Internal Medicine Physician Jobs for OPT Students
Internal Medicine Physician jobs on OPT are available, but they require active medical licensure, J-1 or H-1B sponsorship history from the employer, and ECFMG certification for international medical graduates. Your 12-month OPT window is short relative to physician credentialing timelines, making early employer engagement essential.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Optum CA is seeking an Internal Medicine Physician to join our Primary Care team in Montibello, CA. Optum is a clinician-led care organization that is changing the way clinicians work and live.
As a member of the Optum Care Delivery team, you'll be an integral part of our vision to make healthcare better for everyone.
At Optum, you'll have the clinical resources, data and support of a global organization behind you so you can help your patients live healthier lives. Here, you'll work alongside talented peers in a collaborative environment that is guided by diversity and inclusion while driving towards the Quadruple Aim. We believe you deserve an exceptional career, and will empower you to live your best life at work and at home. Experience the fulfillment of advancing the health of your community with the excitement of contributing new practice ideas and initiatives that could help improve care for millions of patients across the country. Because together, we have the power to make health care better for everyone. Join us and discover how rewarding medicine can be while Caring. Connecting. Growing together.
POSITION HIGHLIGHTS:
- Schedule: Monday - Friday, no evenings or weekends
- "Quality vs. Quantity Model": Average 18-22 patients per day
- Collaborate with a multi-disciplinary team of health care providers
- Daily administrative time built in Physician's schedule
- Comfortable seeing patients 18 years of age and older; chronic disease management, annual wellness checks, routine screenings
- Appointment schedule: 40 minutes for new consults and 20 minutes for in office visits, screenings and follow-up appointments
- Dedicated Medical Assistant and office support, so clinicians can focus on practicing at full scope of license
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS HIGHLIGHTS:
- This position offers a guaranteed base salary plus incentive based on quality and performance
- Generous PTO, CME time, and clinics are closed for nine company observed holidays
- 401k with company match, and UHG Employee Stock Purchase Program
- Comprehensive Benefits: Health, Vision, & Dental, Life insurance and LTD
- Company paid medical malpractice coverage
- Continued professional growth & leadership opportunities including Physician Partnership
You'll be rewarded and recognized for your performance in an environment that will challenge you and give you clear direction on what it takes to succeed in your role as well as provide development for other roles you may be interested in.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Doctor of Medicine (M.D.), Doctor of Osteopathic (D.O.), or M.B.B.S
- Board certification or eligibility in Internal Medicine
- Active, unrestricted medical license in CA or the ability to obtain prior to employment
- Valid DEA license or the ability to obtain prior to employment
- Active BLS certification
- Minimum 1-3 years primary care experience
- Computer Proficient
Compensation for this specialty generally ranges from $237,500 - $384,000. Total cash compensation includes base pay and bonus and is based on several factors including but not limited to local labor markets, education, work experience and may increase over time based on productivity and performance in the role. We comply with all minimum wage laws as applicable. In addition to your salary, we offer benefits such as, a comprehensive benefits package, incentive and recognition programs, equity stock purchase and 401k contribution (all benefits are subject to eligibility requirements). No matter where or when you begin a career with us, you'll find a far-reaching choice of benefits and incentives.
UnitedHealth Group is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer under applicable law and qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, religion, age, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by local, state, or federal laws, rules, or regulations.
UnitedHealth Group is a drug-free workplace. Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment.
INTRODUCTION
Optum CA is seeking an Internal Medicine Physician to join our Primary Care team in Montibello, CA. Optum is a clinician-led care organization that is changing the way clinicians work and live.
As a member of the Optum Care Delivery team, you'll be an integral part of our vision to make healthcare better for everyone.
At Optum, you'll have the clinical resources, data and support of a global organization behind you so you can help your patients live healthier lives. Here, you'll work alongside talented peers in a collaborative environment that is guided by diversity and inclusion while driving towards the Quadruple Aim. We believe you deserve an exceptional career, and will empower you to live your best life at work and at home. Experience the fulfillment of advancing the health of your community with the excitement of contributing new practice ideas and initiatives that could help improve care for millions of patients across the country. Because together, we have the power to make health care better for everyone. Join us and discover how rewarding medicine can be while Caring. Connecting. Growing together.
POSITION HIGHLIGHTS:
- Schedule: Monday - Friday, no evenings or weekends
- "Quality vs. Quantity Model": Average 18-22 patients per day
- Collaborate with a multi-disciplinary team of health care providers
- Daily administrative time built in Physician's schedule
- Comfortable seeing patients 18 years of age and older; chronic disease management, annual wellness checks, routine screenings
- Appointment schedule: 40 minutes for new consults and 20 minutes for in office visits, screenings and follow-up appointments
- Dedicated Medical Assistant and office support, so clinicians can focus on practicing at full scope of license
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS HIGHLIGHTS:
- This position offers a guaranteed base salary plus incentive based on quality and performance
- Generous PTO, CME time, and clinics are closed for nine company observed holidays
- 401k with company match, and UHG Employee Stock Purchase Program
- Comprehensive Benefits: Health, Vision, & Dental, Life insurance and LTD
- Company paid medical malpractice coverage
- Continued professional growth & leadership opportunities including Physician Partnership
You'll be rewarded and recognized for your performance in an environment that will challenge you and give you clear direction on what it takes to succeed in your role as well as provide development for other roles you may be interested in.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Doctor of Medicine (M.D.), Doctor of Osteopathic (D.O.), or M.B.B.S
- Board certification or eligibility in Internal Medicine
- Active, unrestricted medical license in CA or the ability to obtain prior to employment
- Valid DEA license or the ability to obtain prior to employment
- Active BLS certification
- Minimum 1-3 years primary care experience
- Computer Proficient
Compensation for this specialty generally ranges from $237,500 - $384,000. Total cash compensation includes base pay and bonus and is based on several factors including but not limited to local labor markets, education, work experience and may increase over time based on productivity and performance in the role. We comply with all minimum wage laws as applicable. In addition to your salary, we offer benefits such as, a comprehensive benefits package, incentive and recognition programs, equity stock purchase and 401k contribution (all benefits are subject to eligibility requirements). No matter where or when you begin a career with us, you'll find a far-reaching choice of benefits and incentives.
UnitedHealth Group is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer under applicable law and qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, religion, age, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by local, state, or federal laws, rules, or regulations.
UnitedHealth Group is a drug-free workplace. Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment.
How to Get Visa Sponsorship in Internal Medicine Physician
Target teaching hospitals and academic medical centers
Academic medical centers and university-affiliated teaching hospitals have established immigration infrastructure and routinely sponsor physicians. They're far more likely to have legal counsel experienced with OPT-to-H-1B transitions than private practices or smaller community hospitals.
Confirm your OPT end date before applying
Physician credentialing alone can take 60 to 90 days. Add licensing and privileging timelines, and your OPT window may expire before your start date. Know exactly when your authorization ends and communicate that proactively with prospective employers.
Get your state medical license in process immediately
Most states take three to six months to issue a medical license. You cannot legally practice without one, and employers won't extend offers without it. Start the application before you begin job searching, not after you receive an offer.
Frame H-1B sponsorship as a standard physician hiring conversation
Large health systems sponsor physicians routinely. Lead with your qualifications and specialty fit, then address sponsorship. Employers who regularly hire J-1 physicians after their waiver period are already comfortable with immigration logistics for internists.
Prioritize STEM OPT extension eligibility if your program qualifies
If your graduate medical or biomedical science degree is STEM-designated, you may qualify for a 24-month STEM OPT extension. This gives you significantly more runway for the H-1B lottery cycle, which matters enormously in physician hiring.
Engage an immigration attorney before accepting any offer
Physician OPT transitions involve credentialing, licensure, and visa timing converging simultaneously. An immigration attorney can identify whether your employer qualifies as a cap-exempt H-1B filer, which would let you bypass the lottery entirely.
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Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Can I work as an Internal Medicine Physician on OPT without an H-1B?
Yes, OPT authorizes you to work as an Internal Medicine Physician for a qualifying employer during your authorization period. However, OPT is temporary. Most physicians use it as a bridge while their employer files an H-1B or, if the hospital qualifies as a nonprofit or government research entity, a cap-exempt H-1B petition that bypasses the lottery entirely.
Do hospitals typically sponsor OPT physicians for H-1B visas?
Academic medical centers, large health systems, and VA hospitals sponsor physicians regularly. Many qualify as cap-exempt H-1B employers, meaning they can file outside the annual lottery. Smaller private practices rarely have the infrastructure to manage sponsorship. Targeting systems with established immigration departments significantly improves your chances of a smooth OPT-to-H-1B transition. Browse employers on Migrate Mate to identify health systems actively hiring OPT candidates.
Does ECFMG certification affect my OPT eligibility as a physician?
ECFMG certification is a medical licensure requirement for international medical graduates, not an OPT eligibility requirement. OPT is granted based on your student visa and program completion, not your clinical credentials. That said, you cannot practice medicine without ECFMG certification and a state medical license regardless of your work authorization status, so both tracks must run simultaneously.
How does the 12-month OPT window interact with physician credentialing timelines?
It's tight. Hospital credentialing typically takes 60 to 90 days, state medical licensing takes three to six months, and DEA registration adds additional time. If you wait until graduation to begin these processes, your OPT window may expire before you can legally start. Begin licensing applications during your final residency or fellowship year and communicate your timeline clearly with any prospective employer.
What happens if my OPT expires before I complete credentialing at a new hospital?
If your OPT expires before you begin employment, you lose work authorization and cannot legally practice. You'd need either a timely H-1B approval with a start date before OPT expiration or a cap-exempt petition filed by your employer. This is why early employer engagement and an immigration attorney review of your timeline are critical, not optional, steps in the physician job search process.
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