Where can I complete an MA externship in Illinois?

Common externship sites include physician offices, urgent care centers, community health centers (FQHCs), hospital outpatient clinics, and specialty practices. Illinois has opportunities across multiple regions including Chicagoland, Central Illinois, Northern Illinois, and Southern Illinois.

How long does a 100-hour externship take to complete?

Timeline depends on your schedule and the site's availability. At 20 hours per week, you can complete in 5 weeks. At 10-15 hours per week, expect 7-10 weeks. Some students complete weekends only over 3-4 months.

Can an externship lead to a job offer?

Yes—this is one of the biggest advantages of self-managed externships. Many Illinois practices hire externs who perform well. You're building a professional relationship during your 100 hours, and employers prefer hiring someone they've already trained.

EHired Open Access Education

MEDICAL ASSISTANT EXTERNSHIP

Medical Assistant Externship in Illinois

Your complete guide to arranging a self-managed 100-hour externship across the Prairie State. Build clinical skills, employer connections, and a pathway to employment.

How to Find Sites View IL Sites

100

Hours Required

4-8

Weeks Typical

13500+

IL Practices

Externship Cost

Self

Managed

BLS Career Guide AMCA Certification IL Dept of Health IL Medical Board

Who this training is for

Ideal for candidates with prior MA clinical experience who need certification to validate their skills for Illinois employers.

New to the field? If you have no prior experience, you must complete a Self-Managed 100-Hour Externship to build hands-on confidence needed to complete the program and prepare to challenge the AMCA CMAC.

⚠️ Important: EHired does not arrange, manage, or monitor externships. Students have full freedom to set up their own externship experience.

Why Self-Managed Externships Work Better

Traditional programs assign you to random sites. Self-managed externships put you in control of your career from day one.

🎯

You Choose Your Site

Extern where you want to work. Interested in pediatrics? Find a pediatric office. Want urgent care? Approach MedExpress or Advocate Clinic. You control your specialty exposure.

🤝

Build Real Relationships

You initiate the connection. The practice knows you're motivated and proactive. Many externships convert directly to job offers because employers already know your work ethic.

📍

Location Flexibility

Find sites near your home, along your commute, or in your target job market. No random assignments to inconvenient locations across Illinois.

What Illinois MA Externs Say

Real experiences from students who completed self-managed externships in the Prairie State.

“Northwestern Medicine has a competitive extern program. I got placed at a primary care clinic in Streeterville. The academic environment was unmatched. Now at $19/hour.”

Emily M.

Chicago • Northwestern Extern

“HSHS St. John's Hospital took me as an extern. The state capital location meant diverse patients. They hired me at $16/hour—goes far with Springfield cost of living.”

Tyler J.

Springfield • Hospital Extern

“Crusader Community Health in Rockford accepted my externship. Working with underserved populations was meaningful. They offered me full-time at $16.50/hour.”

Anna M.

Rockford • Community Health Extern

"I did my externship at a practice in Lewes during the summer. Patient volume was high which meant lots of hands-on experience. They hired me part-time for the off-season with full-time summer hours."

How to Find an Externship in Illinois

Follow this step-by-step process to secure your 100-hour externship placement.

Identify Potential Sites

Look for healthcare facilities that employ Medical Assistants:

✓ Physician offices — Family medicine, internal medicine, specialists
✓ Urgent care centers — MedExpress, Advocate Clinic at Walgreens, Amita Health Immediate Care
✓ Community health centers — FQHCs like Erie Family Health Centers, PCC Community Wellness Center
✓ Hospital outpatient clinics — Northwestern Medicine, Advocate Aurora Health, OSF HealthCare, AMITA Health, Rush University Medical Center
✓ Specialty practices — Cardiology, dermatology, orthopedics

Prepare Your Approach

Get ready before contacting sites:

✓ Update your resume — Include EHired training, any healthcare exposure
✓ Prepare a pitch — "I'm completing MA training and seeking 100 hours of clinical experience"
✓ Know your value — Free help, eager learner, potential future hire
✓ Be flexible — Offer to work their schedule, any days/hours
✓ Dress professionally — Scrubs or business casual for in-person visits

Make Contact

Reach out to practices directly:

✓ Call first — Ask for the office manager or lead MA
✓ Visit in person — Drop off resume, ask to speak with manager
✓ Email if provided — Brief, professional, attach resume
✓ Explain the arrangement — Unpaid, 100 hours, flexible scheduling
✓ Follow up — If no response in 1 week, call again politely

Complete Your Hours

Make the most of your externship:

✓ 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 Practice

"Hi, my name is [Your Name]. I'm completing a Medical Assistant training program and I'm looking to gain hands-on clinical experience through a 100-hour externship. I'm wondering if your practice might have room for an extern? I'm flexible with scheduling, eager to learn, and I'd be happy to help with patient intake, vital signs, and whatever the team needs. Would it be possible to speak with the office manager about this opportunity?"

Key points to emphasize: You're trained, you're free labor, you're flexible, and you're eager to help. Many practices are short-staffed and welcome the extra hands.

Where to Find Externships in Illinois

Illinois has 13500+ physician practices and hundreds of urgent care and community health centers. Here are site types by region.

Chicagoland (Chicago, Naperville, Elgin, Joliet)

Third-largest US metro with world-renowned academic medical centers and diverse populations.

Health systems: Northwestern Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, University of Chicago Medicine, Advocate Aurora
Urgent care: MedExpress, Advocate Clinic at Walgreens, Northwestern Immediate Care, Amita Immediate Care
Community health centers: Erie Family Health Centers, PCC Community Wellness Center, Howard Brown Health
Private practices: Extensive throughout Cook, DuPage, Will, Lake counties

Tip: Chicago offers highest IL salaries. Bilingual Spanish and Polish skills valued in many neighborhoods.

Metro East & Central Illinois (Springfield, Champaign, Decatur)

State capital and university regions with regional health systems.

Health systems: HSHS St. John's Hospital, Carle Health, Memorial Health System, Decatur Memorial
Urgent care: MedExpress, Carle Convenient Care, Memorial Urgent Care
Community health centers: Central Counties Health Centers, Promise Healthcare
Private practices: Growing in Sangamon, Champaign, Macon counties

Tip: State capital and U of I create diverse patient populations. Lower cost of living than Chicago.

Northern Illinois (Rockford, Aurora, DeKalb)

Manufacturing and suburban communities with regional hospitals.

Health systems: Mercyhealth, Advocate Aurora (Presence), Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee
Urgent care: MedExpress, Mercyhealth Urgent Care, Advocate Clinic
Community health centers: Crusader Community Health, VNA Health Care
Private practices: Strong in Winnebago, Kane, DeKalb counties

Tip: Rockford has healthcare worker shortages with competitive wages. Chicago suburbs are growing.

Southern Illinois (Carbondale, Belleville, Marion)

Rural and St. Louis suburb communities with regional healthcare.

Health systems: Memorial Hospital Belleville, SIH Healthcare, HSHS St. Elizabeth's
Urgent care: MedExpress, SIH Urgent Care, Memorial Convenient Care
Community health centers: Shawnee Health Service, Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation
Private practices: Spread across St. Clair, Jackson, Williamson counties

Tip: St. Louis job market accessible from Metro East. Lower cost of living than northern IL.

Remember: These are examples of site types—not guaranteed placements. You are responsible for contacting and arranging your own externship.

What You'll Learn During Your Externship

Your 100 hours will build practical skills that classroom training can't replicate.

💉

Clinical Skills

Vital signs, injections, EKGs, specimen collection, wound care under supervision

💻

EHR Systems

Hands-on experience with Epic, eClinicalWorks, Athena, or other practice management systems

🗣️

Patient Communication

Intake interviews, patient education, phone triage, appointment scheduling

🏥

Workflow & Culture

Real clinic pacing, team dynamics, professional expectations, workplace etiquette

Externship → Job Offer Pipeline

Many Illinois practices hire their externs. Here's how to maximize your chances.

✓

Treat It Like a Job Interview

Every shift is an audition. Arrive early, dress professionally, stay off your phone, and show genuine interest in learning.

✓

Be Indispensable

Volunteer for tasks, anticipate needs, help without being asked. Make them wonder how they functioned without you.

✓

Build Relationships

Learn everyone's name. Ask about their career path. Show appreciation. People hire people they like working with.

✓

Express Interest Before You Leave

Around hour 80, ask the office manager: "I've really enjoyed working here. If a position opens up, I'd love to be considered."

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need an externship to become a Medical Assistant in Illinois? ▼

It depends on your background. If you have prior healthcare experience (CNA, phlebotomist, EMT, etc.), you may not need an externship. If you're new to healthcare with no clinical background, you must complete a 100-hour self-managed externship to build hands-on competency before pursuing AMCA CMAC certification.

Does EHired place students in externships? ▼

No. EHired does NOT arrange, manage, or monitor externships. All externships are self-managed by students. This approach gives you full freedom to find opportunities that fit your location, schedule, and career goals. You choose where you want to gain experience.

What if practices say no? ▼

Expect some rejections—it's normal. Some practices don't have bandwidth to train externs. Keep a list, contact 10-15 sites, and follow up. Urgent care centers and FQHCs often have more structured extern programs than small private practices. Persistence pays off.

How long does it take to complete 100 hours? ▼

Timeline depends on your schedule and the site's availability. At 20 hours per week (4 days × 5 hours), you can complete in 5 weeks. At 10-15 hours per week, expect 7-10 weeks. Some students complete weekends only over 3-4 months. Discuss scheduling options with your site.

Are externships paid? ▼

Most externships are unpaid—you're gaining experience, not working as an employee. Some sites may offer a small stipend, but don't expect it. The real compensation is skills, experience, professional references, and often a direct pathway to employment.

Can an externship lead to a job? ▼

Yes—this is one of the biggest advantages of self-managed externships. Many practices hire externs who perform well. You're essentially doing a 100-hour working interview. Employers prefer hiring someone they've already trained and observed.

What's the difference between an externship and internship? ▼

Externships are typically shorter (100-200 hours), observation and learning-focused, and unpaid. Internships are often longer (months), may be paid, and involve more independent work. For Medical Assistant training, the 100-hour externship is designed to build foundational clinical competency.

Do I need liability insurance for my externship? ▼

Some sites require proof of liability insurance. Student professional liability policies are affordable ($20-50/year) and available through organizations like HPSO or NSO. Check with your externship site about their requirements before starting.

Ready to Start Your Medical Assistant Career?

Free training • Self-paced online • Self-managed externship • AMCA certification pathway

Training Cost

100

Externship Hours

9500+

IL Job Openings

Enroll Free Today

No credit card required. No FAFSA. No cosigners. No loans.

Explore More Resources

Medical Assistant in Illinois

IL MA Training IL Certification IL MA Jobs IL Externship ✓

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Important: EHired provides free online training aligned with the AMCA CMAC certification exam. EHired does NOT arrange, manage, or monitor externships—all externships are self-managed by students. EHired does not guarantee job placement or certification outcomes. Externship sites listed are examples only; students must contact and arrange their own placements. For official certification requirements, visit AMCA.