03/10/2023

Physician Assistant Cover Letter—Samples & Templates to Fill

Looking for a new job is as painful as looking for an IV needle in a haystack. Seriously. So make your life easier by applying with a perfect physician assistant cover letter.

Aleksandra Makal

Career Expert

03/10/2023

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The medical industry is full of professionals of all sorts: nurses, physicians, surgeons, anesthetists, pharmacists…

But finding the right candidate that fits the specific institutions culture and meets its needs at the same time is as hard as finding AB-negative blood type for an unprompted transfusion.

So you found the perfect job, and you have everything that they’re looking for?

Write a PA resume that will steal their hearts instead of giving them a heart attack.

In this guide:

New grad PA cover letter templates that land interviews.
The do’s and dont’s of formatting your cover letter.
Ready-made templates of physician assistant cover letters for you to fill in.

Save hours of work and get a cover letter like this. Pick a template, fill it in. Quick and easy. Choose from 18+ cover letter templates and download your cover letter now.

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physician assistant cover letter example

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Looking for different cover letter example? See these guides:

Wiring your first cover letter ever? Check these out:

Don’t have a resume yet? Check out this dedicated resume guide: Physician Assistant Resume Sample & Guide

First off, let’s look at two different physician assistant cover letter examples:

1. Physician Assistant Cover Letter Samples

Let’s start with Diego’s cover letter.

Diego is applying for a physician assistant position, which requires someone who is experienced in a critical care setting and who is independent enough to carry out medical activities assigned by the head physician.

Actually, for him that works out perfectly, because he has all the required skills and qualifications.

But let’s see if he manages to win the employer with his cover letter:

Example #1: Experienced Physician Assistant Cover Letter Example

Diego White

Physician Assistant

NCCPA Certified since 04/2014

619-351-0971

DiegoCWhite@yahoo.com

San Diego, June 15, 2021

Raymond Knight

Human Resource Manager

Scripps Mercy Hospital

4077 Fifth Ave,

92103 San Diego, CA

Dear Mr. Knight,

It is with great pleasure that I am applying for the physician assistant position at the Scripps Mercy Hospital in San Diego. I am a skilled and compassionate individual who strives to uphold the highest standards of care. With my 4 years of experience as a professional PA, as well as volunteer experience in the San Diego County Public Health clinic, I am sure I can bring a wide variety of hands-on skills to your institution.

Your job posting says that you are looking for a self-motivated individual who can work with little direct supervision and who is experienced in an acute/critical care setting. As stated in my enclosed resume, my experience demonstrates advanced clinical skills and the ability to apply theoretical concepts as part of a multi-disciplinary health care team providing care to patients and their families.

During my time at the Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center Emergency Room I have diagnosed medical conditions and planned interventions, documented and communicated all patient care according to hospital policies and procedures. I have performed selected invasive patient care procedures based on the patients’ needs as determined by the physician supervisor, and administered medications and injections in compliance with state law and hospital guidelines. My highlights include:

Responsible for primary care panel of approximately 1,500 patients, as part of a physician-PA team, and solely responsible for 10-15 patients per day
Received Kindred employee of the month for May 2019 for providing excellent patient care and effective problem-solving.

The Scripps Mercy Hospital has a reputation for providing the highest level of care to patients and is known for its superb customer service. I am convinced that my dedication and hard work will allow me to make a significant contribution to the tradition of excellence at Your institution.

I would be grateful for the opportunity to discuss my qualifications and candidacy in further detail. Could we schedule a call or meeting?

Kind regards,

Diego White

619-351-0971

DiegoCWhite@yahoo.com

Perfect.

See how he cleverly used numbers to show how effective his input was?

His accomplishments will surely get Mr. Knight’s BP up.

Now, for comparison, let’s see an example cover letter from a new grad.

Meet Kirsten—a fresh graduate eager to put her skills and knowledge to work.

Even if you’re straight out of school and haven’t yet worked professionally, you probably have something under your belt that will impress a hospital director.

Well, Kirsten’s in the same boat, and she nails her first physician assistant cover letter like a pro.

Let’s take a look:

Example#2: Physician Assistant Cover Letter New Grad

Kirsten Dipietro

Physician Assistant

NCCPA Certified

404-828-4081

k.dipietro@yahoo.com

Atlanta, June 5, 2021

Diana Wood

Head of Human Resources

Wellstar Atlanta Medical Center

303 Parkway Dr NE,

30312 Atlanta, GA

Dear Mrs. Wood,

I am writing in regard to your Physician Assistant opening at the Wellstar Atlanta Medical Center. I am a recent graduate (GPA 3.7) of the South University, Richmond Physician Assistant (PA) Master of Science degree program, NCCPA certified, and currently licensed by state of Georgia to practice as a physician assistant. I am looking to join a progressive healthcare institution where I can utilize all of my skills and abilities to deliver excellent patient care.

Likewise, I am confident that my theoretical knowledge and internship experience as a Physician Assistant, as well as my passion for working with people, make me the perfect candidate for this role. My experience encompasses utilizing thorough knowledge of medical conditions and providing direct patient care following present care plans effectively. Moreover, I have assisted more than 20 simple orthopedic surgeries and provided a high level of medical consultations for more than 250+ weekly under the supervision of a licensed physician.

I admire Wellstar Atlanta Medical Center’s mission to provide the best and most up-to-date medical care to the local community. I strongly believe that my education, qualifications and experience are a perfect fit for the Physician Assistant position with Wellstar Atlanta Medical Center.

Can we make the time to have a call or meeting to examine in more detail how my skills could help Your hospital’s mission?

All the best,

Kirsten Dipietro

404-828-4081

k.dipietro@yahoo.com

How great is that?

This physician assistant cover letter shows a mix of academic and internship experience that clearly demonstrates skills that the employer is looking for in a candidate.

Again—

Notice the metrics that show, rather than tell, what she really brings to the examination table.

Ready to write your own physician assistant cover letter that will blow the recruiters’ minds?

Below you will find a step-by-step writing guide and information on what to include in your cover letter.

2. How to Write a Physician Assistant Cover Letter?

Here’s how to write the best cover letter for your next physician assistant job:

1. Format Your Cover Letter the Right Way

Being a physician assistant means you get to document all your activities by completing forms, reports, logs, and records.

That means you have to be watchful and have a keen eye for detail.

Can you imagine putting a cholesterol level of an overweight patient in the glucose rubric?

Yikes.

Keeping your documents clean and legible will not only save the recruiter’s time... but also many lives.

Save your professional life by using thesecover letter formatting tips:

Physician Assistant Cover Letter Example: Format

Left-align all contents without using justification.
Set 1-inch margins on all four sides of the document.
Make sure the typeface matches your resume font.
Use 1.15 line spacing.
Always leave an empty space between every paragraph.
The best cover letter length is 1 page.
Save your cover letter as PDF file, unless otherwise specified.

Use these tricks and you’ll be golden.

Expert Hint: If you’ve decided to send your cover letter as an email, make it shorter than if you would be sending it as an email attachment.

2. Include a Cover Letter Header

The first thing on your physician cover letter is the header. It should be placed at the top in the left-hand corner.

Think it’s a no-brainer?

Well, you should keep in mind that it must match your resume header in case the documents get somehow separated.

Here’s a template, so you know exactly what information to include in your cover letter heading:

Cover Letter for Physician Assistant: Heading

[ Your Full Name]

[ Your Job Title ]

[ Certification / License # ]

[ Address ]

[ Phone Number ]

[ Email Address ]

[ City and Date ]

[ Hiring Manager’s Full Name ]

[ Hiring Manager’s Position ]

[ Company Name ]

[ Company Street Address ]

[ City and Zip Code ]

Don’t know the name of the hiring manager?

There are a few ways that could help you hunt that information down:

Revisit the job ad—if there is an e-mail address there, the name should be as well.
Find a listing of senior management.
Call the medical office or hospital directly and ask for that information.

Why do you need that name, you ask?

Well—

It makes the cover letter personal, therefore, there’s a bigger chance it will leave a lasting impression.

Not personalizing the application will make your cover letter look general and spammy.

Expert Hint: Every practicing PA must hold a license to work in the state of residence. To make sure you are properly certified, make sure to check a list of state licensing boards for physician assistants.

Double your impact with a matching resume and cover letter combo. Use our cover letter generator and make your application documents pop out.

CREATE YOUR COVER LETTER NOW

Want to try a different look? There's 21 more. A single click will give your document a total makeover. Pick a cover letter template here.

3. Start Your Cover Letter With by Introducing Yourself and Stating the Position You’re Applying For

Your cover letter should begin with a proper, personalized (if possible) salutation.

If none of the above tricks worked, you can always use “Dear Hiring Manager” when addressing your cover letter.

Beware!

Never go with: “To Whom It May Concern” or “Dear Sir or Madam”... unless you want the recruiter to get an acute allergic reaction.

Here’s a great cover letter intro example:

Sample Physician Assistant Cover Letter: Introduction

Dear [HR Manager’s Name],

It’s my pleasure to apply for the physician assistant position at [Hospital or Clinic Name]. I am [Certification] certified, and currently licensed by the state of [State] to practice as a physician assistant. As a professional with [X] years of experience in a fast-paced hospital setting, I am confident I would make a positive addition to your medical staff.

Wow.

That’ll get you in like an IV push.

4. Highlight Your Strengths, Qualifications and Experience

Next up—

The heart of the entire application: your main statement.

This is where you actually WIN the hiring manager.

How?

Read the job description once again and highlight the most important duties and responsibilities. Think about which skills and experiences you have that fit that profile and write about them. Remember to back them up with quantifiable achievements.

Start with a template:

Sample Cover Letter for Physician Assistant: Second Paragraph

The job listing mentions that you’re searching for a physician assistant with experience in [PA Job Responsibilities From Advertisement]. During my time at [Name of Previous or Current Institution], I became quite skilled with [Give Several of Your Proudest and Most Relevant PA Tasks, With Numbers, If Possible, to Show Results]. I can easily translate those skills to help me better perform my duties as a physician assistant at your institution.

Expert Hint: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics employment of physician assistants is projected to grow 31% from 2020 to 2030. A cover letter will be necessary to beat the competition.

5. Show That You Want to Work There

When writing the last paragraph of your cover letter, think about what you would say during an interview if the employer asked: “Why do you want to work here?”

That’s your cue to sprinkle on a compliment that will show that you have actually done your research about the institution you’re applying to.

Use this template:

Physician Assistant Cover Letter Sample: Your Motivation

I find it really admirable that at [Target Institution Name], you put such a strong focus on [something you genuinely admire about the company]. These values are also personally important to me, therefore I believe [Target Institution Name] is the ideal opportunity for me to develop my skills, and help you keep your standards high.

Employers want to see how well you will fit on the team. So show them how excited you are to put on that logo and name tag on your new pair of scrubs.

6. Ask For an Interview and Sign-Off

End your cover letter professionally, but confidently.

Politely ask for a meeting, without being TOO Pushy or desperate.

Cliché phrases, like “I look forward to hearing from you” or “Thank you for your consideration”, are a big no-no.

A cover letter should show personality and your ability to communicate effectively.

So communicate your expectations.

Like this:

Physician Assistant Cover Letter Example: Call to Action & Signature

Let’s schedule a meeting or a call to discuss how my [your strongest skill/achievement] can help [Target Institution Name] achieve [their goals/something important to them]?

Best regards,

[Digital Copy of Your Handwritten Signature]

[Your Full Name]

[Phone Number]

[Email Address]

And that’s how you get it done!

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Key Points

Here’s a recap on how to write a physician assistant cover letter:

Before you start writing, format your physician assistant cover letter, so it looks professional.
Include all the essential information in your cover letter heading.
Address your cover letter using the hiring manager’s name.
Introduce yourself and mention the position you are applying for.
Demonstrate your qualifications and abilities by using keywords form the job listing, and back up your experience with numbers and metrics.
Politely request an interview and sign formally.

Are you writing a new grad PA cover letter or are you a senior? Would you like to know something more about writing physician assistant cover letters? Let us know in the comments below!

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