Physician Assistant Jobs in Chicago, IL
Physician assistant jobs in Chicago are concentrated in the Medical District, Streeterville, and Evanston, driven by major academic medical centers, large hospital networks, and multispecialty clinics across primary care, surgery, and urgent care. Employers actively hiring include Northwestern Medicine, Cook County Health & Hospitals System, and Optum. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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At Northwestern Medicine, every patient interaction makes a difference in cultivating a positive workplace. This patient-first approach is what sets us apart as a leader in the healthcare industry. As an integral part of our team, you'll have the opportunity to join our quest for better health care, no matter where you work within the Northwestern Medicine system. We pride ourselves on providing competitive benefits: from tuition reimbursement and loan forgiveness to 401(k) matching and lifecycle benefits, our goal is to take care of our employees. Ready to join our quest for better?
Job Description
Northwestern Medicine has an exciting opportunity for either a Nurse Practitioner or a Physician Assistant to work in our Emergency Medicine department.
This is a casual/PRN role. The hiring team will be able to share more details about the opening's schedule.
Essential Functions:
- Demonstrates clinical expertise and expanded knowledge through patient care activities which may include diagnosis and management of a wide range of health problems.
- Responsible for health outcome of an assigned patient population.
- Confers with collaborating physician and other health professionals in area of clinical expertise.
- Develops appropriate educational systems for patients, families and staff in areas of expertise.
- Mentors graduate students in aspects of advanced practice and patient care.
- Actively participates in quality improvement and/or research pertinent to area of expertise.
Responsibilities:
- Conducts comprehensive appraisals of patients' health status by taking health histories and performing physical examinations in clinical area.
- Provides direct clinical care to patients.
- Prescribes/orders medications, therapies; orders/interprets laboratory tests, x-rays and procedures according to clinical privileges.
- Evaluates patients to determine their need for further health care.
- Provides comprehensive teaching to patients and families.
- Documents in the medical record all care and education provided and/or procedures performed for which the Licensed Advanced Practice Provider is responsible.
- Refers to other disciplines as appropriate.
- Consultant to other disciplines in areas of expertise.
- Integrates research based knowledge and clinical expertise in decision making.
- Exemplifies a professional image in appearance, manner and presentation.
- Advocate for patients, families, coworkers, and the community.
- Maintains certifications and continuing education as required for licensure and privileging.
- Serves as a patient advocate and role model for "Patients First".
- Participates in unit/departmental/divisional or hospital committees/task forces as appropriate.
- Provides comprehensive teaching strategies for patients and their families.
- Develops and participates in programs to meet continuing education needs of staff.
- Serves as a role model and preceptor to students.
- Provides formal education to both internal and external groups pertinent to area of specialty.
- Participates in quality improvement and/or research initiatives for specific patient population as appropriate.
Qualifications
Required:
- Master’s degree from an accredited school/college of nursing OR master's degree from an accredited Physician Assistant Program
- Current license as a Registered Nurse in the State of Illinois. Current license as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse in the State of Illinois. Certification as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse by a national certifying body as approved by the Illinois Department of Regulation APRN Board. Once licensed may apply for a controlled substance license and DEA number OR Master’s degree from an accredited Physician Assistant Program/Current license as a Physician Assistant in the State of Illinois. Once licensed may apply for a controlled substance license and DEA number
- Privileged and credentialed through the Medical Staff Office (MSO)
- Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation – BLS, issued by the American Heart Association
- Emergency Medicine experience
Preferred:
- 2 years of APP experience
Additional Information
Northwestern Medicine is an equal opportunity employer (disability, VETS) and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status.
Background Check
Northwestern Medicine conducts a background check that includes criminal history on newly hired team members and, at times, internal transfers. If you are offered a position with us, you will be required to complete an authorization and disclosure form that gives Northwestern Medicine permission to run the background check. Results are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and we follow all local, state, and federal laws, including the Illinois Health Care Worker Background Check Act.
Artificial Intelligence Disclosure
Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.
Benefits
We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events.
Click on or copy and paste URL to your browser to view detailed benefits information https://jobs.nm.org/benefits
Please refer to the Benefits Eligibility by Employment Classification to determine benefits eligibility for job postings.
If sign-on bonus is included in a job posting eligibility is as followed: Internal employees and rehires who left Northwestern Medicine within 1 year are not eligible for the sign-on bonus. Exception: New graduate internal employees seeking their first licensed clinical position as a Registered Nurse at NM may be eligible.
See All 96 Physician Assistant Jobs in Chicago
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Find Physician Assistant JobsPhysician Assistant Job Market in Chicago
Who's Hiring
- Northwestern Medicine48

- Cook County Health & Hospitals System12

- Optum4

- Concentra4

- Aayu Clinics4
Top Industries Hiring
- Insurance
Physician Assistant Jobs in Chicago: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a physician assistant job in Chicago?
Target the Medical District near Illinois Medical Center, Streeterville's dense cluster of academic hospitals, and the North Shore suburban health systems that pull heavily from the Chicago market. Large health systems, federally qualified health centers serving underserved neighborhoods, and multispecialty groups in the Loop all hire regularly. Candidates with surgical subspecialty experience or bilingual Spanish skills have a clear edge given Chicago's patient population.
Which companies hire physician assistants in Chicago?
Chicago physician assistant roles are posted by Northwestern Medicine, Cook County Health & Hospitals System, and Optum and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of October 2026. The mix reflects Chicago's employer landscape: large academic health systems, regional hospital networks, and independent multispecialty practices concentrated on the North Side and in the western suburbs.
Are there remote physician assistant jobs in Chicago?
Yes, though options are limited, since physician assistant work is largely hands-on and clinic-based. About 20% of physician assistant openings tied to Chicago are remote or hybrid as of October 2026, primarily covering roles in utilization review, telehealth triage, and chronic disease management programs offered by larger Chicago-area health systems.
How can I get a physician assistant job in Chicago with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path in Chicago is through Federally Qualified Health Centers and community health organizations serving neighborhoods like Pilsen, Englewood, and Austin, where entry-level PAs are actively recruited. Hospital systems affiliated with Rush, Loyola, and Advocate Health also run new-grad cohort programs. Rotations or clinical hours completed at Chicago institutions strengthen local recognition considerably.
Which industries hire the most physician assistants in Chicago?
Most physician assistant openings in Chicago sit in Insurance, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of October 2026. Chicago's concentration of Level I trauma centers, large academic medical systems, and growing urgent care networks drives consistent demand across those sectors throughout the year.
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