Where can I complete an MA externship in Massachusetts?

Common externship sites include physician offices, urgent care centers, community health centers (FQHCs), hospital outpatient clinics, and specialty practices. Massachusetts has opportunities across multiple regions including Boston, Worcester, Western Massachusetts, and the South Shore.

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 Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts

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

How to Find Sites View MA Sites

100

Hours Required

4-8

Weeks Typical

7200+

MA Practices

Externship Cost

Self

Managed

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

Who this training is for

Ideal for candidates with prior MA clinical experience who need certification to validate their skills for Massachusetts 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 AFC Urgent Care or CareWell. 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 Massachusetts.

What Massachusetts MA Externs Say

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

“Mass General's outpatient clinic network accepted my externship application. The training was world-class. I learned from some of the best MAs in the country. Now I'm at a Brigham-affiliated practice.”

Lisa M.

Boston • Hospital Clinic Extern

“Family Health Center of Worcester took me as an extern. The community health experience was eye-opening. I worked with underserved populations and bilingual skills were valued. They hired me at $20/hour.”

Robert T.

Worcester • FQHC Extern

“I externed at an AFC Urgent Care in Springfield. The fast-paced environment was perfect training. I saw everything from flu to fractures. Got hired there making $19/hour with a sign-on bonus.”

Nina J.

Springfield • Urgent Care 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 Massachusetts

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 — AFC Urgent Care, CareWell Urgent Care, PhysicianOne
✓ Community health centers — FQHCs like East Boston Neighborhood Health Center, Greater Lawrence Family Health Center
✓ Hospital outpatient clinics — Mass General Brigham, Beth Israel Lahey Health, UMass Memorial Health
✓ 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 Massachusetts

Massachusetts has 7200+ physician practices and hundreds of urgent care and community health centers. Here are site types by region.

Greater Boston (Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, Brookline)

World-renowned academic medical center hub with cutting-edge healthcare facilities.

Health systems: Mass General Brigham (MGH, BWH), Beth Israel Lahey Health, Tufts Medical Center
Urgent care: AFC Urgent Care, CareWell Urgent Care, Harvard Vanguard
Community health centers: East Boston Neighborhood Health Center, South End Community Health Center
Private practices: Extensive throughout metro Boston with concentration near medical schools

Tip: Boston offers unparalleled academic medicine exposure but competitive externship market.

Central Massachusetts (Worcester, Fitchburg, Leominster)

Second-largest city with major health system and diverse patient populations.

Health systems: UMass Memorial Health, St. Vincent Hospital, Reliant Medical Group
Urgent care: AFC Urgent Care, PatientFast Urgent Care
Community health centers: Family Health Center of Worcester, Great Brook Valley Health Center
Private practices: Strong in Worcester County with growing suburban expansion

Tip: Worcester offers excellent externship opportunities with less competition than Boston.

Western Massachusetts (Springfield, Holyoke, Pittsfield)

Mix of urban and rural healthcare serving diverse communities.

Health systems: Baystate Health, Mercy Medical Center, Berkshire Health Systems
Urgent care: AFC Urgent Care, Concentra, Baystate Urgent Care
Community health centers: Caring Health Center, Holyoke Health Center
Private practices: Growing networks in Hampden, Hampshire, Berkshire counties

Tip: Western MA has lower cost of living with stable healthcare employment in Springfield area.

South Shore & Cape (Quincy, Plymouth, Cape Cod)

Suburban and seasonal coastal healthcare market with growing population.

Health systems: South Shore Health, Cape Cod Healthcare, Beth Israel Plymouth
Urgent care: AFC Urgent Care, PhysicianOne, Cape Cod Urgent Care
Community health centers: Manet Community Health Center, Harbor Health Services
Private practices: Expanding in Norfolk, Plymouth counties and Cape Cod

Tip: Cape Cod experiences seasonal patient volume increases—summer is busy but good for hours.

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 Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts? ▼

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

5100+

MA Job Openings

Enroll Free Today

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

Explore More Resources

Medical Assistant in Massachusetts

MA MA Training MA Certification MA MA Jobs MA 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.