– Blog Posts

Healthcare student during an ACT externship placement preparing to take a patient's vital signs

How Does ACT’s Externship Placement Work? A Complete Guide

Many students have questions about the ACT externship placement process, especially if they’re wondering what hands-on training will actually look like before they begin…
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Medical assistant salary by state comparison showing a medical assistant working on a laptop with a U.S. map displayed in the background.

Medical Assistant Salary by State (2026)

Medical assistant salary by state varies widely across the country.
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Medical assistant externships provide hands-on patient care training in a clinical setting

How to Get a Medical Assistant Externship in 2026 

A medical assistant externship gives students the hands-on experience needed to work in real healthcare settings.
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Medical assistant vs pharmacy technician career comparison showing a medical assistant checking a patient’s blood pressure in a healthcare clinic.

Medical Assistant vs Pharmacy Technician: Which Career Is Right for You?

Medical Assistant vs Pharmacy Technician is a common comparison for people exploring entry-level healthcare careers.
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Fast healthcare careers in a modern outpatient healthcare clinic with Medical Assistants supporting patients and administrative operations.

6 Healthcare Careers You Can Start in Less Than a Year

Fast healthcare careers are appealing to more people who want stable jobs without spending years in school.
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Healthcare extern completing hands-on clinical training with a patient during a healthcare externship program in a modern medical clinic.

Why Healthcare Externships Are Becoming the New Hiring Filter

Breaking into healthcare has become more competitive than many students expect, and healthcare externships are becoming a bigger part of the conversation.
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Medical assistant student working in a modern healthcare clinic during medical assistant training program

What It Costs to Become a Medical Assistant in 2026

Medical assisting continues to be one of the most popular healthcare careers in 2026, and it’s easy to see why.
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Prospective student searching for online healthcare training programs on a laptop at home.

Best Healthcare Certification Programs You Can Complete Online in 2026

If you’ve been thinking about getting into healthcare but don’t want to spend years in school first, online healthcare certification programs can be one…
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Medical assistant taking a patient’s blood pressure during a clinical visit in an outpatient healthcare setting

CCMA Skills Employers Expect From Medical Assistants in 2026

Many people assume becoming a Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) is mostly about passing an exam and learning basic CCMA skills.
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Diverse healthcare staff collaborating in a clinical setting while gaining experience, representing how to get healthcare experience in the U.S. as an international student

How to Get Healthcare Experience in the U.S. as an International Student

If you’re wondering how to get healthcare experience in the U.S. as an international student, you’re not alone.
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Diverse healthcare trainees using computers during EHR training online in a modern clinical classroom setting

EHR Training Online for Beginners: How to Learn Medical Charting Before Your First Job

If you’re looking for EHR training online, you’re already taking a smart first step toward a healthcare career.
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Medical assistant working with a patient in a clinic, showing how admissions committees evaluate clinical experience in 2026

How Admissions Committees Evaluate Clinical Experience in 2026 (And Where Most Applicants Fall Short)

Admissions are changing how admissions committees evaluate clinical experience in 2026, with a stronger focus on hands-on responsibility, patient interaction, and real clinical skills.
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