MAA EXTERNSHIP
Medical Administrative Assistant Externship in Connecticut
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on front-office healthcare experience across The Constitution State. Build administrative skills, professional connections, and a pathway to employment.
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Flexible
Hours
40-80
Hours Recommended
4,100+
CT Medical Offices
$0
Externship Cost
1,700+
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 Connecticut
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 — All specialties-Yale-affiliated practices, community health, primary care, specialty care
- ✓ 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 Connecticut
Connecticut has thousands of medical offices, clinics, and healthcare facilities with front-office positions. Here are potential externship sites by region.
New Haven/South Central (New Haven, Middlesex Counties)
Yale-New Haven Health dominates with academic medicine and community practices.
Medical Groups & Health Systems:
Yale Medicine, Yale New Haven Health physicians, Hartford HealthCare Fairfield region, Community Health Center Inc.
Specialty Clinics:
Yale Cardiology, Connecticut Orthopaedic Specialists, Yale Dermatology, Smilow Cancer Center
Hospital Systems:
Yale-New Haven Hospital, Yale-New Haven St. Raphael, Middlesex Hospital, Griffin Hospital
💡 Yale-New Haven is Connecticut's largest employer. Academic medical center experience is valuable.
Hartford/Central (Hartford, Tolland Counties)
State capital with Hartford HealthCare and Trinity Health.
Medical Groups & Health Systems:
Hartford HealthCare Medical Group, Trinity Health of New England, UConn Health physicians, Community Health Services
Specialty Clinics:
Hartford Cardiology, Connecticut Ortho, Hartford Dermatology Associates, Neag Cancer Center
Hospital Systems:
Hartford Hospital, St. Francis Hospital, UConn John Dempsey Hospital, MidState Medical Center
💡 Hartford has government jobs plus major health systems. UConn Health provides academic opportunities.
Fairfield County (Stamford, Norwalk, Bridgeport, Danbury)
NYC suburbs with wealth and premium healthcare. Stamford Health, Nuvance, and private practices.
Medical Groups & Health Systems:
Stamford Health Medical Group, Nuvance Health physicians, Greenwich Hospital physicians, Community Health Center Stamford
Specialty Clinics:
Stamford Cardiology, Coastal Orthopedics, Fairfield Dermatology, Norwalk Hospital specialists
Hospital Systems:
Stamford Hospital, Norwalk Hospital, Danbury Hospital, Greenwich Hospital, Bridgeport Hospital
💡 Fairfield County has highest wages in Connecticut. Many residents commute to NYC; healthcare stays local.
Eastern Connecticut (New London, Windham Counties)
Rural region with Lawrence + Memorial and Day Kimball.
Medical Groups & Health Systems:
Lawrence + Memorial Medical Group, Day Kimball Healthcare physicians, Backus Hospital clinics, Community Health Center Eastern Region
Specialty Clinics:
New London Cardiology, Southeastern Orthopedics, Thames Dermatology, Smilow Cancer Waterford
Hospital Systems:
Lawrence + Memorial Hospital, Backus Hospital, Day Kimball Hospital, Windham Hospital
💡 Eastern Connecticut is more affordable than Fairfield. Shortages exist in rural areas-easier to get hired.
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 Connecticut?
Free to enroll. Free to learn. Pay $850 only when you're ready to certify.
No credit card required • No FAFSA • No obligation