MAA EXTERNSHIP
Medical Administrative Assistant Externship in Virginia
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on front-office healthcare experience across The Old Dominion. Build administrative skills, professional connections, and a pathway to employment.
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Flexible
Hours
40-80
Hours Recommended
8,200+
VA Medical Offices
$0
Externship Cost
3,700+
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 Virginia
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-federal healthcare, academic medicine, military 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 Virginia
Virginia has thousands of medical offices, clinics, and healthcare facilities with front-office positions. Here are potential externship sites by region.
Northern Virginia (Fairfax, Arlington, Loudoun, Prince William Counties)
DC suburbs with Inova, Virginia Hospital Center, and federal healthcare.
Medical Groups & Health Systems:
Inova Medical Group, Virginia Hospital Center physicians, Reston Hospital physicians, Kaiser Permanente Mid-Atlantic, federal clinic physicians
Specialty Clinics:
Inova Heart and Vascular, Virginia Orthopedic, Inova Dermatology, Inova Schar Cancer Institute
Hospital Systems:
Inova Fairfax, Virginia Hospital Center, Inova Fair Oaks, Reston Hospital, Inova Loudoun
💡 Northern Virginia is DC metro with federal healthcare jobs. Inova dominates. Very competitive but abundant opportunities. High cost of living.
Richmond Metro (Richmond City, Henrico, Chesterfield Counties)
State capital with VCU Health, Bon Secours, and HCA.
Medical Groups & Health Systems:
VCU Health physicians, Bon Secours Medical Group, HCA Virginia physicians, Richmond Primary Care, Virginia Premier
Specialty Clinics:
VCU Cardiology, OrthoVirginia, VCU Dermatology, VCU Massey Cancer Center
Hospital Systems:
VCU Medical Center, Bon Secours St. Mary's, HCA Chippenham, Henrico Doctors, Johnston-Willis
💡 Richmond has VCU Health academic medicine. State capital with government healthcare. More affordable than Northern Virginia with excellent opportunities.
Hampton Roads (Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Newport News, Hampton)
Military region with Sentara, Riverside, and naval medicine.
Medical Groups & Health Systems:
Sentara Medical Group, Riverside Health physicians, EVMS physicians, Chesapeake Regional physicians, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth
Specialty Clinics:
Sentara Cardiology, Tidewater Orthopedics, Virginia Dermatology, Sentara Cancer Network
Hospital Systems:
Sentara Norfolk General, Riverside Regional, CHKD, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Sentara Virginia Beach
💡 Hampton Roads has massive military presence (Norfolk Naval Station, Langley). Sentara dominates civilian healthcare. EVMS provides academic training.
Southwest Virginia (Roanoke, Lynchburg, Bristol)
Appalachian region with Carilion Clinic and Centra Health.
Medical Groups & Health Systems:
Carilion Clinic physicians, Centra Medical Group, Ballad Health physicians, Lewis-Gale physicians
Specialty Clinics:
Carilion Cardiology, Blue Ridge Orthopedics, Roanoke Dermatology, Carilion Cancer Center
Hospital Systems:
Carilion Roanoke Memorial, Centra Lynchburg, LewisGale Medical Center, Ballad Health Bristol
💡 Southwest Virginia has healthcare shortages. Carilion and Centra are major regional systems. Appalachian communities need dedicated healthcare workers.
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 Virginia?
Free to enroll. Free to learn. Pay $850 only when you're ready to certify.
No credit card required • No FAFSA • No obligation