Health Systems:
Virtua Medical Group, Cooper Physician Alliance, Inspira Health Network, Jefferson Health NJ
Specialty Clinics:
Cooper Cardiology, Virtua Orthopedics, South Jersey Dermatology, MD Anderson at Cooper
Hospital Systems:
Cooper University Hospital, Virtua Voorhees, Virtua Memorial, Jefferson Stratford
💡 Southern NJ borders Philly-access both states' healthcare markets. Cooper is academic center. Virtua dominates Burlington/Camden.
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}}: