Physician Assistant

Published: 8/1/2026

Physician Assistant

Salary : $225,842.24 - $303,565.60 Annually
Location : Throughout the County of Santa Clara, CA
Job Type: Full-Time/Part-Time
Job Number: 26-S46-A
Department: Santa Clara Valley Healthcare (SCVHC)
Opening Date: 07/29/2026
Closing Date: 8/12/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
Bargaining Unit: 01

Description
Under supervision of a physician, in accordance with written policies and statutes, to perform diagnostic and therapeutic tasks in all primary care and specialty care settings.

Physician Assistants (PA's) within the Santa Clara County Healthcare System provide health care under the supervision of physicians and surgeons. They are formally trained to examine patients, diagnose injuries and illnesses, and provide treatment. They practice in all settings and provide care to patients of all ages. Practice settings within our system include all Surgical Subspecialties, Cardiology, Gastroenterology, Interventional Radiology, Ob/GYN, Pediatrics, Geriatrics, Pain Management, Endocrinology, Urgent Care, Emergency, and Custody Medicine.

Santa Clara Valley Healthcare is currently seeking Physician Assistants in multiple specialty areas. The list established may be used for other vacancies as they occur.

Only applicants who provide a copy of their Physician Assistant certification attached to their application will be accepted. All other applicants will be rejected.

The Power of WE: Together, we can make a greater impact. Bringing better care and expanding healthcare services across the community.
The County of Santa Clara operates Santa Clara Valley Healthcare (SCVH), the second largest public health care system in California and includes four acute care hospitals, 14 clinics, and 60+ specialty and sub-specialty services. Our mission is to provide high-quality, accessible healthcare and excellent service to everyone in Santa Clara County.

Because we serve patients throughout multiple hospitals and clinics, you may have to work at different sites. We will meet any obligations we may have when this occurs.
Santa Clara Valley Medical Center: SCVMC is a full-service tertiary acute care teaching hospital with 699 licensed beds providing a wide range of specialized services, including Rehabilitation, Burn, Trauma, and NICU. SCVMC was ranked by U.S. News and World Report as #6 Rehabilitation Hospital in the nation and #1 in the West and designated as a 2024 High Performing hospital for Maternity Care, Heart Failure, Stroke, Hip Fracture, and Pneumonia.
O'Connor Hospital: O'Connor Hospital (OCH) is a 358 licensed bed acute care facility offering a full range of inpatient and outpatient medical, surgical and specialty programs to residents of Santa Clara County. It was founded in 1889 as one of the first hospitals in the county. OCH has grown significantly over the past five years in both its inpatient volume and its Emergency Department visits. Along with these volume increases other ancillary and clinical departments like imaging, lab, pharmacy, and respiratory have seen growth as well.

St. Louise Regional Hospital: Since 1989, St. Louise Regional Hospital (SLRH) has been caring for the residents in Santa Clara and San Benito Counties, offering a wide range of inpatient and outpatient medical specialties. SLRH has 93 beds, is a Designated Primary Stroke Center, and is the only acute care hospital in the area. Located in Gilroy, SLRH maintains a CALSTAR 2 emergency helicopter base on the premises.

Regional Medical Center: Regional Medical Center (RMC) is a 258-bed hospital that is the main emergency healthcare provider for East San José, treating a wide range of critical and life-threatening conditions for more than 60 years. Since the SCVH integration of RMC effective 4/1/25, RMC has expanded the critical services including Level II trauma, Thrombectomy capable Stroke Center and STEMI care, and has been seeing an increased number of emergency visits and inpatient volume.

Learn more about the Santa Clara Valley Healthcare system: , , , ,

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Typical Tasks
The following are the duties performed by employees in this classification. However, employees may perform other related duties at an equivalent level. Each individual in the classification does not necessarily perform all duties listed.

Obtains complete histories and performs pertinent physical exams with identification of normal and abnormal findings on new and returning patients;

Accurately compiles and records findings in the medical records;

Performs, orders, and evaluates diagnostic studies, as indicated for evaluation of the patient;

Interprets test results for deviation from normal;

Diagnoses conditions and develops care management/treatment plans under appropriate supervision;

Prescribes, orders, and/or administers medications in accordance with current hospital policies and procedures;

Determines need for and orders ancillary and consultative services (e.g., physical therapy, occupational therapy, respiratory therapy, radiology examinations, and nursing services);

Performs designated procedures after demonstrated training and evaluation of current competency; may include but not limited to injections, immunizations, suturing, wound care, and infection management;

Initiates and facilitates hospital admissions and discharges as directed by the supervising physician;

Makes daily inpatient rounds as directed by the supervising physician;

Assists supervising physician with enrollment, treatment, and care management of patients in Investigational Review Board (IRB) approved studies;

After appropriate training, provides first and second assist during surgery or complicated procedures;

Facilitates the coordination of necessary patient care, including ordering Durable Medical Equipment (DME), in home care, and community care;

Participates in quality improvement initiatives, as assigned;

Provides appropriate, effective patient counseling and education;

Works with postgraduate trainees (e.g., Physician Assistant students, residents, fellows) and assists in their training and educational process;

Obtains informed consent, as permitted by the informed consent policies and procedures, as indicated;

Recognizes situations that call for immediate attention of a physician, and initiates lifesaving procedures, when necessary;

May be assigned as a Disaster Service Worker (DSW)*, as required;

Performs other related duties, as required.

Employment Standards
Sufficient education, training, and experience to demonstrate the possession and direct application of the following knowledge and abilities:
Training and Experience Note: The required knowledge and abilities are attained through graduation from a Physician Assistant program accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA)

and

Possession of Board Certification from the National Commission on the Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) as described in California Business and Professions Code. Division 2. Healing Arts (500 - 4999.129) (Division 2 enacted by Stats. 1937, Ch. 399.) CHAPTER 7.7. Physician Assistants (3500 - 3546), Medical Board of California. Physician Assistant Board, and National Commission on the Certification of Physician Assistants.
Special Requirements

Current active, unrestricted Physician Assistant license in the State of California;

Current active, registered U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) number for prescribing controlled substances, upon appointment;

Possess National Commission on the Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) certification, and maintain NCCPA certification during the course of employment in this classification;

Basic Life Support (BLS), upon appointment;

Some positions may require additional specialty certification (e.g., wound care) relevant to the position;

Some positions may require Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS), and/or Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) certification based on the certification required for practice privileges relevant to the position and the individual PA's privilege set;

Ability to travel to alternate locations in the course of work. If driving, possession of a valid California driver's license prior to appointment and the ability to qualify for and maintain a County driver authorization;

*As a condition of employment, pursuant to California Government Code Sections 3100-3109 and Local Ordinance, all County of Santa Clara employees are designated Disaster Service Workers (DSWs), including extra help. A DSW is required to complete all assigned DSW-related training, and in the event of an emergency, return to work as ordered.

Knowledge of:

Principles, practices, and methods of acute and primary care medicine and continuity of patient care;

Diagnosis and treatment of common medical problems related to a clinical specialty area;

Sciences basic to medicine (e.g., anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, microbiology);

Laws and regulations pertaining to the practice of medicine as a Physician Assistant;

Current trends and concepts in medicine as they relate to a Physician Assistant;

English usage, style, grammar, punctuation, and spelling;

Common computer systems and applications.

Ability to:

Evaluate and treat patients with acute and/or chronic complaints and health maintenance concerns;

Recognize situations that require the immediate attention of a physician and initiate lifesaving procedures, when necessary;

Adhere to all relevant regulatory, County, hospital, and clinical policies and procedures;

Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with people of diverse backgrounds and cultures;

Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work, at all levels, including colleagues, the public, and representatives of other agencies;

Gather complete, detailed, and accurate medical histories;

Record and present pertinent data in a meaningful manner;

Perform routine laboratory and screening techniques;

Perform designated routine therapeutic procedures;

Recognize and evaluate situations that call for immediate attention of the physician;

Instruct and counsel patients on matters pertaining to physical and mental health;

Keep records;

Work under emergency or stressful situations.

The County offers comprehensive first-class medical, dental, and vision benefits plans for County employees and their dependents, including plans with no deductibles, no co-pays, no co-insurance, and no prescription drug co-pays. Learn more

The County also offers generous paid time off with significant vacation, sick time, and 13 paid County holidays annually! Details are included in the with the bargaining unit applicable to the job classification.

In addition to the amazing perks above, the County also offers the additional benefits below.

Retirement Benefits
The County offers robust retirement plans including a (similar to the private sector's 401(k) plan) and the In addition to lifetime retirement income available through the CalPERS pension plan, the 457(b) Deferred Compensation plan provides a great way to save for retirement and supplement the defined benefit pension available to employees. These plans help our employees build a plan for their future and contribute to their family's long-term financial well-being.

Health Flexible Spending Account
The empowers employees to manage healthcare expenses efficiently with tax-free contributions (up to $3,200 for the 2024 calendar year). Secure tax-free solutions for your healthcare expenses and enjoy the flexibility to manage your healthcare finances effectively with the HFSA.

Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP)
The enables employees to utilize tax-free funds for dependent care services, facilitating a convenient and cost-effective approach for managing your dependent care expenses. The County also offers the , an employer-funded DCAP, for employees with annual income under $120,000.

Life and AD&D
The County offers life and disability benefits including , Insurance, These benefits ensure financial security and income support when you and your family need it most.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
The County prioritizes employee mental health and well-being and offers a top-tier through Concern providing confidential counseling sessions covering stress, anxiety, relationships, grief, as well as financial/legal services, personal coaching, child and elder care referrals, and comprehensive crisis support.

Employee Wellness
The offers free wellness programing, fitness classes and resources; including Elevate My Wellness an all-in-one platform designed to elevate your well-being journey.

Education Reimbursement
A generous program is available, including Education Reimbursement for employees seeking additional training and professional development.

NOTE: Benefit and Retirement information may vary from bargaining unit to bargaining unit. Due to changes in State Law, current pension provisions described in the union contracts are not automatically applied. Specific pension benefits for new hires who start on or after January 1, 2013 may be different than indicated in the union contracts.

Click here to access all Memoranda of Understanding and most recent Summary of Changes.
01

Please answer the following questions. Completion of the following supplemental questions is REQUIRED and is an integral part of the evaluation process. Initially, it will be used to determine minimum qualifications. For those applicants meeting the employment standards, this information will be critical in the subsequent competitive assessment to identify those candidates to be invited to continue in the examination process. Your responses to the questions may also be reviewed and scored in a Competitive Rating evaluation process based on pre-determined rating criteria. Your answers should be as complete as possible, as no additional information will be accepted from applicants once the Competitive Rating evaluation has begun. Include a detailed description of your work experience in the following format for EACH employer referenced, in each answer:
a) Name of employer
b) Job title(s)
c) Start/end dates of employment
d) Number of hours worked per week
e) Job duties performed A response of "see resume" or "see application" will deem your application incomplete. Vague, incomplete, or non-responsive answers could result in no or low scores in a Competitive Rating process. Do you understand this requirement?

What is the highest level of education you have completed?

High School or GED equivalent
College (1 to 29 semester units / 1 to 44 quarter units)
College (30 to 59 semester units / 45 to 89 quarter units)
College (60 to 89 semester units / 90 to 134 quarter units)
College (90 to 119 semester units / 135 to 179 quarter units)
College (120 or more semester units / 180 or more quarter units)
Associate's Degree
Bachelor's Degree
Master's Degree
Doctoral Degree

Have you graduated from a Physician Assistant program accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA)?

List the name of your degree, the level, and the Physician Assistant program that you graduated from. If you have not graduated from one, type N/A.
05

Do you possess a current active, unrestricted Physician Assistant license in the State of California?

If you answered yes, list your Physician Assistant license in the State of California and the expiration date. Also, attach a copy of it to the application. If you do not have one, type N/A.
07

Do you possess a current Board Certification from the National Commission on the Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA)?

If you answered yes, list your NCCPA certification name, the number, and the expiration date. If you do not have one, type N/A.
09

Do you possess a current active, registered U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) number for prescribing controlled substances?

If you answered yes, list your DEA license number and the expiration date. If you do not have one, type N/A.
11

Select the medical certification(s) you possess.

Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS)
Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP)
Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
Other
None

For each medical certification selected in the previous question, please attach a copy to the application. If you do not have any medical certification(s), type N/A.
13

Select the number of years of experience you possess as a Physician Assistant. Do not include years while in Physician Assistant school.

None
Less than one year
One to less than two years
Two to less than three years
Three to less than four years
Four to less than five years
Five to less than six years
Six to less than seven years
Seven to less than eight years
Eight to less than nine years
Nine to less than ten years
Ten years or more

Select the specialty area(s) you have experience in as a Physician Assistant. Check all that apply.

Adult Medicine
Cardiology/Cardiac Stress Lab
Child Abuse Pediatrics
Custody Health Medicine
Dermatology
Diabetes/Endocrinology
Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT)/Otolaryngology
Emergency Medicine
Family Medicine
Gastroenterology
Gerontology
Inpatient
Interventional Radiology
Neonatal
Nephrology
Neurology
Obstetrics and Gynecology/Women's Health
Oncology
Pain Management
Pediatrics
Primary Care
Psychiatry/Behavioral Health
Pulmonology/Respiratory
Rheumatology
Surgery: Cardiothoracic Surgery
Surgery: ENT Surgery
Surgery: General Surgery
Surgery: Neurosurgery
Surgery: OB/GYN Surgery
Surgery: Orthopedic Surgery
Surgery: Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Surgery: Trauma Surgery
Surgery: Urology Surgery
Surgery: Vascular Surgery
Urgent Care
Urology
Other
None

Describe your experience working as a Physician Assistant in each specialty area selected in the previous question. Please provide detailed information.
In your response, list each employer in this format:
a. Name of employer
b. The specialty area(s)
c. Job title(s)
d. Dates of employment
e. Number of hours worked per week
f. Job duties
If no experience, type N/A.
16

Have you completed an ARC-PA accredited program that included training in the Emergency Department procedures for which privileges are sought, or can you demonstrate completion of an accredited Emergency Medicine Physician Assistant residency program within the past 12 months?

How did you find out/hear about this job?

In Person Job Fair
Contacted by County Recruiter
Email Newsletter
Virtual Event
Community Event
Social Media: Facebook or Instagram
County of Santa Clara Job Interests Email Notification
Student Career Center
Handshake
Professional Association
Contacted by an External Staffing Firm
Hospital Website
Search Engine (Google, Bing, online search, etc.)
Governmentjobs.com
LinkedIn
Indeed
Employee Referral: Friends, Families and Coworkers
County of Santa Clara Career Website
Other (Specify in the next question)

If you selected "other" in the previous question, please describe how you heard about this job. If you did not select that, type N/A.
Required Question