MAA EXTERNSHIP
Medical Administrative Assistant Externship in Texas
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on front-office healthcare experience across The Lone Star State. Build administrative skills, professional connections, and a pathway to employment.
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Flexible
Hours
40-80
Hours Recommended
32,000+
TX Medical Offices
$0
Externship Cost
14,500+
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 Texas
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-massive healthcare market, academic centers, community health, border 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 Texas
Texas has thousands of medical offices, clinics, and healthcare facilities with front-office positions. Here are potential externship sites by region.
Houston Metro (Harris, Fort Bend, Montgomery Counties)
Texas Medical Center-world's largest medical complex with MD Anderson, Houston Methodist, and more.
Medical Groups & Health Systems:
Houston Methodist physicians, Memorial Hermann physicians, MD Anderson specialists, Baylor St. Luke's, Texas Children's physicians
Specialty Clinics:
Texas Heart Institute, Houston Orthopedic, Houston Dermatology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Texas Children's specialists
Hospital Systems:
Houston Methodist, Memorial Hermann, MD Anderson, Texas Children's, Baylor St. Luke's, Ben Taub
💡 Houston has world's largest medical center. MD Anderson is #1 cancer center. Massive opportunities. Bilingual Spanish very valuable.
Dallas-Fort Worth Metro (Dallas, Tarrant, Collin Counties)
DFW metroplex with UT Southwestern, Texas Health, and Baylor Scott & White.
Medical Groups & Health Systems:
UT Southwestern physicians, Texas Health physicians, Baylor Scott & White physicians, Medical City physicians, Parkland physicians
Specialty Clinics:
UT Southwestern Cardiology, Texas Orthopedics, UT Southwestern Dermatology, Simmons Cancer Center, Baylor Cancer Center
Hospital Systems:
UT Southwestern, Texas Health Presbyterian, Baylor University Medical Center, Parkland Memorial, Medical City Dallas
💡 DFW is massive and growing. UT Southwestern is top academic center. Texas Health and Baylor Scott & White dominate community care.
Austin Metro (Travis, Williamson Counties)
Texas capital and tech hub with Ascension Seton and St. David's.
Medical Groups & Health Systems:
Ascension Seton physicians, St. David's HealthCare physicians, Austin Regional Clinic, CommUnityCare, Baylor Scott & White Round Rock
Specialty Clinics:
Austin Heart, Texas Orthopedics, Austin Dermatology, Dell Seton Cancer Center, Texas Oncology Austin
Hospital Systems:
Dell Seton Medical Center, St. David's Medical Center, Ascension Seton, Baylor Scott & White Round Rock
💡 Austin is fastest-growing major Texas city. Tech industry drives healthcare demand. Dell Medical School is new academic center.
San Antonio Metro (Bexar County)
Military city with University Health, Methodist, and military medicine.
Medical Groups & Health Systems:
UT Health San Antonio physicians, University Health physicians, Methodist Healthcare physicians, Baptist Health physicians
Specialty Clinics:
Cardiology Clinic of San Antonio, San Antonio Orthopaedic Group, SA Dermatology, Mays Cancer Center
Hospital Systems:
University Hospital, Methodist Hospital, Baptist Medical Center, CHRISTUS Santa Rosa, Brooke Army Medical Center
💡 San Antonio has major military presence (BAMC, Lackland, Fort Sam Houston). UT Health is academic center. Bilingual Spanish essential.
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 Texas?
Free to enroll. Free to learn. Pay $850 only when you're ready to certify.
No credit card required • No FAFSA • No obligation