Physician Assistant Resume: Examples, Skills & Templates (2026)
This is the complete guide for a physician assistant resume sample that covers all three experience levels and all specialty types. A physician assistant resume fails at one of three points: credential presentation, specialisation signalling, or clinical experience documentation. Listing “PA-C” without specifying whether it is current, what the NCCPA expiry cycle is, or whether you hold a CAQ tells a credentialing office nothing beyond the minimum. Not naming your specific specialty in your header and summary means your resume looks identical to every other PA applicant in the pile. And writing “completed clinical rotations” without documenting hours, settings, and procedures performed is the new grad PA resume mistake that costs interviews.
This guide delivers three complete physician assistant resume examples (primary care FNP-equivalent PA, surgical PA, new graduate PA), the full NCCPA credential order guide, a CAQ specialty table for all 9 current certificates of added qualifications, the new grad PA clinical rotations listing formula, PA-specific metrics by setting, and the complete PA resume keywords list, all sourced from NCCPA guidance and PA-specific hiring intelligence.
PA Credential Order & Certification Guide, PANCE, PANRE & CAQ
The correct credential order after a physician assistant’s name follows NCCPA and professional standards: highest earned degree first, then state licensure designation, then board certification. Unlike NP credentials (which have two separate certifying bodies with different suffixes), all PA-C credentials are issued through NCCPA, but the pathway to each and how they appear on a resume differs significantly.
| Credential |
What It Is |
How to List on Resume |
Expiry / Renewal |
| PA-C |
Physician Assistant, Certified. Awarded by NCCPA after passing the PANCE (Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination). Required for licensure in all 50 states. |
In header: “Jane Smith, MHS, PA-C”
In credentials section: “Physician Assistant, Certified (PA-C) · NCCPA · Active through [Year]” |
10-year certification maintenance cycle. Must earn 100 CME credits per 2-year period and pass PANRE every 10 years. Always list the active-through year. |
| PANCE |
Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination, the initial board exam that awards PA-C status. Administered by NCCPA. Graduates of ARC-PA accredited programmes are eligible. |
Do not list PANCE as a separate credential, passing PANCE is what earns the PA-C. List the credential (PA-C), not the exam. New grads who have not yet sat: “PA-C board exam scheduled [Month Year], eligible.” |
One-time exam (initial certification). Up to 6 attempts within 6 years of graduation. No expiry on the exam itself, the resulting PA-C has a 10-year maintenance cycle. |
| PANRE |
Physician Assistant National Recertifying Examination, taken every 10 years to maintain PA-C status. Alternatively, the PANRE-LA (longitudinal assessment) allows PAs to take quarterly questions online instead of a single exam. |
Do not list PANRE separately, the PA-C credential reflects successful recertification. If recently recertified, note the current certification cycle: “PA-C · NCCPA · Recertified [Year] · Active through [Year].” |
Every 10 years. PANRE-LA (launched as an alternative to the traditional PANRE) allows ongoing assessment rather than a single high-stakes exam. |
| CAQ |
Certificate of Added Qualifications, voluntary NCCPA specialty certification demonstrating advanced expertise beyond entry-level PA-C. Requires PA-C + specialty CME + experience + procedures/cases + passing specialty exam. 9 specialties available (see table below). |
In header: “Jane Smith, MHS, PA-C, CAQ-EM” (Emergency Medicine example)
In credentials: “CAQ, Emergency Medicine · NCCPA · Active through [Year]”
Always list immediately after PA-C. |
Valid 10 years (aligned with PA-C maintenance cycle). Requires ongoing PA-C certification and licensure to maintain. Voluntary but strongly differentiating for specialty positions. |
✓ Correct PA Credential Order Examples (NCCPA-aligned)
Primary care PA: Jane Smith, MHS, PA-C
PA with CAQ (Emergency Medicine): Marcus Lee, DMSc, PA-C, CAQ-EM
PA with CAQ (Orthopedic Surgery): Dana Torres, MHS, PA-C, CAQ-OS
New grad, board exam pending: Jordan Hayes, MHS (PA-C board exam scheduled May 2026, ARC-PA eligible)
Note on title change: NCCPA formally recognises “physician associate” as equivalent to “physician assistant” (confirmed 2025–2026). If you are applying to employers using “PA” or “physician associate”, both titles are correct. List your preferred title in your header.
NCCPA Certificate of Added Qualifications (CAQ), All 9 Specialties
As of 2026, NCCPA offers 9 Certificates of Added Qualifications, with Addiction Medicine and Oncology newly approved. Each CAQ signals specialty-level expertise beyond general PA-C certification and is increasingly listed as “preferred” or “required” in specialist PA job postings. If you hold a CAQ, it belongs prominently in your header and credentials section, it is the single strongest credential differentiator for specialty PA roles.
| CAQ Specialty, Credential Suffix |
Experience Requirement |
Resume Keyword Implication |
| Emergency Medicine · CAQ-EM | 3,000 hours (≈18 months) in emergency medicine | Emergency medicine · Acute care · Trauma · ACLS · ATLS · Resuscitation · Procedures (intubation, chest tube, LP) |
| Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery · CAQ-CVTS | 4,000 hours (≈2 years) in cardiovascular/thoracic surgery | Cardiothoracic surgery · First assist · CABG · Valve repair · Post-op management · Chest tube · Swan-Ganz |
| Dermatology · CAQ-Derm | 3,000 hours (≈18 months) in dermatology | Medical dermatology · Cosmetic dermatology · Mohs surgery assist · Biopsy · Cryotherapy · Psoriasis · Acne |
| Hospital Medicine · CAQ-HM | 3,000 hours (≈18 months) in hospital medicine | Inpatient medicine · Hospitalist · Discharge planning · Care transitions · Acute conditions · Epic Inpatient · ACLS |
| Nephrology · CAQ-Neph | 3,000 hours (≈18 months) in nephrology | Chronic kidney disease (CKD) · Dialysis management · ESRD · Renal biopsy · Transplant care |
| Neurosurgery · CAQ-NS | 4,000 hours (≈2 years) in neurosurgery | Neurosurgery first assist · Spine surgery · Craniotomy assist · ICP monitoring · Post-op neuro assessment |
| Orthopedic Surgery · CAQ-OS | 4,000 hours (≈2 years) in orthopedic surgery | Orthopaedic surgery first assist · Joint replacement · Fracture management · Casting · Splinting · Post-op orthopaedic care |
| Psychiatry · CAQ-Psych | 3,000 hours (≈18 months) in psychiatry | Psychiatric evaluation · Psychopharmacology · DSM-5 · PHQ-9 · Safety planning · Inpatient psychiatry · Telepsychiatry |
| Oncology · CAQ-Onc (New 2026) | Requirements in development (NCCPA approved March 2026) | Oncology PA · Chemotherapy management · Immunotherapy · Palliative care · Cancer staging · Tumour board participation |
Physician Assistant Resume Example, Primary Care
Physician Assistant Resume · Primary Care / Family Medicine · Full Example
Customise before using
Sofia Reyes, MHS, PA-C
Phoenix, AZ · (602) 555-0194 · sofia.reyes@email.com · DEA Registered
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
Board-certified Physician Assistant (PA-C, NCCPA) with 9 years of primary care and family medicine experience managing an independent caseload of 22–25 patients daily. Specialises in chronic disease management (diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, COPD), preventive care, and well-woman exams. Reduced 90-day hospital readmission rates for high-risk diabetic patients by 24% through a structured population health programme at Dignity Health. Bilingual English/Spanish. DEA registered. Proficient in Epic Ambulatory and Athenahealth.
CREDENTIALS & LICENSURE
- Physician Assistant, Certified (PA-C) · NCCPA · Active through 2031
- PA Licence, Arizona State Medical Board · Active · Licence #AZ-PA-12345
- DEA Registration, Schedule II–V prescribing authority · Active
- ACLS, AHA · Expires October 2026
- BLS, AHA · Expires October 2026
EXPERIENCE
Physician Assistant, Primary Care
Dignity Health Medical Group, Phoenix AZ · Jul 2019 – Present · High-volume primary care, 22–25 patients daily
- Provide independent primary care for 22–25 patients daily across adult, paediatric, and geriatric populations; independently diagnose, treat, and prescribe for a panel of 900+ active patients; manage acute, chronic, and preventive care needs under supervising physician collaborative agreement
- Implemented a structured population health protocol for 130 high-risk diabetic patients, implemented HbA1c monitoring schedule and medication titration criteria that reduced average panel HbA1c from 9.3% to 7.6% over 18 months and contributed to a 24% reduction in 90-day hospital readmissions
- Completed 12–15 well-woman exams monthly including Pap smear, breast examination, contraceptive counselling (IUD and Nexplanon insertion/removal), and STI screening
- Precepted 3 PA students per year during clinical rotations, all 6 students precepted over 2 years passed their PANCE on first attempt
Physician Assistant, Family Medicine
Banner Health FQHC, Phoenix AZ · Jun 2016 – Jun 2019 · Federally Qualified Health Centre
- Provided primary care to an underserved Spanish-speaking population at an FQHC, 18–22 patient visits daily with full bilingual clinical consultation; 93% patient satisfaction score across 3-year tenure (FQHC network top quartile)
CLINICAL SKILLS & TECHNOLOGY
- Chronic disease management (DM, HTN, HLD, COPD)
- Preventive care & annual wellness exams
- Well-woman exams & gynaecological care
- Paediatric well-child visits & immunisations
- Acute illness management
- DEA prescribing (Schedules II–V)
- IUD & Nexplanon insertion/removal
- Point-of-care testing (strep, flu, urinalysis)
- Epic Ambulatory (advanced)
- Athenahealth
- Suturing & laceration repair
- Joint injection (knee, shoulder)
- Population health management
- ACLS · BLS certified
- Bilingual, English/Spanish (native)
- AAPA member
EDUCATION
Master of Health Science (MHS), Physician Assistant Studies
University of Arizona College of Medicine · Graduated May 2016 · ARC-PA accredited · 2,200 supervised clinical hours
Is Your PA Resume Passing Healthcare ATS?
Get an instant credential, keyword, and gap report. Free, no sign-up.
Check My Resume Free →
Physician Assistant Resume Example, Surgical / Orthopaedic
A surgical PA resume has a completely different emphasis than a primary care PA resume. The key metrics and keywords shift to: first-assist surgical cases (type and volume), operative time reduction contributions, post-op management outcomes, procedure proficiency (specific named procedures), and if applicable, CAQ-OS (Certificate of Added Qualifications in Orthopedic Surgery) or CAQ-CVTS (Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery). The supervising surgeon’s name may also be listed for context in senior roles, as credentialing bodies and hospitals often verify surgical PA experience through the responsible physician.
Physician Assistant Resume · Orthopaedic Surgery · Full Example
Customise before using
Marcus Thompson, DMSc, PA-C, CAQ-OS
Atlanta, GA · (404) 555-0271 · marcus.thompson@email.com · DEA Registered
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
Board-certified Physician Assistant (PA-C, CAQ-OS) with 11 years of orthopaedic surgery experience including 7 years as a first-assist surgical PA for a high-volume joint replacement and spine surgery programme at Emory Orthopaedics. First-assisted 400+ total joint arthroplasties and 200+ spinal fusions annually. CAQ in Orthopedic Surgery (NCCPA). Manages 20+ post-surgical patients daily in both inpatient and outpatient settings. DEA registered.
CREDENTIALS & LICENSURE
- Physician Assistant, Certified (PA-C) · NCCPA · Active through 2029
- Certificate of Added Qualifications, Orthopedic Surgery (CAQ-OS) · NCCPA · Active through 2029
- PA Licence, Georgia Composite Medical Board · Active · Licence #GA-PA-45678
- DEA Registration, Schedule II–V · Active
- ACLS, AHA · Current · BLS, AHA · Current
EXPERIENCE
Orthopaedic Surgery Physician Assistant (PA-C, CAQ-OS)
Emory Orthopaedics & Spine, Atlanta, GA · Mar 2018 – Present · High-volume joint replacement & spine surgery programme
- First-assist on 400+ total joint arthroplasties annually (total hip, total knee, partial knee replacement) and 200+ spinal fusion procedures (TLIF, ALIF, PLIF); primary responsibilities include wound closure, retraction, instrument handling, and intraoperative haemostasis under supervising surgeon Dr. James Park, MD
- Manage 20–25 post-surgical patients daily across inpatient hospital rounds and outpatient orthopaedic clinic, wound assessment, pain management optimisation, discharge planning, and post-op follow-up at 2-week and 6-week intervals
- Contributed to reducing post-surgical SSI (surgical site infection) rate from 1.8% to 0.6% by implementing a revised pre-surgical skin prep and post-op wound care protocol, outcome tracked over 18 months across 450+ procedures
- Performed casting, splinting, joint aspiration, and corticosteroid injection for outpatient orthopaedic patients; conducted H&P for pre-surgical admissions and co-managed post-anaesthesia recovery
SURGICAL & CLINICAL SKILLS
- First assist, joint replacement (hip, knee)
- First assist, spinal fusion (TLIF, ALIF, PLIF)
- Wound closure & suturing
- Casting & splinting
- Joint aspiration & corticosteroid injection
- Fracture management
- Pre-op H&P & surgical clearance
- Post-op inpatient rounding
- Epic Inpatient & Ambulatory (advanced)
- PACU co-management
- Discharge planning
- Pain management (DEA Schedule II)
- CAQ-OS (NCCPA certified)
- ACLS · BLS certified
- DVT prophylaxis protocols
- Orthopaedic implant familiarity (Stryker, Zimmer Biomet, DePuy Synthes)
EDUCATION
Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc), Physician Assistant Practice
AT Still University · Graduated 2021 · Post-professional doctorate
Master of Health Science (MHS), Physician Assistant Studies
Emory University PA Programme · Graduated May 2014 · ARC-PA accredited
A new graduate physician assistant resume, also called a new grad PA resume, has zero post-graduation PA experience but typically 2,000–2,500+ supervised clinical hours across multiple specialty rotations. The single most common new grad PA resume mistake is burying clinical rotation experience in the education section as a one-line mention. Rotations belong in the experience section, formatted like work history entries, because for a new grad PA, they are the work history.
📋 New Grad PA Clinical Rotations, Correct Listing Format
PA Clinical Rotations, 2,200 Supervised Clinical Hours
[University PA Programme] · [City, State] · [Programme dates] · ARC-PA accredited
- Family Medicine, 360 hours: [Practice Name, City] · Under supervision of [Supervising PA/MD, credentials] · Performed H&P, differential diagnosis, SOAP documentation in Epic for acute and chronic conditions; managed HTN, DM, URTI, UTI, anxiety, and depression independently under supervision
- Emergency Medicine, 240 hours: [Hospital ED, City] · Under supervision of [PA/MD] · Managed acute presentations including chest pain work-up, laceration repair, fracture management, and triage; assisted with intubation × 3, thoracentesis × 1
- General Surgery, 240 hours: [Hospital, City] · Under supervision of [PA/MD] · First assist on 15+ general surgery cases; conducted pre-op H&P and post-op rounding; wound care and suturing
- Internal Medicine, 240 hours | Paediatrics, 180 hours | Women’s Health, 180 hours | Psychiatry, 120 hours | Elective (Orthopaedics), 180 hours
Always include: Total supervised hours · ARC-PA accreditation status · Named supervising providers for key rotations · Specific procedures performed (not just “assisted”) · Elective rotation choice (signals specialty interest)
New Graduate PA Resume · PA-C Eligible · Full Example
Customise before using
Jordan Hayes, MHS
Houston, TX · (713) 555-0162 · jordan.hayes@email.com · PANCE board exam scheduled May 2026, ARC-PA eligible
OBJECTIVE
New graduate Physician Assistant (MHS, ARC-PA accredited programme) with 2,400 supervised clinical hours across family medicine, emergency medicine, internal medicine, general surgery, and paediatrics. PANCE board exam scheduled May 2026. Current Texas PA licence. Seeking a primary care or family medicine PA position where strong diagnostic reasoning developed across broad clinical rotation experience can serve a diverse patient population.
CREDENTIALS
- PA Licence, Texas Medical Board · Active
- PA-C (NCCPA), PANCE board exam scheduled May 2026 · ARC-PA eligible
- ACLS, AHA · Expires Jun 2027 · BLS, AHA · Expires Jun 2027
CLINICAL EXPERIENCE, 2,400 SUPERVISED HOURS
PA Clinical Rotations, 2,400 Supervised Practice Hours
UT Health School of Health Professions PA Programme, Houston TX · Aug 2024 – Apr 2026 · ARC-PA accredited
- Family Medicine, 360 hours (Houston Methodist Primary Care): Under supervision of Dr. Sarah Chen, MD. Performed 8–10 H&P visits daily; managed HTN, DM, hyperlipidaemia, URTI, UTI, anxiety, and depression; SOAP documentation in Epic Ambulatory; medication prescribing review; independently formulated differential diagnoses with supervisor sign-off on all treatment plans
- Emergency Medicine, 240 hours (Harris Health Ben Taub Hospital ED): Under supervision of Elena Gomez, PA-C. Managed acute chest pain work-up (EKG, troponin), laceration repair ×14, fracture reduction ×3; assisted with rapid sequence intubation ×2; performed LP ×1 under direct supervision; triage in a Level I trauma centre
- Internal Medicine, 240 hours (Houston Methodist Inpatient): Under supervision of Robert Kim, MD. Daily rounds on 8–12 inpatient patients; discharge planning, medication reconciliation, management of CHF, COPD exacerbations, and acute kidney injury; Epic Inpatient orders and SOAP notes
- General Surgery, 240 hours | Paediatrics, 180 hours | Women’s Health, 120 hours | Psychiatry, 120 hours | Elective, Orthopaedics (Texas Children’s), 180 hours
Medical Scribe / Clinical Research Assistant
Houston Methodist Hospital Department of Cardiology · Jun 2022 – Jul 2024
- Documented physician-patient encounters in Epic for 15–18 cardiology patients daily; co-authored 2 clinical research abstracts on atrial fibrillation management outcomes presented at ACC 2024
EDUCATION
Master of Health Science (MHS), Physician Assistant Studies
UT Health School of Health Professions, Houston TX · Graduating May 2026 · ARC-PA accredited · 2,400 supervised clinical hours
PA Resume Metrics, 5 Types by Practice Setting
PA Resume Metric Types, By Practice Setting
Primary Care / Family Medicine
Daily patient volume, panel size, CSAT/patient satisfaction score, chronic disease metric (e.g., % of diabetic patients at HbA1c <8), readmission rate contribution.
✓ “Managed an independent caseload of 22–24 patients daily for a panel of 900+ active patients; 94% patient satisfaction score (Dignity Health top quartile)”
Emergency Medicine
Door-to-provider time, patients per shift, admit vs discharge ratio, patient satisfaction, LWBS (left without being seen) rate.
✓ “Managed 18–22 patients per 10-hour shift in a 65,000-visit/year Level II trauma centre; contributed to door-to-provider time reduction from 42 to 28 minutes”
Surgical PA (First Assist)
Number of cases first-assisted annually (by procedure type), SSI rate contribution, operative time, post-op management patient volume.
✓ “First-assisted 400+ total joint arthroplasties annually; SSI rate reduced from 1.8% to 0.6% following implementation of revised prep and wound care protocol”
Hospital Medicine (Hospitalist PA)
Daily inpatient census (number of patients rounded), average length of stay, discharge-before-noon rate, readmission rate, RVUs (relative value units, for productivity-based contracts).
✓ “Managed 14–18 daily inpatient patients; average LOS for patients under my primary management 3.8 days vs hospital benchmark of 4.6 days”
Psychiatry PA (psychiatric PA)
Daily patient volume (outpatient), inpatient census, medication adherence rates, PHQ-9 score improvement across panel, average LOS (inpatient psychiatry).
✓ “Provided psychopharmacology management for 14–16 outpatient psychiatric patients daily; 87% of patients in panel achieved PHQ-9 improvement ≥5 points within 6 months”
Physician Assistant Resume Keywords, Core & Specialty
Core PA Keywords (All Settings)
Physician assistant · PA-C · NCCPA · ARC-PA · PANCE · Collaborative agreement · Supervising physician · Patient assessment · History and physical (H&P) · Differential diagnosis · Treatment planning · Evidence-based medicine · Medication management · DEA prescribing authority · E-prescribing · Chronic disease management · Patient education · Preventive care · ACLS · BLS · Epic · Cerner · ICD-10 · CPT coding · Prior authorisation · Telehealth · physician assistant resume skills
EHR Platforms by PA Setting
Primary care / ambulatory: Epic Ambulatory · Athenahealth · eClinicalWorks · NextGen · Allscripts · Greenway Health · Kareo · DrChrono (telehealth)
Hospital / acute care: Epic Inpatient (EpicCare) · Cerner PowerChart · Cerner FirstNet (emergency) · Meditech · CPOE
Behavioural health: Epic Behavioural Health · Cerner Behavioural Health · Netsmart myAvatar · TheraNest
Frequently Asked Questions
Should a physician assistant resume be one page or two?
Two pages is appropriate for experienced PAs with 5+ years of practice. New graduate PAs should aim for one tight page, clinical rotations, pre-PA experience (scribing, medical assisting, research), and credentials fill one page well without padding. The exception is an academic or research-heavy PA profile that may warrant a CV format rather than a resume, if you are applying to academic medical centres, VA positions, or academic-affiliated practices, a CV of 2–3 pages with publications and presentations is appropriate and expected.
How do I list “PA-C pending” or “PANCE eligible” on a new grad PA resume?
In your credentials section: “PA-C (NCCPA), PANCE board exam scheduled [Month Year] · ARC-PA eligible.” In your header, list your degree: “Jordan Hayes, MHS” and add a note under your contact line: “PANCE board exam scheduled [Month Year], ARC-PA accredited programme.” Never list the PA-C credential before you have passed the PANCE. Most employers extend conditional offers to new grads who are PANCE eligible and scheduled, the key is being transparent about timeline and noting that your programme is ARC-PA accredited (which confirms eligibility).
What is a CAQ and should I get one to list on my PA resume?
A Certificate of Added Qualifications (CAQ) is a voluntary NCCPA specialty credential available to PAs who have completed specialty-specific CME, experience hours, procedural requirements, and a specialty examination. Nine specialties are currently available (with Oncology and Addiction Medicine newly approved in 2026). A CAQ is not required for specialty PA practice, but it is increasingly listed as “preferred” in competitive specialty job postings and can justify significantly higher compensation in private and academic settings. If you are 2+ years into a specialty and meet the hours requirement, the CAQ application is worth starting. List it in your header and credentials section the moment it is awarded.
Should a physician assistant resume include a GPA?
No, with very rare exceptions. PA programme GPAs are highly variable (many programmes are pass/fail or use non-standard grade scales) and carry little weight with PA hiring managers who are evaluating clinical competency, PANCE pass status, and specialty experience. Undergraduate GPA can be omitted once you hold your PA-C. The one exception: if you are applying for competitive post-graduate PA residency or fellowship programmes, a strong undergraduate science GPA (3.7+) may be worth including in your education section as it was relevant to programme admission.
Keep Reading
