You’ve survived didactic year, made it through clinical rotations, and now the finish line is in sight. However, now you have to worry about landing your first PA job. There are so many different parts of the job hunt, and one of the most crucial is your CV/resume.
You probably have a lot of questions. Should you send a CV or a resume? What’s even the difference between the two? What do you include when you haven’t technically worked as a PA yet? How long should it be? Nobody really teaches this in PA school, and the advice online is often written for general job seekers rather than PA students.
As someone who has been through the process, I’m going to break down exactly how to write a CV or resume as a new grad that gets you noticed. We’ll cover the difference between the two, which one employers are increasingly asking for, and what to include to give you your best shot at getting that interview invite. 😀
Fun fact: I started working about four months after graduation and just recently hit 6 months working as a new-grad PA. I work in robotic liver transplantation and hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) surgery at one of the top hospital systems in New York City. My current job was actually one of my few cold applies!
Table of Contents
Resume vs. CV: What’s the Difference?
Resume and curriculum vitae (CV) are two terms get used interchangeably all the time, even by recruiters, which makes things confusing. However, they are technically two different documents with different purposes, and it’s important to know the difference.
The Resume
A resume is a short, targeted summary of your qualifications. It is typically one page for a new grad—can be two pages—and tailored to the specific job you’re applying to. Think of it as a highlight reel: you’re choosing only the experiences that matter most for that particular position.
The Curriculum Vitae (CV)
A CV is a comprehensive record of your education, clinical training, work history, and professional accomplishments. It is not limited to one page and generally grows over the course of your career. (As a new grad PA, I would aim for around 2-3 pages.) A CV typically includes sections that a resume leaves out, such as:
- Licenses and certifications
- Leadership roles, committees, and professional memberships
- Volunteer and community service
- Honors, awards, and scholarships
- Posters and presentations
- Research experience and publications
Pro tip: Most employers will specify whether they want a resume or CV so make sure to double check. Sometimes, they don’t have a preference and will accept either. If you’re unsure, check the job posting, and if it’s still unclear, simply ask the recruiter or office manager which they’d prefer.
Which One Do PA Employers Ask For?
In my experience, CVs are becoming increasingly common in PA job applications. Resumes are still widely accepted, especially with smaller practices, urgent cares, and staffing companies. However, more and more employers, particularly hospitals, health systems, and academic centers, are asking for a CV.
There are a few reasons why this might be the case:
- PAs are increasingly viewed alongside other clinicians. Many health systems use the same hiring and credentialing process for PAs, NPs, and physicians, and physicians have always submitted CVs.
- Credentialing requires detailed information. Employers eventually need your full training and work history, so asking for a CV upfront saves time.
- Competitive specialties value your full story. Research, presentations, and leadership can set you apart for surgical subspecialties, academic positions, and other competitive roles.
Food for thought: Even if a job only asks for a resume, having a CV ready puts you ahead. If you build your CV first, you can always trim it down into a one-page resume. It’s much harder to do the reverse when you’re rushing to meet a deadline.
How to Write Your PA CV/Resume
1. Start With a Clean, Simple Format
Your document will often be scanned by an applicant tracking system (ATS) before a human ever sees it. That means fancy graphics, text boxes, columns, and photos can cause problems. Stick with a standard font (like Calibri, Arial, or Times New Roman), clear section headings, and plenty of white space.
Pro tip: Save and send your document as a PDF unless the employer specifically asks for a Word file. This keeps your formatting intact, prevents accidental changes, and is ATS compatible no matter what device they use to open it.
2. Nail the Header
Include your full name, phone number, professional email. You can also add your LinkedIn if it’s polished. Right after your name, use your appropriate credential:
- Before graduation: Just your name, with nothing after it (e.g., Jane Smith)
- After graduation but before passing the PANCE: Your name followed by your degree (e.g., Jane Smith, MPAS, or whichever degree your program awards)
- After passing the PANCE: Your name followed by your degree and PA-C (e.g., Jane Smith, MPAS, PA-C)
The goal is to come across as competent as possible from the very first line. Your name is the biggest, boldest thing on the page, and recruiters form an impression within seconds. If “PA-S” sits right next to it, you may unintentionally set the tone as “still a student” before they’ve read a single word about your rotations, training, or skills, which can quietly work against you.
To be clear, this isn’t about hiding anything or misrepresenting yourself. Your education section, clinical rotations, and licensure/certification status will make exactly where you are in your training obvious, and you should always be upfront and accurate about it there. It’s simply about not limiting yourself right off the bat by leading with a label that undersells you.
Pro tip: Many people include their city/state in their resume/CV. However, I recommend only including your city/state if it’s the same location as where you’re looking for jobs. Otherwise, it’s better to leave it off if you haven’t moved to your target area yet.
This is because employers often favor candidates who are already local. Even though I was planning to move back to New York City for work, I left my current address at the time off because I was back home in Hawaii. I explained my plans in the interview instead so a distant address wouldn’t count against me before I had the chance to.
3. Put Education First
As a new grad, your PA education is your strongest credential, so it belongs at the top. List your PA program, degree (e.g., Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies), and graduation date, followed by your undergraduate degree. Include honors such as Dean’s List, program awards, or Latin honors if applicable.
Pro tip: It’s safe to leave your GPA off. The majority of PA students don’t include it, and employers almost never ask. They care far more about your clinical training. That said, if you graduated with a really strong GPA and feel it would help your case, feel free to add it.
4. Include Your Licensure and Certification Status
Employers want to know exactly where you stand. Create a short section that includes:
- PANCE status (date taken or scheduled, or PA-C once passed)
- State license status (pending, applied, or active)
- DEA registration status (pending, applied, or active)
- BLS and ACLS (and PALS if relevant), including expiration dates
Pro tip: Be transparent about your timeline. Include your graduation date, your PANCE date, and any other key dates, since this gives hiring teams a clear idea of when you could realistically start.
Some employers want to hire right away, which may rule you out because they need to fill the role quickly, while others are happy to wait. This is one place where transparency saves everyone’s time, including your own.
Also, it’s completely okay if you haven’t taken the PANCE yet, but you do need to know the date you’re scheduled to take it, because they will absolutely ask.
5. Showcase Your Clinical Rotations
This is the section that makes or breaks a new grad document. Your clinical rotations are your “work experience” as a PA, so treat them that way. For each rotation, include:
- The specialty and site (e.g., Emergency Medicine, [Hospital Name], City, State)
- Dates
- 2–5 bullet points describing what you did
Skip vague phrases like “assisted with patient care.” Instead, describe what you actually did and the patient population you served. For example:
- “Evaluated patients with undifferentiated chest pain, abdominal pain, and dyspnea; presented findings and developed management plans with the attending physician.”
- “Performed laceration repairs, splinting, and joint reductions under supervision.”
- “Managed pre- and post-operative care for patients undergoing orthopedic procedures.”
Pro tip: Keep a running log during clinical year. Jot down procedures you perform, interesting cases (without any patient identifiers, of course), and feedback from preceptors. Trying to remember what you did on your first rotation a year later is much harder than you’d think.
6. Highlight Your Prior Healthcare Experience
If you worked as a scribe, EMT, MA, CNA, or in another healthcare role before PA school, don’t leave it off. This shows you already understand how healthcare teams function, and it can be a major selling point, especially if it’s related to the specialty you’re applying for. Use the same strategy as your rotations: focus on responsibilities, skills, and outcomes rather than a generic job description.
7. Add Research, Presentations, and Leadership (CV Essentials)
This is where your CV can really shine compared to a one-page resume. Include any:
- Research projects, capstones, or quality improvement (QI) work
- Posters and conference presentations
- Publications
- Leadership roles (class president, student society, national or state chapter involvement)
- Volunteer work and mentorship
- Professional memberships (e.g. AAPA, state chapter, specialty org, etc.)
Format citations consistently, and list items in reverse chronological order (most recent first).
8. Tailor It to the Job
Don’t send the exact same document to every employer. Read the job description and make small tweaks. If a posting is for dermatology, move your dermatology rotation and any related experience higher up. If it’s for emergency medicine, make sure your procedural skills are front and center.
Pro tip: Keep a “master CV” that includes everything you’ve ever done. Then, for each application, copy it and remove or reorder sections to fit the job. This takes the stress out of applying and ensures you never forget to include a great accomplishment.
9. Keep It the Right Length
- Resume: One page.
- New grad CV: Two to three pages. Your CV will naturally grow over time, but don’t pad it with filler to make it look longer.
If you’re running out of space, cut anything that doesn’t strengthen your case for this job.
10. Get Feedback Before You Hit Send
Have at least two other people review your document. Take advantage of your school’s career services, faculty, or preceptors, who’ve likely seen plenty of PA applications. A fresh set of eyes can catch typos, formatting inconsistencies, and unclear descriptions you’ve gone blind to.
5 Pitfalls to Avoid
1. Including Too Much Irrelevant Information
Your high school accomplishments and unrelated jobs from years ago generally don’t belong on your document. If it doesn’t speak to your skills as a future PA, leave it off. The exception is if the experience shows something valuable, such as leadership or communication skills.
2. Listing Shadowing
Shadowing is important for getting into PA school, but it usually doesn’t belong on a job application now that you have formal clinical training. The only time I’d consider including it is if it gave you exposure to a specialty you have very little rotation experience in.
3. Using Vague Language
Phrases like “responsible for” and “helped with” don’t tell employers anything. Use strong action verbs (evaluated, performed, managed, counseled, presented) and be specific.
4. Typos and Inconsistent Formatting
It sounds small, but errors can signal a lack of attention to detail, which is the last thing you want to communicate in healthcare. Proofread multiple times, and check that your fonts, dates, and bullet styles are consistent throughout.
5. Including a Headshot
Avoid including a photo, your age, or other personal details. They aren’t expected and can open the door to bias.
Conclusion
Writing your first PA CV or resume can feel intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. Start by building a comprehensive CV, keep it updated, and then tailor or trim it into job-specific CVs or a one-page resume when an employer asks for one. Focus on your clinical rotations, be specific about what you’ve done, and let your hard work speak for itself.
If you’re looking for more PANCE prep help, be sure to check out my PA school studying app, the HowMedWorks Study Companion
! It’s a comprehensive study app created by a PA for PA students that’s designed to help you study smarter and feel confident heading into exam day. Think of it as a study partner that keeps your PANCE prep organized and on track.
Best of luck with your job applications—you got this! Stay healthy, keep learning, and I’ll see you in my next article. 😁