MAA EXTERNSHIP
Medical Administrative Assistant Externship in North Carolina
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on front-office healthcare experience across The Tar Heel State. Build administrative skills, professional connections, and a pathway to employment.
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Flexible
Hours
40-80
Hours Recommended
10,200+
NC Medical Offices
$0
Externship Cost
4,500+
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 North Carolina
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-Research Triangle excellence, community health, academic 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 North Carolina
North Carolina has thousands of medical offices, clinics, and healthcare facilities with front-office positions. Here are potential externship sites by region.
Charlotte Metro (Mecklenburg, Union Counties)
North Carolina's largest city with Atrium Health and Novant Health.
Medical Groups & Health Systems:
Atrium Health physicians, Novant Health Medical Group, OrthoCarolina, Charlotte Gastroenterology
Specialty Clinics:
Sanger Heart & Vascular, OrthoCarolina, Charlotte Dermatology, Levine Cancer Institute
Hospital Systems:
Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center, Novant Health Presbyterian, Atrium Health Mercy, Novant Health Matthews
💡 Charlotte is NC's largest city and financial hub. Atrium and Novant are dominant systems. Growing rapidly with abundant opportunities.
Research Triangle (Wake, Durham, Orange Counties)
Duke, UNC, and WakeMed in America's premier research region.
Medical Groups & Health Systems:
Duke Primary Care, UNC Physicians Network, WakeMed Physician Practices, UNC REX physicians
Specialty Clinics:
Duke Cardiology, UNC Orthopedics, Duke Dermatology, Duke Cancer Institute, UNC Lineberger Cancer Center
Hospital Systems:
Duke University Hospital, UNC Medical Center, WakeMed Raleigh, Duke Regional, UNC REX
💡 Research Triangle has world-class academic medicine. Duke and UNC are highly competitive but offer unmatched training. Biotech/pharma nearby.
Piedmont Triad (Guilford, Forsyth Counties)
Greensboro and Winston-Salem with Cone Health and Atrium Wake Forest.
Medical Groups & Health Systems:
Cone Health Medical Group, Atrium Health Wake Forest physicians, Novant Health Triad, High Point Regional physicians
Specialty Clinics:
Greensboro Cardiology, Piedmont Orthopedics, Triad Dermatology, Atrium Wake Forest Cancer Center
Hospital Systems:
Moses Cone Hospital, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, High Point Regional, Novant Health Forsyth
💡 Piedmont Triad has Wake Forest Baptist (now Atrium)-academic excellence. Growing region with solid opportunities and lower cost than Charlotte/Triangle.
Coastal NC (New Hanover, Cumberland Counties)
Wilmington and Fayetteville with NHRMC and Cape Fear Valley.
Medical Groups & Health Systems:
NHRMC Physician Group, Cape Fear Valley physicians, Vidant Health coastal clinics, Coastal Carolina Health Care
Specialty Clinics:
Wilmington Cardiology, EmergeOrtho Coastal, Wilmington Dermatology, Zimmer Cancer Center
Hospital Systems:
New Hanover Regional Medical Center, Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, Onslow Memorial Hospital, Vidant Duplin
💡 Coastal NC has beach lifestyle. Fort Bragg brings military healthcare to Fayetteville. Wilmington is growing retirement destination.
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 North Carolina?
Free to enroll. Free to learn. Pay $850 only when you're ready to certify.
No credit card required • No FAFSA • No obligation