Physician Assistant Resume Templates and Examples (Download in App)

  • Physician Assistant
  • New Grad Physician Assistant
  • Dermatology Physician Assistant

Emergency Medicine Physician Assistant Resume Example

Creating an eye-catching physician assistant (PA) resume that effectively highlights your clinical skills and patient care experience is crucial for landing interviews. Whether you’re a new graduate, an experienced PA specializing in emergency medicine, or pursuing a niche like dermatology, tailoring your resume to the role is key. This guide will provide expert tips and insights to help you translate your patient care experience into a results-driven resume.

Key takeaways:

  • Emphasize your commitment to patient-centered care: Use tangible examples from your medical career to convey your genuine passion for patient-centered care and advocacy.
  • Detail quantifiable achievements: Utilize specific numbers and outcomes, such as patient satisfaction scores and clinical metrics, to demonstrate your impact.
  • Use keywords for ATS: Highlight relevant clinical and procedural skills from the job posting to ensure your resume surpasses applicant tracking systems (ATS).

How To Write a Physician Assistant Resume Example

Before writing your content, selecting a well-structured template that allows the hiring manager to navigate your experience, qualifications, and achievements easily is essential. Your PA resume should include these sections:

  • Contact information
  • Profile
  • Key skills
  • Professional experience
  • Education and certifications

1. Share your contact information

Provide your full name, phone number, email address, location, and a link to your professional LinkedIn profile. Make sure your contact information is current and professional.

Example

YOUR NAME

[email protected] | (123) 456-7890 | City, ST | LinkedIn | Portfolio

2. Write a compelling profile summarizing your physician assistant qualifications

Your resume summary should provide an engaging snapshot of your experience and expertise. Mention your PA credentials, years of experience, and critical clinical specializations. Tailor this section to match the job description by highlighting skills and health care environments relevant to the role you’re applying for.

For example, if you’re pursuing a role as a PA at a high-volume hospital, emphasize your background in delivering exceptional care to patients in intensive care units (ICU) and emergency rooms. If you’re targeting a position that requires a strong administrative background, you might demonstrate your expertise in managing patient documentation in electronic health records (EHR) systems.

Senior-Level Profile Example

Certified PA with over 10 years of experience delivering acute and primary care in high-volume emergency and trauma departments. Adept at diagnosing, treating, and managing critical and chronic conditions in patients of all ages. Skilled in conducting complex procedures such as intubation, suturing, and emergency resuscitation.

Entry-Level Profile Example

New graduate PA with extensive family medicine, pediatrics, and geriatrics training. Strong focus on holistic patient care and wellness. Experienced in diagnostic testing, patient education, and developing treatment plans for chronic and acute illnesses.

3. Add an accomplishment-driven professional experience section

Your professional experience section should emphasize your most impressive achievements as a PA rather than simply detailing daily job responsibilities. As you describe your work history, reflect on how your efforts have contributed to positive clinical outcomes. Paint a picture for the hiring manager, demonstrating how you’ve consistently delivered exceptional care to diverse patient populations throughout your career.

Senior-Level Professional Experience Example

Senior-Level Professional Experience Example
Physician Assistant, Miami General Hospital, Miami, FL | July 2020 – present

  • Deliver emergency treatment to over 40 critically ill patients per shift in a high-volume trauma center with a 1-to-7 nurse-patient ratio
  • Perform a wide range of lifesaving procedures, including intubations, chest tube insertions, and suturing for trauma patients
  • Coordinate with nursing teams to implement a rapid triage system for minor injuries and illnesses, resulting in a 16% reduction in patient wait times

Entry-Level Professional Experience Example

Physician Assistant Intern, Smith Clinic, New York, NY | January 2023 – present

  • Assisted with over 200 patient assessments in pediatrics and family medicine under physician supervision
  • Conducted routine diagnostic tests and developed treatment plans for chronic conditions like hypertension and diabetes
  • Educated patients on disease prevention and health management

Resume writer's tip: Quantify your experience

Incorporating complex numbers is a great way to heighten the impact of your achievements. Featuring metrics allows you to fully convey the impact of your clinical efforts and establish a sense of scope for the health care environments you’ve worked in. For example, emphasizing a 93% patient satisfaction rating in a 500-bed hospital demonstrates that you can deliver quality care in high-volume medical settings.

Do
  • “Delivered quality treatment to over 35 patients per day in a high-volume emergency department with a 1-to-7 nurse-patient ratio and coordinated with multidisciplinary teams to enhance clinical workflows, resulting in an 18% reduction in average wait times”
Don’t
  • “Responsible for treating multiple patients per day in the emergency department”

Resume writer's tip: Tailor your resume for each application

Customizing your resume for each job is the best way to show hiring managers that you have the clinical skills and knowledge that a theory organization seeks. As you build out your bullet points, integrate specific keywords from the job description. For example, if you were pursuing a niche position at a dermatology office, you might highlight terms such as “cryotherapy,” “skin biopsies,” and “laser therapy.”

What if you don't have experience?

If you’re a new graduate or changing specialties, focus on clinical rotations, internships, or volunteer work that aligns with the job you’re applying for. Highlight skills you developed during your education and training that are transferable to a PA role.

4. Include relevant education and certifications

Education and certification are critical in the medical field. Be sure to provide a comprehensive list of your degrees and any specialized certifications. For example, if you’re targeting a position in an ICU unit, you might consider obtaining an Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) credential. If your long-term goal is to pursue a career in pediatric care, it’s best to pursue a Pediatric Physician Assistant-Certified (PA-C) designation.

Education

Template:

[Degree Name], [School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] | [Graduation Year]
[Relevant coursework or honors]

Example: 

Master of Science (M.S.) Physician Assistant Studies
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX | May 2020

Certifications

Template:

[Certification Name], [Awarding Organization] | [Completion Year]

Example:  

  • Certified Physician Assistant (PA-C) | National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) | June 2020
  • Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) | American Heart Association | August 2021
  • Basic Life Support (BLS) | American Heart Association | June 2021

5. List pertinent key skills

Most organizations utilize an ATS to identify qualified candidates quickly. To maximize your chances of landing the interview, build a robust skills section that pulls specific keywords directly from the job posting. Feature a mix of clinical specializations and interpersonal skills to show potential employers that you’re a versatile candidate who excels in all aspects of patient care.

Key Skills and Proficiencies
Acute care BLS
Clinical operations Communication
Critical care Dermatology care
Diagnostic testing EHR
Emergency care HIPAA
Medical triage Patient assessment
Patient education Patient-centered care
Pediatric care Wound care and suturing

Resume writer's tip: Use common action verbs

Use strong action verbs in your professional experience section to convey your clinical duties and achievements. Avoid using passive language and instead focus on your impact in previous roles.

Action Verbs
Administered Assessed
Collaborated Communicated
Coordinated Delivered
Diagnosed Educated
Enhanced Evaluated
Identified Implemented
Improved Monitored
Performed Prescribed
Supported Treated

How To Pick the Best Physician Assistant Resume Template

When selecting a resume template, prioritize structure and readability over visual elements. A clean, well-organized layout ensures hiring managers can quickly find the most important information, such as your education, certifications, and clinical experience. Stick with a format that is professional and easy to scan.

Physician Assistant Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples

left
  • Physician Assistant
  • New Grad Physician Assistant
  • Dermatology Physician Assistant
  • Emergency Medicine Physician Assistant
right

Laura Jefferson
[email protected] | (123) 456-7890 | Chicago, IL | LinkedIn | Portfolio

Profile

A PA with eight years of experience in emergency room and acute care environments. A proven track record of managing high patient volumes and collaborating with medical teams to enhance clinical operations and improve care delivery.

Professional Experience

Physician Assistant, Chicago General Hospital, Chicago, IL | October 2020 – present

  • Deliver treatment to 50 patients per day in the ICU, manage trauma, cardiac, and neurological cases, and maintain a 91% patient satisfaction rating
  • Collaborate with nursing teams and administrative staff to enhance patient triage and improve clinical workflows, resulting in a 12% reduction in average wait times
  • Perform a wide range of emergency procedures, including intubations, chest tube insertions, and suturing

Physician Assistant, St. Mark’s Hospital, Chicago, IL | May 2016 – October 2020

  • Provided support to physicians and nursing teams in delivering quality care to over 30 emergency room patients per day while maintaining a 90% satisfaction rating
  • Educate patients and families on symptoms, diagnosis, treatment plans, and risk factors with empathy and compassion

Key Skills

  • Emergency care
  • Patient triage
  • Diagnostic testing
  • Suturing and wound care
  • IV insertion and intubation
  • Patient education
  • Advanced life support

Education

Master of Science (M.S.) in Physician Assistant Studies
Northwestern University, Evanston, IL | May 2016

Certifications

  • Certified Physician Assistant (PA-C), State of Illinois | 2016
  • Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) | 2016

Why this PA resume example is strong:

In this resume example, the candidate effectively captures their experience working in fast-paced emergency care settings. Focusing on specific metrics, such as their exceptional patient satisfaction scores, helps communicate the value they can bring to future health care organizations.

Frequently Asked Questions: Physician Assistant Resume Examples and Advice

How do you align your resume with a physician assistant job description?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, PA occupations are expected to experience a massive spike in growth over the next decade. With a 28% increase between 2023 and 2033, plenty of opportunities are available on the open market. You'll still face intense competition for the most lucrative PA roles, so aligning your resume with the job description is essential.

For instance, if you’re targeting a position in an ICU, focus on highlighting your experience treating patients in high-pressure, critical care situations. If you're interested in pediatric care, demonstrate your ability to communicate effectively with parents and families and deliver empathetic care to children in clinical settings.

What is the best physician assistant resume format?

The reverse chronological resume format is ideal for PAs. This format allows you to present your most recent experience first, which is essential for showcasing your relevant clinical expertise. It also makes it easier for hiring managers to quickly see the progression of your career and the medical environments you've worked in.

Expert advice:

Include a cover letter with your resume

A tailored cover letter is an essential complement to your resume. Use the cover letter to emphasize your passion for medicine and expand on any critical accomplishments in your resume. You can also explain why you are particularly excited about the role and how your skills align with the job’s requirements.

Andrew Stoner

Executive Resume Writer and Career Coach

Andrew Stoner is an executive career coach and resume writer with 17 years of experience as a hiring manager and operations leader at two Fortune 500 Financial Services companies, and as the career services director at two major university business schools.

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