Updated Content 11/05/2025
Are you looking to start your career in the healthcare field with as much experience as possible? If so, United Career Institute (UCI) offers a great opportunity for you to develop your skills, complete a real-world externship, expand your professional network, prepare for industry certifications*, and then earn your degree or diploma in two years or less!
Continue reading this blog to discover why an externship experience is essential to your healthcare career training and how it can help launch your career.
What Is An Externship?
An externship is a valuable training experience that enables healthcare students to apply the skills and knowledge they have learned in the classroom and lab in a real-world setting under the supervision of industry professionals while still in school. This short-term experience provides students with a glimpse of their future careers. The UCI career management department assists students in organizing this experience. It is completed at a regional healthcare facility that aligns with the student’s field of study.
Benefits Of An Externship
There are numerous benefits to a healthcare training program that incorporates an externship. Among them are the real-world experience a student gains, the opportunity to establish professional connections with local industry professionals, and the chance to become comfortable working in an operational healthcare facility.
One of the most critical aspects of an externship is the real-world experience it provides. This enables students to integrate knowledge, skills, and patient-care techniques and apply them in the field. Additionally, because students will work closely with healthcare professionals at the facility where their externship is located, they will also develop a professional network that they can use for references and recommendations when it comes time to start the job search.
Another significant factor in the externship experience is becoming familiar with working in a healthcare setting. Practicing skills in a classroom versus in an actual medical facility can be quite different, so students must have the ability to adapt to their specific setting.
Does An Externship Count As Work Experience?
United Career Institute understands that a student’s goal is to launch their new healthcare career with the skills and experience necessary for success. The externship that our students complete during their time in school equips them with additional expertise that they will add to their qualifications and build their resumes. When adding externship experience to a resume, it is essential to highlight the skills acquired, duration, and any other relevant details. The United Career Institute career management team can assist with creating a resume that appropriately reflects our students’ experiences.
Additionally, some UCI graduates have been offered positions upon graduation at the same healthcare facility where they completed their externship. Developing strong professional relationships during this learning period can help students in their job search once their training is complete.
How United Career Institute Can Help You
United Career Institute students benefit from externships, online classes combined with hands-on training, certification* or licensure^ preparation, student services, smaller class sizes, and more! With online training programs in Practical Nursing, Clinical Medical Assistant, Medical Coding, and Medical Office Administration, students will be prepared to enter their new careers in just 18 months. For an even more accelerated approach, students can enroll in our 12-month online Career In A Year option, which provides training in Medical Assisting.
Are you ready to benefit from all that United Career Institute has to offer? Get started today by contacting our admissions team to request information.
*Certification is contingent upon passing the corresponding industry certification exam.
^Passing the NCLEX-PN exam is required to become a Practical Nurse.
Certifying entities are independent and not affiliated with or connected to United Career Institute in any manner.