Neurologic Physical Therapist: Practice PT the Way It Was Meant to Be Practiced
Audia Physical Therapy · Carlsbad, CA (San Diego North County)
$52 to $60/hour · Part-time with a clear path to full-time · Cash-based outpatient · 1-on-1 care, every visit · No weekends, no evenings
The short version
You became a PT to change lives. Then somewhere along the way, someone handed you 3 patients an hour, a productivity quota, and a mountain of insurance documentation. This job is the opposite of that.
At Audia Physical Therapy, every patient gets 1hr to up to 3hrs of one-on-one care with their therapist. No double-booking. No techs running your treatments. No fighting insurance companies for visits your patient needs. We are a cash-based neuro practice, which means the only person you answer to is the patient in front of you, and the only metric that matters is whether they get better.
Our clinic is growing, and we are adding a neurologic physical therapist to our team. The role starts part-time and grows into full-time on a clear, scheduled path as our patient demand continues to climb. You will build a schedule of complex, motivated, committed patients, and you will do it alongside Dr. Matt Audia, a 20-year neuro and balance specialist who is deeply invested in building the best team, therapists, and clinic in southern California.
Who we are
We are obsessed with one thing: delivering physical therapy the way it was meant to be delivered. Unhurried, evidence-driven, one-on-one, and measured. We have seen much of our profession drift from that, and we are building a clinic that proves it doesn't have to.
Our core values:
- Passionate dedication. To the craft, to the patients, to the profession, and to improving lives. This work matters, and we treat it that way.
- Creative problem solving. Outside-the-box thinking with evidence and research as our anchors. Hard cases are why we're here.
- Fun. Therapy is a service, not a sentence. Patients look forward to their sessions, and so should you.
- Unimpeachable character. Be the person with whom you are proud to be associated, in and outside of work.
- Inspiration. To grow and to excel. Inspire yourself, those around you, your patients, the profession, and the population.
A note on how we sell, because you're wondering
You may have heard stories about cash-based clinics where therapists are trained to surprise patients with high-pressure pitches for prepaid "packages." That is not this clinic, and it never will be.
We believe cash-based PT works for one reason: when you communicate the true value of skilled physical therapy honestly, in plain language, with measured outcomes to back it up, patients choose it on their own. Your job here is to be so good, and to explain the "why" behind your care so clearly, that continuing is the obvious decision. No scripts, no countdown timers, no closing techniques. We are trying to elevate this profession, not squeeze it. That integrity is exactly why our patients stay, refer, and trust us with the hardest cases.
What your day looks like
- Treat complex neurologic patients (stroke, vestibular, balance, gait, fall risk) in true 1-on-1 sessions of 1 to 3 hours
- Build a caseload rooted in long-term relationships. Many of our patients stay with us for months because of the long-term nature of some complex neurological disorders.
- Collaborate weekly with a small, tight team that to improve patient care
- Contribute your ideas to how we treat, what equipment we buy, and how the clinic runs, then watch them get implemented
The ideal candidate
You're a self-starter. Nobody has ever needed to push you, because you're the one pushing. You are, frankly, a little obsessed with physical therapy: you read research on your own time, you replay difficult cases in the car, and you light up when a treatment finally clicks. You are constantly improving, and "good enough" quietly annoys you.
Just as important: you love people. Not tolerate. Love. You can sit with a frustrated stroke survivor on a hard day and leave them believing again. You celebrate small wins loudly, you learn every patient's grandkids' names, and you make an hour of hard work feel like the best part of someone's week. You take the work seriously and yourself lightly.
Pay and benefits
- $52 to $60/hour, based on experience
- Part-time now, full-time on a defined path. Your hours grow as clinic demand grows.
- No weekends. No evenings. Ever.
- Weekly 1-on-1 mentorship hour with Dr. Audia. Protected time on the schedule, not a "when we get to it" promise: case review, advanced neuro and balance techniques, hands-on skill development.
- Paid holidays
- Health insurance stipend
- Retirement plan
- Continuing education reimbursement up to $1,000/year
- Paid time off
- The opportunity to level up your skills, then actually use them. Advanced neuro techniques aren't shelf trophies here. You will practice at the top of your license every single day. You’ll also blend orthopedic and neuro skills with all your patients.
What we're looking for
Required:
- 1-2+ years of experience as a physical therapist
- Active California PT license
- CPR/BLS certification
Preferred (not required, we'd rather have the right person):
- NCS or OCS certification
- Outpatient neuro or acute rehab experience
- Outpatient orthopedic experience
Who thrives here
The PT who loves to learn more about PT and improve daily. Who is frustrated by clinics that treat patients like billing units. Who wants their next 5 years to make them dramatically better, not just more tired. Who wants mentorship from a 20-year neuro specialist who still gets excited about every great outcome.
If that's you, we want to meet you, even if you're not sure you check every box.
How to apply
Send your resume and a short note (3 to 5 sentences is perfect) answering one question: "Describe a patient outcome you're proud of, and what you did to get it." We read every one personally.
Audia Physical Therapy is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.
Pay: $52.00 - $60.00 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Continuing education credits
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Opportunities for advancement
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
- Tuition reimbursement
License/Certification:
- California Physical Therapy License (Required)
Work Location: In person
