If you wish to pursue a career as a medical assistant, consider participating in an externship while enrolled in a training program. Externships allow students in medical assistant programs to temporarily work in a clinic and gain hands-on experience. By taking part in an externship, students become better-rounded and better prepared for job placement upon completion of their programs, while also getting a taste of life as a medical assistant. Prism Career Institute offers medical assistant training at our campuses in Cherry Hill and West Atlantic City, NJ, and Philadelphia, PA. Here, we discuss some of the ways externships are a great asset to students in medical assistant programs.
Externships Help Students Gain Experience
Students in medical assistant programs gain knowledge through various methods, including in-classroom instruction, thorough reading, collaborative projects, and hands-on experience. Externships serve as a great form of first-hand work experience and may help you in your future career. There is no better way to gain a practical understanding of the healthcare sector than by working alongside medical assistants who have been in the field for years. Not only will an externship provide you with insight from skilled medical assistants, but it may also guide you in determining what type of environment you want to work in — or avoid — when you graduate.
Externships vs. Internships in the Medical Field
More people recognize the term internship, which many businesses offer to prepare people for a job in their industry. In the healthcare world, the externship is a much more popular option for training students. Internships and externships share several notable differences.
With an internship, the student works a bit longer, typically a few months, and usually requires more leadership roles. On the other hand, externships may last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks and tend to focus more on observation.
Externships are more favorable in the medical world simply because they allow students to learn by watching other medical assistants in action, instead of simply listening in a classroom. As a result, many medical assistant programs require students to complete an externship to graduate.
Benefits of Participating in an Externship
A medical assistant externship is not only ideal for gaining experience, but also provides long-term advantages. While shadowing an experienced professional in the field, students work directly with patients, doctors, and other healthcare providers. This is a great opportunity to build connections with professionals who work in your area of interest. By building these relationships, you receive one-on-one insight and may even find reputable professionals who will serve as references during your job search after graduation. Other ways your medical assistant externship program may help you in the future include:
- Preparedness: You’ll have a good idea of what to expect after completing your externship. This awareness keeps you better prepared for your future career as a medical assistant.
- Specialization: During your externship, you may work in several different departments and form your own preferences. Browsing different specializations is beneficial when choosing which medical department you wish to work in.
- Solidifying your career path: By partaking in an externship, you will have more confidence that the medical assistant occupation is one you will find rewarding.
While an externship may make clear to individuals that they want to become a medical assistant, it may also reveal that the career is not for them. In this case, an externship gives people a better understanding of where their preferences lie while still providing them with a new educational experience. In other words, they prove beneficial even if you ultimately choose a different field.
Discover Medical Assistant Programs at Prism Career Institute
If you are ready to begin your journey to becoming a medical assistant and are located near Philadelphia, PA, or Cherry Hill or West Atlantic City, NJ, apply online at Prism Career Institute. Students in the medical assistant program at Prism Career Institute will gain quality knowledge through training courses and an externship in just 24 instructional weeks. For additional information on medical assistant programs and externships, contact us today.