Nurse Practitioner Or Physician Assistant Jobs in Iowa
Nurse Practitioner Or Physician Assistant jobs in Iowa concentrate heavily in primary care, rural health, and hospital-based medicine, with steady demand at every level from new graduates to experienced clinicians. The most active hiring markets are Des Moines, Iowa City, and Cedar Rapids, where large systems like UnityPoint Health, University of Iowa Health Care, and MercyOne maintain consistent openings. Family practice, urgent care, and behavioral health are the most in-demand specialties across the state. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
Find JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 76+ Nurse Practitioner Or Physician Assistant jobs











Are you looking for an opportunity to do amazing work helping others? You've come to the right place. Let's make a difference!
Primary Health Care (PHC) was founded in 1981 by Dr. Bery Engebretsen in Des Moines, IA. Our mission has remained unchanged since that time, to provide healthcare and supportive services to all, regardless of insurance, immigration status, or ability to pay.
Based on the needs of the communities we serve, PHC offers a spectrum of medical and dental services including family practice, behavioral health, HIV care and services, and pharmacy. PHC’s Homeless Support Services is the entry point for serving people experiencing homelessness in Polk County. Enabling services are available to help patients with benefits enrollment, case management, transportation, translation, and patient education. We currently have locations in Ames, Des Moines, & Marshalltown.
As a Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant, you will be responsible for providing patient care services to the Primary Health Care, Inc. (PHC) patient population in assigned clinic sites, and occasionally any of the various Outreach Project sites, including, but not limited to, patient homes, school-based clinics, mobile unit(s), shelters, street sites, and any other current or future designated location or PHC site. Works collaboratively with a Patient Care Team to provide, delegate, evaluate, and coordinate comprehensive professional care for patients of all cultures and backgrounds. Meets ever changing healthcare challenges while engaging patients in holistic care. Utilizes established workflows to ensure patient and staff satisfaction and organizational financial success. Demonstrates iCare values in daily work.
What's Great About this Position?
Continue to develop your skills and grow your career through PHC’s training opportunities including: PHC University, Emerging Leaders, and medical and dental assistant training programs.
Be part of a team who can provide different services and specialties to our patients.
Great team environment in a beautifully remodeled clinic.
Serve vulnerable and underserved populations in an FQHC and make direct and meaningful impact on patients who have barriers and limited access to healthcare.
What You Will Do
- Provides medical care in accordance with established standards, regulations, and policies and procedures of PHC. Obtains medical histories and performs examination to diagnose and treat patients in person or via telemedicine. Orders diagnostic tests including radiology and laboratory studies and interprets results. Writes medical orders and prescriptions. Performs approved procedures. Provides patient and family education and counseling.
- Codes patient encounters accurately. Maintains and monitors electronic medical records including history, physical exams, progress notes, and discharge summaries. Ensures complete documentation of medical records within the designated PHC time frame.
- Completes appropriate correspondence, phone calls, referral documentation, prior authorizations, refills, and letters to patients and referring providers within the designated time frame established by PHC.
- Actively participates in process improvement work and quality measures consistent with organizational priorities. Collaborates with Patient Care Team members to ensure effective and efficient functioning of the team.
- Follows and ensures compliance with all regulatory requirements including, but not limited to, risk management, medical records/peer review, accreditation requirements and federal, state, and local regulations.
- Leads, mentors, trains, and educates employees, students, and residents. Participates in research as desired.
Qualifications You Need to Bring
Required:
- Graduate of an approved Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant program (at least 2 years of experience as a Physician Assistant).
- Experience with and demonstrates patient centered care.
- Strong organization, prioritization, and time management skills with ability to multi task in a fast-paced environment.
- Detail oriented with high degree of accuracy.
- Good listening skills.
- Proficiency using Microsoft Office applications; willingness and ability to learn data base applications.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Strong professional skills with ability to interact with others in a calm and empathetic, and efficient manner.
- Outstanding interpersonal skills with ability to de-escalate difficult situations and work effectively with and serve a diverse population in various environments.
- Excellent collaboration and team-oriented skills.
- Outstanding problem-solving skills with analytical and critical thinking capability.
- License/Certifications: Licensed Nurse Practitioner in the state of Iowa; Board Certified as appropriate for license/specialty; current registration with the Federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Iowa Board of Pharmacy Examiners (CSA); *current Basic Life Support (BLS) for Health Care Providers Certification recognized by the American Heart Association; *current Mandatory Reporter Training: Child and Dependent Adult Abuse recognized by the Iowa Department of Public Health; valid driver’s license and insurance. *Must be obtained during introductory period if not current.
[If applicable, *Must be obtained within Introductory Period if not current]
Preferred:
- One or more years experience as a Nurse Practitioner
- Community Health Center experience.
- Bilingual, verbal, and written language proficiency in English/Spanish.
We Take Care of Our People
Your experience and skills determine your base pay. The hiring range for this position is typically $92,400 - $115,500 annually. Candidates with extensive work experience related to this position may be considered for additional compensation up to the pay grade maximum of $138,600 annually.
Join the PHC Community
| PHC Talent Community | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok | Twitter
Monday - Friday, 8am - 5pm
40
See All 76 Nurse Practitioner Or Physician Assistant Jobs in Iowa
Find roles in Iowa that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find JobsNurse Practitioner Or Physician Assistant Jobs by City in Iowa
Where Iowa roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Nurse Practitioner Or Physician Assistant Job Market in Iowa
A snapshot from current Iowa openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Signify Health31

- Medcor8

- MercyOne5

- Curana Health4

- Trinity Health3

Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services
- Insurance
What Iowa Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in nurse practitioner or physician assistant jobs across Iowa.
- Active Iowa nurse practitioner or physician assistant license issued by the Iowa Board of Nursing or Iowa Board of Physician Assistants
- Master's degree or doctoral degree in nursing or physician assistant studies from an accredited program
- Current national certification such as NCCPA for PAs or AANPCP or ANCC for NPs
- Current DEA registration and Iowa controlled substances prescribing authority where required
- Basic Life Support and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support certification required at hire
- Experience with electronic health record systems, particularly Epic, in a clinical setting
Nurse Practitioner Or Physician Assistant Jobs in Iowa: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a nurse practitioner or physician assistant in Iowa?
Nurse practitioners in Iowa must hold an active license from the Iowa Board of Nursing, which requires completing an accredited graduate nursing program and passing the relevant national certification exam through AANPCP or ANCC. Physician assistants must be licensed by the Iowa Board of Physician Assistants after graduating from an accredited PA program and passing the PANCE through NCCPA. Both roles require maintaining continuing education to keep licensure current in Iowa.
Which companies hire nurse practitioner or physician assistants in Iowa?
Companies currently hiring nurse practitioner or physician assistants in Iowa include Signify Health, Medcor, and MercyOne, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Iowa's integrated health systems and federally qualified health centers across rural communities also maintain some of the most consistent hiring volumes in the state.
Which Iowa cities have the most nurse practitioner or physician assistant jobs?
Iowa, Cedar Rapids, and Clinton have the most nurse practitioner or physician assistant openings in Iowa. Des Moines drives the largest share of postings as the home base of major regional health systems, while Iowa City's volume is anchored by the University of Iowa Health Care academic medical center, and Cedar Rapids reflects the broader clinical infrastructure of Iowa's second-largest metro.
Are there remote nurse practitioner or physician assistant jobs in Iowa?
Yes, but they're rare. About 69% of nurse practitioner or physician assistant openings tied to Iowa are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, reflecting the largely in-person nature of direct patient care. The sub-specialties most likely to offer remote or telehealth components include behavioral health, chronic disease management, and psychiatric mental health across Iowa's underserved rural communities.
How can I get hired as a nurse practitioner or physician assistant in Iowa with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying to new-graduate or transition-to-practice residency programs offered by systems like UnityPoint Health and University of Iowa Health Care, which are designed for candidates without post-graduate clinical hours. Candidates who have worked as registered nurses or physician assistant students completing rotations at Iowa facilities often move directly into entry-level NP or PA roles. Holding a current Iowa license and national certification before applying gives any new-graduate candidate a significant competitive edge.
Where can I find and apply to nurse practitioner or physician assistant jobs in Iowa?
You can find and apply to nurse practitioner or physician assistant jobs in Iowa on Migrate Mate, which lists current Iowa openings across health systems, clinics, and community health organizations. Search the listings, find the roles that match your specialty and availability, and apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 76 Nurse Practitioner Or Physician Assistant Jobs in Iowa
Find roles in Iowa that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Jobs