OPT Physician Jobs
Physician roles on OPT are relatively rare, as most clinical positions require a medical license and ECFMG certification that take years to obtain. F-1 students in medical residency or research-track programs should confirm their OPT end date aligns with licensing timelines and explore STEM OPT extension eligibility if their program qualifies.
See All OPT Physician JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 5,214+ Physician jobs
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
See all 5,214+ Physician Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Physician roles.
Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Since 1970, FHCSD’s mission has been to provide caring, affordable, high-quality health care and supportive services to everyone, with a special commitment to uninsured, low-income and medically underserved persons.
FHCSD is one of the top 10 largest federally qualified health centers in the country, operating more than 90 sites across San Diego County and providing care to more than 227,000 patients each year — 91% of whom are low-income and 29% uninsured.
With a team of more than 3,200 dedicated employees, FHCSD takes pride in the diversity of its staff, which reflects the communities it serves. Working at FHCSD offers more than a paycheck and excellent benefits — it offers the opportunity to make a lasting impact on the health and well-being of San Diego’s communities.
As a provider and leader for Family Health Centers of San Diego, you embrace a spirit of service to provide caring, affordable, high quality healthcare and supportive services to everyone, with a special commitment to uninsured, low income and medically underserved persons. You thrive on the challenge of working in a fast-paced environment with many chronically ill patients, knowing you are making a difference in your community every day. You enjoy partnering with the provider team to provide excellence in medical services and supervising mid-level providers.
Clinic Details
- Multiple Locations in San Diego!
- Schedules: Monday - Friday, 8:30am-5:30pm or 8am-5pm
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
- $290,000 - $335,000 Full Time Annually
- Significant Sign-on Bonus and Annual Incentives
- Free Malpractice Insurance
- CME Credit and Time Off
- NHSC Loan Repay Eligibility
- Retirement Plan with 50% Employer Match
- Paid Time Off, Extended Sick Leave and Paid Holidays
- Medical/Dental/Vision/FSA/Life Insurance
- Relocation Assistance
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Provide high quality and caring medical services to a diverse patient population
- Perform routine exams, common procedures and screenings
- Order and interpret laboratory tests, imaging, and point-of-care tests
- Evaluate patients with complex problems and refer to appropriate specialists
- Supervise and mentor Advance Practice Providers in a responsive manner
- Exercise cultural sensitivity and seek assistance with translations if needed
- Complete all required documentation in accordance with departmental standards
- Comply with electronic medical record requirements, including medication reconciliation, finalizing notes, clearing out personal pool, and participating in clinic pool
- Attend all mandatory meetings and minimize incident reports
- Use resources efficiently and practice medicine in a cost-effective manner
- Participate in Clinical Outcomes Program
- Maintain behavioral standards and respectful interactions with colleagues and patients
- Obtain good peer reviews, attend mandatory meetings and minimize incident reports
- Work toward meeting organizational targets for all metrics
- Participate in administrative duties and on-call schedule in a timely manner
- Must keep medical license, DEA registration and BLS/CPR certification current
- Perform other duties as assigned
REQUIREMENTS
- Doctorate from an accredited school of medicine
- Board certified or board eligible in a primary care field
- Current unrestricted license to practice in the State of California or ability to obtain
- DEA license
- Current American Heart Association health care provider CPR (BLS), or Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Advanced Trauma Life Support, or Advance Resuscitation Training
- Experience with underserved, low-income, or homeless community members preferred
- Second language fluency in desired
Thank you for your interest in FHCSD!
We are excited to share that the salary range for this position is:
$290,000.00 - $335,000.00
Information on our extensive benefits package can be found here: FHCSD Wellness – Employee Hub (gobenefits.net)
FHCSD provides Equal Employment Opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, transfer, leave of absence, compensation, and training.
INTRODUCTION
Since 1970, FHCSD’s mission has been to provide caring, affordable, high-quality health care and supportive services to everyone, with a special commitment to uninsured, low-income and medically underserved persons.
FHCSD is one of the top 10 largest federally qualified health centers in the country, operating more than 90 sites across San Diego County and providing care to more than 227,000 patients each year — 91% of whom are low-income and 29% uninsured.
With a team of more than 3,200 dedicated employees, FHCSD takes pride in the diversity of its staff, which reflects the communities it serves. Working at FHCSD offers more than a paycheck and excellent benefits — it offers the opportunity to make a lasting impact on the health and well-being of San Diego’s communities.
As a provider and leader for Family Health Centers of San Diego, you embrace a spirit of service to provide caring, affordable, high quality healthcare and supportive services to everyone, with a special commitment to uninsured, low income and medically underserved persons. You thrive on the challenge of working in a fast-paced environment with many chronically ill patients, knowing you are making a difference in your community every day. You enjoy partnering with the provider team to provide excellence in medical services and supervising mid-level providers.
Clinic Details
- Multiple Locations in San Diego!
- Schedules: Monday - Friday, 8:30am-5:30pm or 8am-5pm
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
- $290,000 - $335,000 Full Time Annually
- Significant Sign-on Bonus and Annual Incentives
- Free Malpractice Insurance
- CME Credit and Time Off
- NHSC Loan Repay Eligibility
- Retirement Plan with 50% Employer Match
- Paid Time Off, Extended Sick Leave and Paid Holidays
- Medical/Dental/Vision/FSA/Life Insurance
- Relocation Assistance
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Provide high quality and caring medical services to a diverse patient population
- Perform routine exams, common procedures and screenings
- Order and interpret laboratory tests, imaging, and point-of-care tests
- Evaluate patients with complex problems and refer to appropriate specialists
- Supervise and mentor Advance Practice Providers in a responsive manner
- Exercise cultural sensitivity and seek assistance with translations if needed
- Complete all required documentation in accordance with departmental standards
- Comply with electronic medical record requirements, including medication reconciliation, finalizing notes, clearing out personal pool, and participating in clinic pool
- Attend all mandatory meetings and minimize incident reports
- Use resources efficiently and practice medicine in a cost-effective manner
- Participate in Clinical Outcomes Program
- Maintain behavioral standards and respectful interactions with colleagues and patients
- Obtain good peer reviews, attend mandatory meetings and minimize incident reports
- Work toward meeting organizational targets for all metrics
- Participate in administrative duties and on-call schedule in a timely manner
- Must keep medical license, DEA registration and BLS/CPR certification current
- Perform other duties as assigned
REQUIREMENTS
- Doctorate from an accredited school of medicine
- Board certified or board eligible in a primary care field
- Current unrestricted license to practice in the State of California or ability to obtain
- DEA license
- Current American Heart Association health care provider CPR (BLS), or Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Advanced Trauma Life Support, or Advance Resuscitation Training
- Experience with underserved, low-income, or homeless community members preferred
- Second language fluency in desired
Thank you for your interest in FHCSD!
We are excited to share that the salary range for this position is:
$290,000.00 - $335,000.00
Information on our extensive benefits package can be found here: FHCSD Wellness – Employee Hub (gobenefits.net)
FHCSD provides Equal Employment Opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, transfer, leave of absence, compensation, and training.
See all 5,214+ OPT Physician Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Physician Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Physician
Confirm your OPT timeline against licensing requirements
Medical licensing takes time. Check that your OPT authorization period, including any STEM extension, covers the full credentialing window before accepting a position or signing an employment agreement with a hospital or practice.
Target research and non-clinical physician roles first
Clinical attending roles typically require a full medical license, which most OPT students won't have yet. Research physician, medical scientist, and clinical research associate positions are more accessible and commonly available during OPT.
Verify that your program qualifies for the STEM OPT extension
Physician programs with a STEM classification, such as physician scientist or biomedical research tracks, may qualify for a 24-month STEM extension. Check your program's CIP code with your DSO before counting on that extra time.
Understand the ECFMG certification path and its OPT implications
International medical graduates must obtain ECFMG certification before entering residency. If you're pursuing this route, map out the certification timeline carefully and confirm your OPT status will remain valid throughout the process.
Pursue academic medical centers over private practices
Academic medical centers at major universities frequently sponsor H-1B visas and are more experienced with immigration processes than private practices. These institutions are far more likely to support your transition from OPT to long-term work authorization.
Discuss visa sponsorship intent before accepting a residency match
Residency programs vary widely in their willingness to sponsor visas after OPT expires. Raise the H-1B sponsorship question during interviews, not after matching, so you have clarity on long-term authorization before committing.
Physician OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Physician on OPT?
It depends on the role. Clinical attending positions require a state medical license and, for international graduates, ECFMG certification, which most F-1 students won't have completed during OPT. Research physician roles, clinical research positions, and physician scientist roles at academic institutions are more realistic options during your OPT period.
Does a Physician role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Only if your degree program has a designated STEM CIP code. Standard MD programs do not qualify, but physician scientist programs, biomedical research doctorates, or combined MD-PhD programs with a STEM classification may. Confirm your program's CIP code with your Designated School Official before assuming you qualify for the 24-month extension.
How do I find Physician jobs that are open to OPT candidates?
Most general job searches don't filter for OPT eligibility, which wastes time on roles that won't consider candidates requiring work authorization. Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT students and lets you browse physician and medical research roles from employers open to sponsoring or hiring on OPT, saving you from applying blindly.
Which types of employers are most likely to hire Physicians on OPT?
Academic medical centers, NIH-affiliated research institutions, and large health systems with established immigration programs are the most likely to hire on OPT and sponsor H-1B visas afterward. Private practices rarely have the infrastructure to support work authorization processes. Federal employer positions and VA hospitals may have separate restrictions for non-citizen applicants.
What happens to my OPT if my medical residency start date is delayed?
OPT has strict unemployment limits of 90 days total, or 150 days on a STEM extension. If your residency start is delayed due to licensing or match timing, you risk exceeding that unemployment window. Report any employment gaps to your DSO immediately and document the situation, since unaddressed gaps can result in a status violation.