MAA EXTERNSHIP
Medical Administrative Assistant Externship in Montana
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on front-office healthcare experience across The Treasure State. Build administrative skills, professional connections, and a pathway to employment.
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Flexible
Hours
40-80
Hours Recommended
1,200+
MT Medical Offices
$0
Externship Cost
600+
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 Montana
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 — Primary care, family medicine, rural health, emergency medicine, telehealth
- ✓ 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 Montana
Montana has thousands of medical offices, clinics, and healthcare facilities with front-office positions. Here are potential externship sites by region.
Billings/Eastern Montana (Yellowstone County)
Montana's largest city with Billings Clinic and St. Vincent Healthcare.
Medical Groups & Health Systems:
Billings Clinic physicians, St. Vincent Healthcare physicians, RiverStone Health, Billings Family Medicine
Specialty Clinics:
Billings Cardiology, Billings Orthopedics, Billings Dermatology, Billings Clinic Cancer Center
Hospital Systems:
Billings Clinic Hospital, St. Vincent Healthcare, Beartooth Billings Clinic, St. Vincent Frontier Cancer Center
💡 Billings is Montana's healthcare hub serving eastern MT, northern WY, and western Dakotas. Most opportunities in state.
Missoula/Western Montana (Missoula County)
University town with Community Medical Center and Providence St. Patrick.
Medical Groups & Health Systems:
Community Physician Group, Providence Medical Group, Partnership Health Center, Missoula Bone & Joint
Specialty Clinics:
Community Heart, Missoula Orthopedic Associates, Western Montana Dermatology, Montana Cancer Consortium
Hospital Systems:
Community Medical Center, Providence St. Patrick Hospital, Marcus Daly Memorial (Hamilton)
💡 Missoula has University of Montana influence. Growing population and tourism. Beautiful setting attracts healthcare workers.
Great Falls/North Central (Cascade County)
Air Force base city with Benefis Health System.
Medical Groups & Health Systems:
Benefis Medical Group, Alluvion Health, Cascade County Community Health, Great Falls Clinic
Specialty Clinics:
Benefis Heart, Advanced Orthopedics, Great Falls Dermatology, Sletten Cancer Institute
Hospital Systems:
Benefis Health System, Great Falls Clinic Hospital, Marias Medical Center (Shelby)
💡 Great Falls has Malmstrom AFB and serves vast rural region. Benefis is major regional system. Agricultural area.
Bozeman/Southwest Montana (Gallatin County)
Fastest-growing Montana city with Bozeman Health.
Medical Groups & Health Systems:
Bozeman Health physicians, Community Health Partners, Belgrade Medical Clinic, Big Sky Medical Center clinics
Specialty Clinics:
Bozeman Cardiology, Alpine Orthopedics, Bozeman Dermatology, Bozeman Health Cancer Center
Hospital Systems:
Bozeman Health Deaconess Hospital, Big Sky Medical Center, Madison Valley Medical Center, Barrett Hospital (Dillon)
💡 Bozeman is Montana's fastest-growing city. Tech industry and tourism driving healthcare demand. Big Sky resort nearby.
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 Montana?
Free to enroll. Free to learn. Pay $850 only when you're ready to certify.
No credit card required • No FAFSA • No obligation