Skilled nursing and long-term care
Skilled Nursing Therapy Recruiting: PT, OT & SLP for SNFs
The employer base
Skilled nursing and long-term care employers in the United States
1,269,802
Employed, Nursing and residential care facilities
private sector, 41 states reporting
16,398
Establishments
14,680
Medicare-certified nursing homes
1,567,113
Certified beds
Sources: BLS QCEW, statewide, private ownership, Q4 2024 vs Q4 2025; CMS Provider Data Catalog (nursing homes 4pq5-n9py, home health 6jpm-sxkc), pulled 2026-10-15.
How we screen
What a skilled nursing hire needs that a resume does not show
Productivity is the honest conversation
We tell candidates the productivity expectation up front, because a therapist who learns it on day one leaves by month three.
Contract therapy vs in-house
Whether you run your own department or a contract therapy company staffs it, we place clinicians into either model.
SLPs who can run a swallow program
A founder who practiced as an SLP screens dysphagia experience directly instead of trusting a resume keyword.
Roles
Skilled nursing roles we fill
- Director of Rehab
- Staff PT, OT and SLP
- PTA and COTA
- Regional rehab director
- Dysphagia-focused SLP
For employers
Hiring? Physical therapy, OT and SLP recruiting, run by a clinician.
Engagement model
Contingency recruiting. There is no fee unless a successful placement is made.
Speed to first candidates
Clients typically receive the first vetted candidates within one to two weeks of providing the recruiting brief and search requirements.
Guarantee
Every direct-hire placement carries a 90-day replacement guarantee. If the candidate resigns or is terminated for cause during the first ninety calendar days of employment, APT Recruiting immediately begins a one-time search for a replacement in the same position, at no additional charge.
Questions hiring managers and directors of rehab ask us
How does a therapy search with APT Recruiting work?+
It starts with a short call to take the brief: the discipline, the setting, the caseload and productivity expectations, the schedule and the pay range. Because APT is run by a licensed speech-language pathologist, the screen covers clinical fit, not just a license check. We then work your market for PTs, OTs, SLPs or audiologists who match, confirm interest, and send you candidates who have already said yes to a conversation about your organization. Clients typically receive the first vetted candidates within one to two weeks of providing the recruiting brief and search requirements.
Do you work on contingency or retained?+
Contingency recruiting. There is no fee unless a successful placement is made.
What does it cost to hire through a therapy recruiter?+
Agreed in writing before you see a candidate's details. Every direct-hire placement carries a 90-day replacement guarantee. If the candidate resigns or is terminated for cause during the first ninety calendar days of employment, APT Recruiting immediately begins a one-time search for a replacement in the same position, at no additional charge.
Which roles and settings do you cover?+
Physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists and audiologists, including PTAs, COTAs and SLPAs, plus directors of rehab and other therapy leadership. Settings include hospitals and acute rehab, skilled nursing, home health, outpatient clinics, schools and pediatrics, and telehealth. We also recruit nurse practitioners and physician assistants.
Or email molly@aptrecruiting.com. Molly reads every brief herself.
Reviewed by a licensed SLP
Molly Salinas, M.S., CCC-SLP
The national figures on this page are drawn from public federal sources and reviewed by Molly, a licensed speech-language pathologist who has worked across healthcare settings and founded APT Recruiting. She has recruited therapists for 3 years and works from Austin, Texas. Last reviewed October 15, 2026.
Hiring for a skilled nursing setting?
Tell us the discipline, the caseload and the market. A licensed clinician reads every brief.