MAA EXTERNSHIP
Medical Administrative Assistant Externship in Ohio
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on front-office healthcare experience across The Buckeye State. Build administrative skills, professional connections, and a pathway to employment.
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Flexible
Hours
40-80
Hours Recommended
12,500+
OH Medical Offices
$0
Externship Cost
5,500+
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 Ohio
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-Cleveland Clinic excellence, academic medicine, 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 Ohio
Ohio has thousands of medical offices, clinics, and healthcare facilities with front-office positions. Here are potential externship sites by region.
Cleveland Metro (Cuyahoga, Lake, Lorain Counties)
Cleveland Clinic (#2 in world), University Hospitals, and MetroHealth.
Medical Groups & Health Systems:
Cleveland Clinic physicians, University Hospitals physicians, MetroHealth Medical Group, Southwest General physicians
Specialty Clinics:
Cleveland Clinic Cardiology, UH Orthopedics, Cleveland Clinic Dermatology, Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center
Hospital Systems:
Cleveland Clinic Main Campus, University Hospitals Cleveland, MetroHealth Medical Center, Southwest General
💡 Cleveland has world-class Cleveland Clinic (#2 globally). University Hospitals is also excellent. Highly competitive but unmatched experience.
Columbus Metro (Franklin, Delaware Counties)
State capital with Ohio State Wexner, OhioHealth, and Mount Carmel.
Medical Groups & Health Systems:
Ohio State University Physicians, OhioHealth Physician Group, Mount Carmel Medical Group, Central Ohio Primary Care
Specialty Clinics:
OSU Heart Center, OhioHealth Orthopedics, OSU Dermatology, James Cancer Hospital
Hospital Systems:
Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, OhioHealth Riverside, Mount Carmel East, OhioHealth Grant, Nationwide Children's
💡 Columbus is Ohio's largest city and growing rapidly. OSU Wexner is major academic center. OhioHealth dominates community healthcare.
Cincinnati Metro (Hamilton, Butler Counties)
UC Health, TriHealth, and Mercy Health in Ohio's southwest corner.
Medical Groups & Health Systems:
UC Health physicians, TriHealth physicians, Mercy Health physicians, Cincinnati Children's physicians, St. Elizabeth physicians
Specialty Clinics:
UC Heart, TriHealth Orthopedics, UC Dermatology, UC Cancer Center, Cincinnati Children's specialists
Hospital Systems:
UC Medical Center, TriHealth Good Samaritan, Mercy Health West, Christ Hospital, Cincinnati Children's
💡 Cincinnati has UC Health academic medicine plus excellent community systems. Northern Kentucky accessible across river. Lower cost than Cleveland.
Toledo/Northwest Ohio (Lucas, Wood Counties)
ProMedica and Mercy Health serve northwest Ohio.
Medical Groups & Health Systems:
ProMedica Physicians, Mercy Health physicians, The Toledo Clinic, Wood County Hospital clinics
Specialty Clinics:
ProMedica Cardiology, Toledo Orthopedic, ProMedica Dermatology, ProMedica Cancer Institute
Hospital Systems:
ProMedica Toledo Hospital, Mercy Health St. Vincent, Mercy Health St. Anne, Wood County Hospital
💡 Toledo has ProMedica and Mercy competing for talent. Michigan border accessible. More affordable than major metros with solid 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 Ohio?
Free to enroll. Free to learn. Pay $850 only when you're ready to certify.
No credit card required • No FAFSA • No obligation