Did you know that accredited medical assistant programs require a minimum of 160 hours of externship experience to ensure graduates are job-ready?[1] This article provides essential facts about medical assisting externships and how they transform classroom knowledge into valuable hands-on healthcare skills that employers demand.
What Is a Medical Assisting Externship?
The Medical Assisting Degree (AOS) at WellSpring School of Allied Health provides essential training for students seeking careers in healthcare administration and clinical support. Over 16 months*, you’ll master career-specific administrative and clinical skills required to keep medical facilities running efficiently while gaining critical hands-on medical assisting experience.
Let’s examine the core competencies you’ll develop during your training and externship that make medical assistants indispensable in today’s healthcare environment.
Essential Skills Developed During Your Medical Assisting Externship
Your medical assisting clinical training builds practical skills that directly transfer to workplace demands in real healthcare settings.
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- Clinical Procedures: WellSpring teaches essential patient care skills including vital signs monitoring, specimen collection, and medication administration, that you’ll apply during your hands-on medical assisting experience.
- Laboratory Techniques: Master phlebotomy and EKG procedures through practice labs at WellSpring, preparing you for certification as a Registered Phlebotomy Technician and EKG Technician.
- Administrative Efficiency: Learn medical office management, including scheduling, billing, coding, and electronic health records systems that keep healthcare facilities operating smoothly.
- Patient Communication: Develop professional patient interaction skills through simulated scenarios at WellSpring before applying them in real healthcare settings during your medical assisting externship.
These skills form the foundation of your training, but the real-world application comes through WellSpring’s structured externship program.
WellSpring’s Medical Assisting Degree Program
The Medical Assisting Degree (AOS) at WellSpring School of Allied Health combines classroom theory with practical application, culminating in a valuable externship experience.
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- Industry-Standard Externship: WellSpring School of Allied Health provides a structured externship where you’ll gain practical, real-world experience working with clients in actual healthcare environments before graduation – not just simulations.
- Certification Preparation: The 16-month* program fully prepares you for four important certifications: Nationally Registered Certified Medical Assistant, Registered Phlebotomy Technician, Certified Medical Manager, and Certified EKG Technician.
- Flexible Learning Options: WellSpring’s program accommodates various scheduling needs, making it accessible for working adults and those with family responsibilities who need to balance education with other life commitments.
This practical training approach opens doors to diverse career opportunities in the growing healthcare field. The program’s focus on real-world application to help prepare graduates are job-ready from day one.
Career Opportunities After Your Medical Assisting Externship
Completing your medical assisting clinical training qualifies you for employment in numerous healthcare settings across the country.
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- Medical Clinics and Physician Offices: Apply your administrative and clinical skills in private practices, where medical assistants handle everything from patient scheduling to assisting with examinations.
- Hospitals and Urgent Care Centers: Use your hands-on medical assisting experience in fast-paced environments where versatility and efficiency are highly valued.
- Specialty Practices: Work in specialized fields like cardiology, dermatology, or pediatrics, where your externship experience provides a competitive edge in the job market.
Graduates can advance their careers through specialized certifications and continuing education, with many pursuing roles in medical office management or specialized clinical areas. The skills gained during your medical assisting externship provide a strong foundation for long-term healthcare career growth.
Why Medical Assisting Offers Exceptional Career Value
Medical assisting consistently ranks among the most practical healthcare career entry points due to its job stability and meaningful patient impact.
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- Strong Job Market: The demand for qualified medical assistants continues to grow as healthcare facilities recognize the value of professionals with verified hands-on medical assisting experience.
- Direct Patient Impact: Your daily work directly affects patient care and experience, creating meaningful connections and tangible results that many career-changers find deeply satisfying.
- Certification Advantage: Programs that include a medical assisting externship prepare you for industry certifications that boost your earning potential and employability – your externship hours are required for eligibility to take these certification exams.[2]
This career path particularly appeals to adults seeking stable employment with growth potential and those who value helping others while maintaining practical work schedules. Let’s review the key points to remember as you consider this career path.
Key Takeaways About Medical Assisting Externships
Before making your decision, consider these essential facts about medical assisting training and externships.
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- Your medical assisting externship must provide the minimum 160 hours of clinical experience required by industry standards[1] and certification bodies.
- WellSpring’s program prepares you for four valuable certifications that increase your employability and earning potential.
- The hands-on skills you develop during clinical training directly transfer to daily responsibilities in medical offices, clinics, and hospitals.
Ready to transform your career potential with practical healthcare skills that employers value?
Start Your Medical Assisting Career Today
Take the first step toward a rewarding healthcare career by exploring the Medical Assisting Degree (AOS) at WellSpring School of Allied Health, where hands-on training and a structured externship will prepare you to pursue employment in this growing field. Learn About Medical Assisting Training
Footnotes
1 https://americanmedtech.org/medical-assistant
2 https://aama-ntl.org/certification/eligibility
*Program length when completed in normal time.