<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-09-04</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001035688</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SELECT MEDICAL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SEM</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001212986</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CARSON RUSSELL L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O WELSH, CARSON, ANDERSON AND STOWE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>320 PARK AVENUE, SUITE 2500</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-09-04</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>500000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>29.05</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>3710749</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By Welsh, Carson, Anderson &amp; Stowe VII, L.P.</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The Reporting Person also directly beneficially owns 420,350 shares and indirectly beneficially owns (i) 1,406,137 shares held by WCAS Capital Partners III, L.P. and (ii) 427,511 shares held by WCAS Healthcare Partners, L.P.  The Reporting Person is a managing member of the sole general partner of WCAS Capital Partners III, L.P. and a general partner of WCAS Healthcare Partners, L.P.  Pursuant to Instruction (4)(b)(iv) of Form 4, the Reporting Person has elected to report as indirectly beneficially owned the entire number of securities beneficially owned by each such limited partnership.  The Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of any securities, and any proceeds thereof, that exceed his pecuniary interest therein, and/or that are not actually distributed to him.</footnote><footnote id="F2">The Reporting Person is one of several general partners of the sole general partner of Welsh, Carson, Anderson &amp; Stowe VII, L.P.  Pursuant to Instruction (4)(b)(iv) of Form 4, the Reporting Person has elected to report as indirectly beneficially owned the entire number of securities beneficially owned by such limited partnership.  The Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of any securities, and any proceeds thereof, that exceed his pecuniary interest therein, and/or that are not actually distributed to him.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Jonathan M. Rather, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-09-04</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

