MAA EXTERNSHIP
Medical Administrative Assistant Externship in {{state_name}}
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on front-office healthcare experience across The Land of Enchantment. Build administrative skills, professional connections, and a pathway to employment.
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Flexible
Hours
40-80
Hours Recommended
1,900+
NM Medical Offices
$0
Externship Cost
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 {{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, Indian Health Service, community health
- ✓ 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.
Albuquerque Metro (Bernalillo, Sandoval Counties)
New Mexico's largest city with Presbyterian, UNM Health, and Lovelace.
Medical Groups & Health Systems:
Presbyterian Medical Group, UNM Medical Group, Lovelace Medical Group, First Choice Community Healthcare
Specialty Clinics:
New Mexico Heart Institute, New Mexico Orthopaedics, Albuquerque Dermatology, UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center
Hospital Systems:
UNM Hospital, Presbyterian Hospital, Lovelace Medical Center, Lovelace Women's Hospital, Heart Hospital of NM
💡 Albuquerque has 50% of NM healthcare jobs. UNM is academic center. Presbyterian is largest private system. Bilingual Spanish essential.
Santa Fe/Northern NM (Santa Fe, Los Alamos, Taos Counties)
Arts capital with Christus St. Vincent and Los Alamos Medical Center.
Medical Groups & Health Systems:
Christus St. Vincent Medical Group, Los Alamos Medical Center clinics, La Familia Medical Center, El Centro Family Health
Specialty Clinics:
Santa Fe Cardiology, Santa Fe Orthopedic, Santa Fe Dermatology, Christus Cancer Center
Hospital Systems:
Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center, Los Alamos Medical Center, Holy Cross Hospital (Taos)
💡 Santa Fe has tourism and arts community. Los Alamos has national lab employees. Northern NM is culturally rich with healthcare shortages.
Las Cruces/Southern NM (Doña Ana, Otero Counties)
Border region with Memorial Medical Center and Mountain View Regional.
Medical Groups & Health Systems:
Memorial Medical Center physicians, Mountain View Regional physicians, La Clinica de Familia, Ben Archer Health Center
Specialty Clinics:
Las Cruces Cardiology, Southwest Orthopedics, Southern NM Dermatology, Memorial Cancer Center
Hospital Systems:
Memorial Medical Center, Mountain View Regional Medical Center, Gerald Champion Regional (Alamogordo)
💡 Las Cruces serves US-Mexico border region. Bilingual Spanish essential. White Sands/Holloman AFB nearby provide military healthcare.
Eastern NM (Chaves, Lea, Curry Counties)
Oil/gas region with Eastern New Mexico Medical Center and Lea Regional.
Medical Groups & Health Systems:
Eastern NM Medical Center physicians, Lea Regional Medical Center physicians, Roosevelt General clinics, Plains Regional physicians
Specialty Clinics:
Roswell Cardiology, Eastern NM Orthopedics, Permian Basin specialists
Hospital Systems:
Eastern New Mexico Medical Center, Lea Regional Medical Center, Plains Regional Medical Center, Roosevelt General
💡 Eastern NM has oil/gas economy. Significant healthcare shortages. Employers offer housing and incentives. Near Texas Permian Basin.
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}}: