Medical assistant externships present an exciting opportunity for students to gain real-world exposure to the medical assistant career. However, making the most of the experience requires preparation and a proactive mindset. Understanding what to expect, how to secure an opportunity, and how to maximize your time on-site can help you get the most value out of the experience.
In this blog post, we’ll cover what you can expect during an externship, how to secure a placement, and strategies to make the most of the experience. With the right approach, an externship can jumpstart your career as a medical assistant.
What Is a Medical Assistant Externship?
Benefits of a Medical Assistant Externship
What to Expect During a Medical Assistant Externship
How to Get a Medical Assistant Externship
Making the Most of Your Externship Experience
What Is a Medical Assistant Externship?
A medical assistant externship is a type of learning opportunity where students training to become medical assistants gain firsthand knowledge of what the job entails before entering the workforce. These experiences allow students to observe medical assistants within a clinical setting as they perform daily tasks, ranging from handling administrative duties to providing patient care.
To ensure that students receive a well-rounded education, externships are typically offered through existing partnerships between educational programs and healthcare facilities. By taking advantage of these opportunities, students can build confidence and gain insight into the medical assistant profession to better prepare for their future careers.
It’s also important to note that externships are different from internships. Externships are typically shorter, more focused on observation, and more strongly rooted in education than internships are.
Benefits of a Medical Assistant Externship
These experiences offer much more than just a close-up look at the medical assistant profession. Other advantages of completing a medical assistant externship include:
- The ability to make more informed career decisions. With a clear picture of the realities of the role, you can better determine whether a career as a medical assistant is truly a good fit.
- Opportunities for networking. The relationships you build with the medical assistants, nurses, and physicians you meet during your externship can open doors for future job opportunities.
- Gaining firsthand exposure to real healthcare environments. Through exposure to clinical environments, you’ll better understand the skills needed to thrive as a medical assistant.
- Learning how to interact with patients. Even though you may not have direct contact with patients during your externship, observing patient interactions can help you build the foundation for the bedside manner you’ll develop in your future practice.
What to Expect During a Medical Assistant Externship
The time you spend in a medical assistant externship is your opportunity to learn as much as you can about the role. To make the most of your opportunity, it’s important to approach the experience with realistic expectations.
Here’s what to keep in mind:
- Externships are primarily observational and similar in nature to job shadowing. In some cases, you may be offered the chance to practice skills under the guidance of your supervisor.
- Medical assistant externships are short-lived, typically lasting anywhere from a few days to several weeks.
- Since these experiences are part of your education, medical assistant externships are typically unpaid.
What Is Expected of You During an Externship?
Just as there are expectations you should have for your externship experience, your supervisors will also expect certain things from you during your time together. These include:
- Maintaining professionalism: Treat the experience as you would a job by dressing appropriately, following workplace policies, and demonstrating respect for staff and patients.
- Being prepared: Arrive on time, bring any necessary materials, and review relevant coursework beforehand to better understand what you observe.
- Staying engaged: Actively listen, take notes, ask thoughtful questions, and show enthusiasm for the learning experience.
How to Get a Medical Assistant Externship
Landing a medical assistant externship takes initiative, but knowing where to start your search isn’t always clear. These strategies are a good place to begin:
Tap into Your School’s Career Resources
If you’re part of a pre-health program at a college or university, reach out to the school’s career center or health career advising office. These departments may have relationships with local healthcare facilities or other connections that can help you secure an externship.
Contact Local Practices
Many medical offices, hospitals (especially teaching hospitals), and clinics are open to hosting externs, but may not always promote these opportunities. Proactively reaching out to facilities where medical assistants work can help you find the right opening.
Get in Touch With Your Professional Contacts
Professors, alumni of pre-health programs, and healthcare professionals you’ve previously connected with can be valuable resources during your medical assistant externship search. Let them know you’re looking for a placement so they know to look out for opportunities, offer guidance, or make a referral on your behalf.
Enroll in a Medical Assistant Training Course
Some programs, like Advanced eClinical Training’s online medical assistant certification course, include externship hours as part of the curriculum. A guaranteed placement takes the uncertainty out of the search process, ensuring that you’ll gain firsthand experience in a clinical setting before entering the workforce.
Making the Most of Your Externship Experience
Like other learning opportunities, the value you take away from a medical assistant externship depends on the effort you put into it. By staying engaged and invested in the experience, you can make the most of your time. To do this, be sure to:
- Ask thoughtful questions. Don’t hesitate to seek clarification or deeper insight into what you observe — asking intelligent questions shows initiative.
- Build strong relationships. Networking with the people you meet can lead to mentorship opportunities, new professional connections, and even job opportunities down the road.
- Seek out feedback. Ask your supervisors for advice on improving your professionalism, communication, and any hands-on tasks you’re permitted to perform.
- Take detailed notes. Keep track of your observations, the procedures you watch, and any advice you receive so you can review key takeaways later.
- Reflect on what you learn. After each shift, take time to think about what stood out to you. Reflection helps you digest what you’ve learned and formulate clarifying questions.
FAQs
What is a medical assistant externship?
Medical assistant externships are learning opportunities where students training to become medical assistants gain firsthand knowledge of what the job entails. These experiences involve observing medical assistants within a clinical setting as they perform daily tasks, ranging from handling administrative duties to providing patient care.
What’s the difference between an externship and an internship?
While both externships and internships provide firsthand exposure to a clinical setting and offer networking opportunities, they differ in several key ways. Externships are typically shorter, more focused on observation, and are more strongly rooted in education. Unlike internships, externships rarely offer compensation.
Why is it a good idea to complete a medical assistant externship?
Medical assistant externships offer numerous benefits, including the ability to make more informed career decisions, networking opportunities, gaining firsthand exposure to real healthcare environments, and learning how to interact with patients.
How do I find a medical assistant externship?
There are several strategies you can use to land an externship placement. Try visiting your college or university’s career center or making an appointment at the health career advising office, contacting local medical facilities directly to ask about openings, tapping into your professional network, and/or enrolling in a training program that offers guaranteed externship placements.
Completing a medical assistant externship is a great way to gain firsthand exposure to the role and insight into what a future as a medical assistant entails. If you’re ready to progress in your career journey, our medical assistant training course could be the next step you’re looking for. With expert instruction, a self-paced learning experience, and guaranteed externship placement, this program will help you develop the skills and knowledge needed to succeed. Enroll today to get started.
