Physician Assistant Jobs in Iowa
Physician assistant jobs in Iowa draw consistent demand across primary care, orthopedics, and urgent care, with openings at every career stage from new graduate to experienced clinician. The busiest hiring markets are Des Moines, Iowa City, and Cedar Rapids, where health systems like UnityPoint Health, University of Iowa Health Care, and MercyOne anchor the largest concentrations of openings. Dermatology, cardiology, and rural family medicine round out the most in-demand specialties statewide. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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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.
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See All 22 Physician Assistant Jobs in Iowa
Find roles in Iowa that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Physician Assistant JobsPhysician Assistant Jobs by City in Iowa
Where Iowa roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Physician Assistant Job Market in Iowa
A snapshot from current Iowa openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring



Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services
- Education
What Iowa Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in physician assistant jobs across Iowa.
- Active Iowa physician assistant license issued by the Iowa Physician Assistant Board
- Master's degree from an ARC-PA accredited physician assistant program
- Current NCCPA certification or eligibility to sit for the PANCE exam
- Current BLS certification, with ACLS preferred for acute care or hospital settings
- Experience with electronic health records systems, particularly Epic or Cerner
- Ability to work collaboratively under a supervising physician in Iowa clinical settings
Physician Assistant Jobs in Iowa: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a physician assistant in Iowa?
To practice as a physician assistant in Iowa, you must hold an active license issued by the Iowa Physician Assistant Board, which requires graduation from an ARC-PA accredited master's-level program and passing the PANCE national certification exam. After passing, you apply directly to the Iowa Physician Assistant Board for licensure. Iowa requires a collaborative practice agreement with a supervising physician before you can begin seeing patients.
How much do physician assistants make in Iowa?
Physician assistants in Iowa earn a median of about $134,770 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $102,330 for the lowest 10% to over $182,940 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire physician assistants in Iowa?
Employers hiring physician assistants in Iowa right now include MercyOne, US Department of Veterans Affairs, and The Iowa Clinic, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Iowa's largest health systems, including community hospitals and multispecialty clinics, post openings year-round and tend to hire across both urban centers and rural critical access hospitals.
Which Iowa cities have the most physician assistant jobs?
The cities with the most physician assistant openings in Iowa are Des Moines, Clive, and Dubuque. Des Moines drives the largest share of postings as the state's most populous metro and home to major systems like UnityPoint Health and MercyOne, while Iowa City's concentration reflects the University of Iowa Health Care complex, and Cedar Rapids supports a steady mix of hospital and outpatient clinic demand.
Are there remote physician assistant jobs in Iowa?
Yes, but they're rare. About 0% of physician assistant openings tied to Iowa are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, reflecting the hands-on, patient-facing nature of most PA roles. The exceptions tend to be telephonic triage, utilization review, or insurance prior authorization positions that don't require direct clinical contact.
How can I get hired as a physician assistant in Iowa with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying directly to new-graduate postings at large Iowa health systems, several of which run structured PA onboarding or transition-to-practice programs. UnityPoint Health and University of Iowa Health Care periodically post openings that explicitly welcome new graduates. Candidates who already hold an Iowa license and NCCPA certification have a clear advantage, and those with clinical rotation experience at Iowa facilities are frequently prioritized for entry-level openings.
Where can I find and apply to physician assistant jobs in Iowa?
You can find and apply to physician assistant jobs in Iowa on Migrate Mate, which lists current Iowa openings updated regularly. Search the listings, find the roles that fit your specialty and location, and apply directly to the ones that match.
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