Physical Therapist

Lopez Island Physical Therapy | Lopez Island, Washington$95,000 to $115,000 DOE | Full-Time or Flexible Part-Time

What if your next career opportunity came with a ferry ride, a beautiful island, and a different pace of life?

There are places you visit and wish you could stay a little longer.

Lopez Island, nestled in Washington's beautiful San Juan Islands, is one of those places.

And for a physical therapist looking for meaningful work, a more personal approach to patient care, and the opportunity to enjoy life beyond the clinic, this may be something truly special.

Rural Staffing Services is proud to be partnering with Lopez Island Physical Therapy, an independent, community-centered outpatient practice serving the residents of this remarkable island.

The clinic is looking for a physical therapist who values relationships, clinical independence, quality patient care, and the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in a small community.

And what makes this opportunity particularly exciting is the flexibility.

For someone ready to embrace island living, there is an opportunity to make Lopez Island home and build a full-time career surrounded by the beauty of the Pacific Northwest.

But the clinic is also open to exploring creative part-time arrangements.

Perhaps you live in Anacortes or a surrounding community and would enjoy spending a couple of days each week practicing physical therapy on the island.

A Monday and Tuesday schedule or a Thursday through Saturday arrangement may be possible, depending on the needs of the clinic and the right candidate.

For some, it could be a wonderful opportunity to experience a quieter environment while continuing to do the work they love.

For others, it may be the beginning of an entirely new chapter.

The Opportunity

This is physical therapy the way many clinicians wish they had the time to practice.

Lopez Island Physical Therapy believes that excellent patient care begins with having the time to listen, evaluate, educate, and develop meaningful relationships.

The clinic operates with a thoughtful, patient-centered approach that prioritizes quality over volume.

Appointments are scheduled individually for 45 minutes, allowing therapists to focus on one patient at a time without double-booking or high-volume productivity expectations.

As a primary physical therapy provider for this island community, the clinic serves patients with a broad range of rehabilitation needs.

The position offers opportunities to provide:

• Comprehensive physical therapy evaluations and individualized treatment plans
• Outpatient orthopedic and musculoskeletal rehabilitation
• Postoperative rehabilitation and recovery
• Balance, mobility, and functional rehabilitation
• Treatment for active adults and individuals seeking to maintain independence
• Patient education, injury prevention, and long-term wellness support
• Collaboration with other healthcare and wellness providers in the community
• Evidence-informed treatment with substantial clinical autonomy
• Development of specialty services based on individual interests and community needs

For physical therapists interested in expanding their clinical practice, the clinic is also open to exploring specialty areas such as pelvic health, aquatic physical therapy, running and endurance rehabilitation, dry needling, and community-based programs.

These are opportunities for professional development, not requirements.

The goal is to find a thoughtful, compassionate physical therapist who enjoys helping people and values being part of a community.

What You Will Bring

Lopez Island Physical Therapy is looking for someone who understands that being an excellent physical therapist involves more than clinical knowledge.

It involves listening, building trust, supporting patients through recovery, and recognizing the important role healthcare professionals play in smaller communities.

Required:

• Graduation from an accredited physical therapy program
• Current Washington State physical therapist license, eligibility for Washington licensure, or eligibility for a Washington Physical Therapy Compact privilege
• Current Basic Life Support and cardiopulmonary resuscitation certification, or willingness to obtain certification before beginning employment
• Strong clinical assessment and treatment planning skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Commitment to individualized, evidence-informed patient care
• Ability to work independently while maintaining collaborative relationships
• Genuine interest in providing relationship-centered care in a rural community

Preferred:

• Experience in outpatient orthopedic physical therapy
• Interest in working with a broad range of patient populations
• Experience or interest in developing specialty rehabilitation services
• Appreciation for community-based healthcare and the unique opportunities of rural practice

New graduates are encouraged to apply.

The clinic offers a structured onboarding process, protected mentorship time, and a gradual introduction to patient scheduling.

Experienced physical therapists will appreciate the opportunity to practice with clinical independence and help shape services that benefit the community.

Compensation and Benefits

Lopez Island Physical Therapy offers a competitive compensation package designed to support both professional growth and quality of life.

The advertised full-time package includes:

• Annual salary of $95,000 to $115,000, depending on experience
• $10,000 hiring and retention bonus, paid in two installments
• Three weeks of paid time off
• Five paid holidays
• Employer-paid employee medical insurance premium
• SIMPLE Individual Retirement Account with up to a 3% employer match
• $3,000 annual continuing education allowance
• Professional association membership support
• Washington licensure or Physical Therapy Compact privilege reimbursement
• Relocation assistance of $1,000
• Assistance exploring transitional and long-term island housing
• Dedicated documentation and administrative time built into the workday
• A supportive clinical environment focused on quality care rather than patient volume

Compensation for part-time arrangements will be prorated based on the agreed schedule. Benefit eligibility and additional arrangements will depend on employment terms.

Why Lopez Island Physical Therapy?

Because practicing great physical therapy should not mean sacrificing the reasons you became a physical therapist in the first place.

There are healthcare settings where productivity numbers drive the day.

And then there are practices where the focus remains on the patient sitting in front of you.

Lopez Island Physical Therapy has built its approach around individualized care, professional autonomy, and meaningful patient relationships.

Supported by a local public hospital district, the clinic is able to emphasize access and quality while serving a community where local healthcare resources are especially valuable.

For the right physical therapist, this is an opportunity to work in a setting where patients are neighbors, relationships matter, and your clinical contributions can have an impact far beyond the walls of the clinic.

It is an opportunity to practice with purpose and become part of something that genuinely matters to the people who live there.

Why Lopez Island?

Some places have a way of reminding us that life can be a little simpler.

Lopez Island is one of the beautiful San Juan Islands, located off the coast of Washington State and reached by ferry from Anacortes.

Known for its peaceful atmosphere, scenic shorelines, evergreen forests, beautiful farmland, and welcoming rural community, Lopez offers a lifestyle that is becoming increasingly difficult to find.

Here, life is shaped by the water, the seasons, and the people who call the island home.

There are quiet beaches to explore, winding trails through the woods, opportunities for kayaking and cycling, local shops, community gatherings, and spectacular views of the surrounding islands.

And perhaps most importantly, there is the opportunity to slow down enough to enjoy them.

For someone ready to relocate, Lopez Island offers the possibility of building a meaningful career in a community where connection and quality of life are part of everyday living.

But this opportunity is not limited to someone who wants to move permanently.

Imagine spending a couple of days each week on Lopez Island.

Perhaps you are a physical therapist who lives in Anacortes and enjoys the idea of taking the ferry to a small island community.

Perhaps you are entering a different season of life and would appreciate a flexible schedule.

Or perhaps you simply want to explore an opportunity that allows you to continue practicing the profession you love while spending time somewhere peaceful and beautiful.

The clinic is willing to explore arrangements that make sense for the right individual and the community it serves.

And sometimes, those are the opportunities that turn out to be the most rewarding.

Work Where It Matters.

At Rural Staffing Services, we believe rural healthcare deserves exceptional people.

But we also believe exceptional people deserve opportunities that reflect what matters to them.

A meaningful career.

A welcoming community.

The opportunity to make a difference.

And a life outside of work that brings its own sense of purpose and fulfillment.

Lopez Island Physical Therapy offers an unusual combination of clinical independence, individualized patient care, flexible scheduling possibilities, and the opportunity to experience life in one of Washington's most beautiful island communities.

Whether you are ready to make Lopez Island your home or interested in exploring a part-time opportunity, this position deserves a closer look.

Sometimes the next chapter of your career begins somewhere you never imagined yourself living or working.

Apply below to explore this opportunity with Rural Staffing Services.

Rural Staffing ServicesBuilt for Rural. Work Where It Matters.