MAA EXTERNSHIP
Medical Administrative Assistant Externship in Vermont
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on front-office healthcare experience across The Green Mountain State. Build administrative skills, professional connections, and a pathway to employment.
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Flexible
Hours
40-80
Hours Recommended
750+
VT Medical Offices
$0
Externship Cost
350+
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 Vermont
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, rural health, mental 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 Vermont
Vermont has thousands of medical offices, clinics, and healthcare facilities with front-office positions. Here are potential externship sites by region.
Burlington/Chittenden County
Vermont's largest city with UVM Medical Center-state's academic center.
Medical Groups & Health Systems:
UVM Medical Group, Community Health Centers of Burlington, Thomas Chittenden Health Center, Burlington Pediatrics
Specialty Clinics:
UVM Cardiology, Vermont Orthopedic Clinic, Burlington Dermatology, UVM Cancer Center
Hospital Systems:
UVM Medical Center, Northwestern Medical Center, Porter Medical Center, Copley Hospital
💡 Burlington has 50% of Vermont healthcare jobs. UVM Medical Center is state's only academic hospital and Level 1 trauma center.
Montpelier/Central Vermont (Washington County)
State capital with Central Vermont Medical Center.
Medical Groups & Health Systems:
Central Vermont Medical Center physicians, Community Health Services, Montpelier Family Medicine, Health Care & Rehabilitation Services
Specialty Clinics:
Central Vermont Cardiology, Central Vermont Orthopedics, affiliated specialists in Burlington
Hospital Systems:
Central Vermont Medical Center, Gifford Medical Center, Randolph, Mad River Valley Health Center
💡 Montpelier is nation's smallest state capital. Government healthcare jobs. Rural community feel with healthcare challenges.
Rutland/Southern Vermont (Rutland, Bennington Counties)
Ski country with Rutland Regional and Southwestern Vermont.
Medical Groups & Health Systems:
Rutland Regional Medical Center physicians, Southwestern Vermont Medical Center physicians, Community Health Rutland, Shires Health
Specialty Clinics:
Rutland Cardiology, Marble Valley Orthopedics, Southern Vermont Dermatology
Hospital Systems:
Rutland Regional Medical Center, Southwestern Vermont Medical Center, Grace Cottage Hospital
💡 Southern Vermont has ski tourism and retirees. Rutland is regional hub. Shortages exist with recruitment incentives.
Northeast Kingdom/Upper Valley (Caledonia, Orange Counties)
Remote Vermont with Northeastern Vermont Regional and Dartmouth-Hitchcock access.
Medical Groups & Health Systems:
Northeastern Vermont Regional physicians, Little Rivers Health Care, Northern Counties Health Care, Cottage Hospital clinics
Specialty Clinics:
Limited specialty-patients travel to Burlington or Dartmouth-Hitchcock (NH) for specialty care
Hospital Systems:
Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital, Cottage Hospital, North Country Hospital, Dartmouth-Hitchcock (NH) accessible
💡 Northeast Kingdom is remote with extreme shortages. Dartmouth-Hitchcock in NH serves many Vermonters. Significant incentives available.
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 Vermont?
Free to enroll. Free to learn. Pay $850 only when you're ready to certify.
No credit card required • No FAFSA • No obligation