MAA EXTERNSHIP
Medical Administrative Assistant Externship in {{state_name}}
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on front-office healthcare experience across The Beaver State. Build administrative skills, professional connections, and a pathway to employment.
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Flexible
Hours
40-80
Hours Recommended
4,200+
OR 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 {{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, community health, academic medicine, behavioral 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.
Portland Metro (Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas Counties)
Oregon's largest city with OHSU, Providence, Legacy, and Kaiser.
Medical Groups & Health Systems:
OHSU Health physicians, Providence Medical Group, Legacy Health physicians, Kaiser Permanente Northwest, Virginia Mason Franciscan (Adventist)
Specialty Clinics:
OHSU Heart, The Oregon Clinic, OHSU Dermatology, Knight Cancer Institute
Hospital Systems:
OHSU Hospital, Providence Portland, Legacy Emanuel, Providence St. Vincent, Adventist Health Portland
💡 Portland has 60% of Oregon healthcare jobs. OHSU is only academic center. Kaiser and Providence dominate primary care. Vancouver WA accessible.
Salem/Willamette Valley (Marion, Polk Counties)
State capital with Salem Health and Kaiser.
Medical Groups & Health Systems:
Salem Health Medical Group, Kaiser Permanente Salem, Willamette Valley Medical Center physicians, Santiam Hospital clinics
Specialty Clinics:
Salem Cardiology, Salem Orthopedics, Willamette Dermatology, Salem Cancer Institute
Hospital Systems:
Salem Hospital, Santiam Hospital, Willamette Valley Medical Center, West Valley Hospital
💡 Salem is state capital with government healthcare. Willamette Valley has agriculture-Spanish bilingual valuable. Growing healthcare market.
Eugene/Lane County
University of Oregon region with PeaceHealth and McKenzie-Willamette.
Medical Groups & Health Systems:
PeaceHealth Medical Group, Oregon Medical Group, McKenzie-Willamette physicians, White Bird Clinic
Specialty Clinics:
Oregon Cardiology, Slocum Orthopedics, Cascade Dermatology, PeaceHealth Cancer Center
Hospital Systems:
PeaceHealth Sacred Heart University District, PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Riverbend, McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center
💡 Eugene has UO influence. PeaceHealth dominates regional healthcare. Active outdoor community. Lower cost than Portland.
Central/Eastern Oregon (Deschutes, Jackson Counties)
Bend and Medford with St. Charles and Asante.
Medical Groups & Health Systems:
St. Charles Health System physicians, Asante Physician Partners, Mosaic Medical, Central Oregon Pediatric Associates
Specialty Clinics:
Central Oregon Cardiology, The Center Orthopedics, Bend Dermatology, St. Charles Cancer Center
Hospital Systems:
St. Charles Bend, Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center, Sky Lakes Medical Center (Klamath Falls), Blue Mountain Hospital
💡 Central/Eastern Oregon has shortages and incentives. Bend is fastest-growing Oregon city. Medford serves Rogue Valley. Outdoor lifestyle.
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}}: