OPT Pediatric Physical Therapist Jobs
Pediatric physical therapist jobs on OPT are available through hospitals, school districts, and outpatient clinics, all of which commonly sponsor H-1B visas. Your DPT degree satisfies the specialty occupation requirement, and STEM OPT extension does not apply to this field, so a 12-month OPT timeline is standard.
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Get Access To All JobsFacility:
CoxHealth South: 3801 S National Ave, Springfield, Missouri, United States of America, 65807
Department:
1089 Acute Therapy South
Scheduled Weekly Hours:
0
Hours:
7:30-4:30
Work Shift:
Day Shift (United States of America)
CoxHealth is a leading healthcare system serving 25 counties across southwest Missouri and northern Arkansas. The organization includes six hospitals, 5 ERs, and over 80 clinics. CoxHealth has earned the following honors for workplace excellence:
- Named one of Modern Healthcare’s Best Places to work five times.
- Named one of America’s Greatest Workplaces, Greatest Workplaces in Healthcare (2025, 2026), Greatest Workplaces for Women (2023, 2024), and Greatest Workplaces for Diversity (2024) by Newsweek and Plant-A Insights Group.
- Acknowledged by Forbes as one of the Best Employers for New Grads.
- Healthcare Innovation's Top Companies to Work for in Healthcare (2025).
Benefits
- Medical, Vision, Dental, Retirement with Employer Match and more (20+ hrs/week)
- For a comprehensive list of benefits, please click here: Benefits | CoxHealth
Job Description:
Job Summary
Provides skilled physical therapy services to patients including all aspects of evaluation and treatment.
Job Requirements
Education:
- Required: Graduate of an accredited Physical Therapy program
- Preferred: Master’s or Doctorate from an accredited program of Physical Therapy
Experience:
- Preferred: One year or more experience in a pediatric developmental, neonatal intensive care, or pediatric intensive care setting.
Responsibilities:
- Establishes treatment plan and provides treatment, considering discharge needs; expected discharge functional status; and appropriate equipment and supplies.
- Educates, collaborates with, and conferences with patients, families, and other health care providers; making recommendations for referrals to specialists as needed.
- Delegates to assistants, techs, and students through written and verbal communication including determining the skill level or competency required to provide interventions to best meet the needs of the patient.
- Completes documentation in accordance with departmental policies.
- Provides assessment, reassessment, and/or consultations for Physical Therapy Services.
Skills:
- Good clinical expertise, communication skills, human relations skills and organizational skill required
- Self-motivated individual who can work independently with little direct supervision required
- Has demonstrated interest in professional growth by attendance at continuing education workshops, and applications of new principles and/or techniques.
Licensure/Certification/Registration:
- Required: Active Missouri licensure for Physical Therapy (temporary license not accepted)
- Required: BLS must be obtained within 90 days of hire
Facility:
CoxHealth South: 3801 S National Ave, Springfield, Missouri, United States of America, 65807
Department:
1089 Acute Therapy South
Scheduled Weekly Hours:
0
Hours:
7:30-4:30
Work Shift:
Day Shift (United States of America)
CoxHealth is a leading healthcare system serving 25 counties across southwest Missouri and northern Arkansas. The organization includes six hospitals, 5 ERs, and over 80 clinics. CoxHealth has earned the following honors for workplace excellence:
- Named one of Modern Healthcare’s Best Places to work five times.
- Named one of America’s Greatest Workplaces, Greatest Workplaces in Healthcare (2025, 2026), Greatest Workplaces for Women (2023, 2024), and Greatest Workplaces for Diversity (2024) by Newsweek and Plant-A Insights Group.
- Acknowledged by Forbes as one of the Best Employers for New Grads.
- Healthcare Innovation's Top Companies to Work for in Healthcare (2025).
Benefits
- Medical, Vision, Dental, Retirement with Employer Match and more (20+ hrs/week)
- For a comprehensive list of benefits, please click here: Benefits | CoxHealth
Job Description:
Job Summary
Provides skilled physical therapy services to patients including all aspects of evaluation and treatment.
Job Requirements
Education:
- Required: Graduate of an accredited Physical Therapy program
- Preferred: Master’s or Doctorate from an accredited program of Physical Therapy
Experience:
- Preferred: One year or more experience in a pediatric developmental, neonatal intensive care, or pediatric intensive care setting.
Responsibilities:
- Establishes treatment plan and provides treatment, considering discharge needs; expected discharge functional status; and appropriate equipment and supplies.
- Educates, collaborates with, and conferences with patients, families, and other health care providers; making recommendations for referrals to specialists as needed.
- Delegates to assistants, techs, and students through written and verbal communication including determining the skill level or competency required to provide interventions to best meet the needs of the patient.
- Completes documentation in accordance with departmental policies.
- Provides assessment, reassessment, and/or consultations for Physical Therapy Services.
Skills:
- Good clinical expertise, communication skills, human relations skills and organizational skill required
- Self-motivated individual who can work independently with little direct supervision required
- Has demonstrated interest in professional growth by attendance at continuing education workshops, and applications of new principles and/or techniques.
Licensure/Certification/Registration:
- Required: Active Missouri licensure for Physical Therapy (temporary license not accepted)
- Required: BLS must be obtained within 90 days of hire
See all OPT Pediatric Physical Therapist Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Pediatric Physical Therapist Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Pediatric Physical Therapist
Target employers with H-1B sponsorship history
Children's hospitals and large pediatric therapy networks file H-1B petitions regularly. Search OFLC disclosure data to verify which employers have sponsored physical therapists before reaching out, this filters serious prospects from those unlikely to navigate the process.
Apply early to protect your OPT timeline
Pediatric PT hiring cycles can run 60 to 90 days from application to start date. If your OPT window is 12 months, applying at least four months before expiration gives your employer time to file an H-1B cap-subject petition before your authorization lapses.
Clarify your state license status upfront
Many employers screen out candidates who lack a state PT license before interviewing. Confirm your licensure timeline early and communicate it clearly in applications, being licensed or license-eligible in the employer's state signals you can start without delays.
Highlight pediatric clinical hours from your DPT program
USCIS requires specialty occupation proof for H-1B approval. Framing your pediatric clinical rotations, certifications like NDT or DIR Floortime, and patient population experience strengthens both your job application and the sponsoring employer's eventual H-1B petition.
Understand the cap-exempt employer advantage
Nonprofit pediatric hospitals and university-affiliated therapy centers may qualify as cap-exempt H-1B employers. These organizations can file petitions year-round without lottery risk, making them especially valuable targets during your OPT job search.
Ask about sponsorship before the offer stage
Raise the visa sponsorship question during a second-round interview, not after receiving an offer. Framing it as a process question rather than a demand gives employers space to confirm their willingness and consult HR without feeling pressured at the final stage.
Pediatric Physical Therapist OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a pediatric physical therapist role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B sponsorship?
Yes. Pediatric physical therapy positions typically require a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree, which satisfies USCIS's specialty occupation standard. Your DPT is the specific credential tied directly to the role, making it one of the cleaner specialty occupation cases compared to fields where degree requirements are more ambiguous.
Is STEM OPT extension available for pediatric physical therapists on F-1 OPT?
No. Physical therapy, including pediatric PT, is not classified under a STEM-designated CIP code, so F-1 students in this field are limited to the standard 12-month OPT period. This makes starting your H-1B sponsorship conversation with employers early in your OPT window especially important.
Which types of employers are most likely to sponsor H-1B visas for pediatric physical therapists?
Children's hospitals, large outpatient pediatric therapy networks, and university-affiliated medical centers have the strongest track records for H-1B sponsorship in this field. School districts sometimes hire physical therapists but are less consistent with sponsorship. Browse roles on Migrate Mate to find employers with verified sponsorship history in pediatric therapy.
Can I work as a pediatric physical therapist on OPT before getting my state license?
It depends on the employer and state. Some states allow graduates to work under a temporary or provisional license while the full license is pending. Others require full licensure before any patient contact. Confirm your target state's rules with the state PT licensing board and communicate your licensure timeline to employers during the hiring process.
How does changing employers affect my OPT status as a pediatric physical therapist?
You can change employers on OPT, but the new job must be directly related to your DPT degree and field of study. You're required to report the employer change to your DSO within 10 days. If your new employer intends to sponsor an H-1B, they'll need to file a new petition, so timing against OPT expiration matters.