As part of any good quality medical assistant training program, an externship will be provided as part of the curriculum. Similar to an internship, the medical assistant externship acts as a conduit in which you transition from being a student to a practicing medical assistant. It is an experiential learning opportunity where mentored, practical ‘real-world’ job experience can be acquired.
Medical assistant externships are typically found through a school’s training program and can take up to a semester to complete. Externships are usually arranged through a variety of health care establishments including physician practices, clinics and hospitals. This gives you the chance to gain experience in multiple health care settings, while also allowing you to explore different areas that you can specialize in including obstetrics, pediatrics, podiatry and optometry.