Inpatient Physical Therapist Jobs
Inpatient Physical Therapist jobs are open across hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and long-term acute care facilities, from new-grad to senior and lead levels, with specializations in orthopedics, neurological rehab, and post-surgical recovery. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Showing 5 of 334+ Inpatient Physical Therapist jobs
- PRN/flexible schedule Monday-Friday during typical business hours
- Plan and prepare individualized, creative, and unique activities to meet each child's individual goals
- Administer appropriate standardized tests/screenings/informal assessments/clinical observations
- Adhere to the plan of care as written
- Provide interpretation and/or counseling of test results to clients/caregivers as well as ongoing feedback regarding progress
- Provide appropriate recommendations, equipment, referrals and/or follow-up for each case
- Assist in the research/development of clinical practices and competencies
- Participate in internal quality assurance and continuous quality improvement activities
- Must meet ChildServe and ChildServe Therapy’s mandatory education requirements and be willing to attend additional training to improve process and procedures
- Master's level or higher graduate of an APTA approved physical therapy assistant program and active license in the state of Iowa
- Preferred: Pediatric experience
- Ability to lift up to 50 lbs, be mobile within the assigned work area, and frequently bend, lift, reach, and stand.
- ChildServe partners with families to help children with special healthcare needs live a great life.
- ChildServe is a leading pediatric healthcare provider with Iowa’s only children's specialty hospital, offering a variety of services and programs to meet each child’s unique needs.
- ChildServe’s four key specialty areas include: complex medical care, pediatric rehabilitation, autism and behavioral health, and community-based services. With a coordinated approach to care delivery, services are interwoven and streamlined, so families can address their child’s needs in one location.
- Established in 1928, ChildServe proudly provides more than 30 pediatric specialty services to nearly 6,000 children in Iowa each year.
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.
- PRN/flexible schedule Monday-Friday during typical business hours
- Plan and prepare individualized, creative, and unique activities to meet each child's individual goals
- Administer appropriate standardized tests/screenings/informal assessments/clinical observations
- Adhere to the plan of care as written
- Provide interpretation and/or counseling of test results to clients/caregivers as well as ongoing feedback regarding progress
- Provide appropriate recommendations, equipment, referrals and/or follow-up for each case
- Assist in the research/development of clinical practices and competencies
- Participate in internal quality assurance and continuous quality improvement activities
- Must meet ChildServe and ChildServe Therapy’s mandatory education requirements and be willing to attend additional training to improve process and procedures
- Master's level or higher graduate of an APTA approved physical therapy assistant program and active license in the state of Iowa
- Preferred: Pediatric experience
- Ability to lift up to 50 lbs, be mobile within the assigned work area, and frequently bend, lift, reach, and stand.
- ChildServe partners with families to help children with special healthcare needs live a great life.
- ChildServe is a leading pediatric healthcare provider with Iowa’s only children's specialty hospital, offering a variety of services and programs to meet each child’s unique needs.
- ChildServe’s four key specialty areas include: complex medical care, pediatric rehabilitation, autism and behavioral health, and community-based services. With a coordinated approach to care delivery, services are interwoven and streamlined, so families can address their child’s needs in one location.
- Established in 1928, ChildServe proudly provides more than 30 pediatric specialty services to nearly 6,000 children in Iowa each year.
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.
Inpatient Physical Therapist Jobs by Experience Level
See All 334+ Inpatient Physical Therapist Jobs
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Find JobsInpatient Physical Therapist Job Market
Who's Hiring
- Ascension16
- Kaiser Permanente11
- Advocate Aurora Health10
- Intermountain Health6
- University Hospitals6
Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services41
- Education3
- Insurance2
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals1
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in inpatient physical therapist jobs.
- Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from an accredited program
- Active state physical therapy license in the state of employment
- Current Basic Life Support certification from an approved provider
- Minimum one to two years of acute care or inpatient rehab experience
- Experience with electronic medical records documentation systems
- Knowledge of functional outcome measures such as FIM and Berg Balance Scale
Tips for Your Inpatient Physical Therapist Job Search
Tailor your resume to setting-specific caseloads
Inpatient roles vary widely between acute care, step-down units, and inpatient rehab facilities. Call out the specific patient populations you've treated, your average daily caseload, and any experience with acute neurological or post-surgical cases rather than listing general PT duties.
Highlight BLS and CPR certifications upfront
Inpatient employers screen for Basic Life Support certification before reviewing clinical experience. Place your BLS, CPR, and any ACLS credentials near the top of your resume so they're visible immediately, not buried in a skills list at the bottom.
Filter openings by unit type, not just job title
Many inpatient PT postings list the same title regardless of whether the role is in a trauma unit, cardiac care, or inpatient rehab. Read the job description for the unit name, patient acuity level, and interdisciplinary team structure before applying to make sure the setting fits your background.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists inpatient physical therapist openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Prepare for functional mobility scenario questions
Inpatient PT interviews often include scenario questions about progressing a patient from bed mobility to ambulation under time constraints. Practice talking through your clinical reasoning for discharge planning decisions, equipment recommendations, and coordination with nursing and case management teams.
Negotiate start date around state licensure processing
If you're relocating for an inpatient role, state licensure transfer timelines directly affect when you can treat patients independently. When negotiating your offer, confirm whether the employer will cover temporary practice permit fees and what the supervised practice policy is while your new license processes.
Inpatient Physical Therapist Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most inpatient physical therapists?
The most active employers for inpatient physical therapists right now are Ascension, Kaiser Permanente, and Advocate Aurora Health, and the most openings are in Texas, Florida, and California, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Health systems with large inpatient rehab units and long-term acute care hospitals tend to post the highest volume of openings consistently.
How many inpatient physical therapist jobs are remote?
About 17% of inpatient physical therapist openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting that most hands-on inpatient work requires in-person patient treatment. The sub-areas with the most remote or hybrid flexibility include clinical education roles, telehealth discharge planning consultations, and inpatient rehab program management positions.
How do you become an inpatient physical therapist?
To become an inpatient physical therapist, you earn a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from an accredited program, pass the National Physical Therapy Examination administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy, and obtain a state license where you plan to practice. Gaining clinical experience in acute care settings during your DPT rotations and pursuing inpatient-focused residency programs strengthens your candidacy for hospital-based roles.
How do you get hired as an inpatient physical therapist with little experience?
New grads can break into inpatient PT by completing at least one acute care clinical rotation during their DPT program and documenting the specific patient populations treated, even briefly. Applying to inpatient rehab facilities and community hospitals, which typically have more open positions than large academic medical centers, increases your chances. Acute care PT residency programs are another direct path that provides structured mentorship alongside employment.
What does the inpatient physical therapist interview process look like?
The inpatient physical therapist interview process typically begins with a phone or video screen with HR or a rehab manager, followed by an in-person interview with the department director and lead therapists. Expect clinical scenario questions about patient progression, discharge planning, and documentation workflows. Some hospitals include a brief unit tour and an informal conversation with the existing PT staff before an offer is extended.
Where can I find and apply to inpatient physical therapist jobs?
You can find and apply to inpatient physical therapist jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from hospitals, inpatient rehab facilities, and long-term acute care centers across the United States. Search for roles that match your specialty, experience level, and preferred location, then apply directly to each listing that fits your background.
See All 334+ Inpatient Physical Therapist Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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