MAA EXTERNSHIP
Medical Administrative Assistant Externship in {{state_name}}
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on front-office healthcare experience across The Mountain State. Build administrative skills, professional connections, and a pathway to employment.
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Flexible
Hours
40-80
Hours Recommended
1,700+
WV Medical Offices
$0
Externship Cost
800+
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, rural health, chronic disease management, addiction medicine
- ✓ 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.
Charleston Metro (Kanawha, Putnam Counties)
State capital with CAMC, Thomas Health, and Highland Hospital.
Medical Groups & Health Systems:
CAMC Health physicians, Thomas Health physicians, Highland Physicians, WV Health Right, FamilyCare Health Centers
Specialty Clinics:
Charleston Cardiology, WVU Orthopedics Charleston, Charleston Dermatology, CAMC Cancer Center
Hospital Systems:
Charleston Area Medical Center, Thomas Memorial, St. Francis Hospital, Highland Hospital
💡 Charleston is West Virginia's healthcare hub with 40% of state jobs. CAMC is largest hospital system. State government healthcare.
Morgantown (Monongalia County)
WVU Medicine academic center serving northern West Virginia.
Medical Groups & Health Systems:
WVU Medicine physicians, Monongalia Health physicians, WV HealthRight, WVU Student Health
Specialty Clinics:
WVU Heart and Vascular, WVU Orthopedics, WVU Dermatology, WVU Cancer Institute
Hospital Systems:
WVU Medicine Ruby Memorial, Mon Health Medical Center, WVU Medicine Children's
💡 Morgantown has West Virginia's only academic medical center. University town with Pittsburgh accessible. Growing healthcare hub.
Huntington (Cabell, Wayne Counties)
Marshall University region with Cabell Huntington and St. Mary's.
Medical Groups & Health Systems:
Marshall Health physicians, Cabell Huntington physicians, St. Mary's Medical Center physicians, Valley Health clinics
Specialty Clinics:
Huntington Cardiology, Tri-State Orthopedics, Huntington Dermatology, Edwards Cancer Center
Hospital Systems:
Cabell Huntington Hospital, St. Mary's Medical Center, Pleasant Valley Hospital, River Park Hospital
💡 Huntington has Marshall University medical school. Ohio and Kentucky border accessible. Significant opioid crisis impact on healthcare.
Northern Panhandle/Mid-Ohio Valley (Ohio, Wood Counties)
Wheeling and Parkersburg with WVU Medicine presence.
Medical Groups & Health Systems:
WVU Medicine Wheeling physicians, WVU Medicine Camden Clark physicians, Ohio Valley Medical Center physicians, Wood County clinics
Specialty Clinics:
Wheeling Cardiology, Ohio Valley Orthopedics, Mid-Ohio Valley specialists
Hospital Systems:
WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital, WVU Medicine Camden Clark, Weirton Medical Center
💡 Northern Panhandle accesses Pittsburgh market. Mid-Ohio Valley serves Parkersburg region. Ohio border provides additional 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 {{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}}: