Physician Assistant Cover Letter

A physician assistant cover letter is more than a summary of your CV. It is your opportunity to connect your clinical training, hands-on procedures, and collaborative instincts directly to the needs of a specific practice. Whether you are applying to a primary care clinic, a surgical specialty, or an urgent care group, a focused letter shows hiring physicians and practice administrators that you understand the role and are ready to contribute on day one. Pair this page with our guide on how to write a cover letter for broader structural advice, and explore the healthcare careers hub for related roles.

What employers look for in a physician assistant cover letter

PA hiring committees review dozens of applications for each opening. They scan for a specific set of signals before scheduling interviews:

• Clinical rotation depth -- Breadth across internal medicine, surgery, emergency, and specialty rotations signals adaptability. Name the rotations most relevant to the position.
• Procedural competency -- Suturing, splinting, joint injections, I&D, intubation support, and other hands-on skills distinguish candidates at the same certification level. Be specific.
• EMR proficiency -- Mention the systems you have used -- Epic, Athenahealth, eClinicalWorks -- since documentation efficiency matters from the first shift.
• Patient volume and acuity -- Stating that you managed 20+ patients per day or covered high-acuity shifts tells employers you can perform under realistic clinical pressure.
• Collaborative practice -- Describe how you have worked alongside supervising physicians, nurses, specialists, and care coordinators. PAs who communicate well reduce errors and improve throughput.
• NCCPA certification -- Confirm your PA-C status early in the letter. If you have added CAQs or specialty certificates, include them.

How to write a physician assistant cover letter that gets interviews

1. Open with your strongest clinical credential and a relevant result

Do not start with "I am applying for." Instead, lead with your PA-C certification, a rotation or position most relevant to the role, and one concrete outcome -- a patient satisfaction metric, a procedural volume, or a quality improvement contribution. This approach is effective across clinical roles, including physician cover letters and nurse practitioner cover letters, because it signals competence before the reader reaches your resume.

2. Match your rotations and skills to the posting

Read the job description closely. If the practice lists dermatology procedures, describe your experience with biopsies or lesion excisions. If they emphasize chronic disease management, reference your panel experience with diabetes or hypertension. Mirror the language of the posting without copying it word for word. Hiring managers notice when a letter is written for their specific role.

3. Show how you function within a care team

Supervising physicians want PAs who improve team efficiency, not ones who require constant supervision. Describe moments where your documentation, triage judgment, or patient education reduced attending workload or improved outcomes. If you helped onboard new staff, contributed to protocol updates, or served on a quality committee, mention it briefly.

4. Close with a clear call to action

End by restating your interest in the specific organization -- not the profession generally -- and request an interview. Mention one detail that shows you researched the practice: their patient population, a recent expansion, or a clinical focus. A confident, specific close is more memorable than a passive sign-off, and it applies equally whether you are writing for a career change cover letter or a direct PA role application.

Physician assistant cover letter example

Replace practice names, patient volumes, and specialties with your own experience.

Subject: Application for the Physician assistant position

Dear Dr. Nguyen and the Riverside Family Medicine Hiring Committee, I am writing to apply for the Physician Assistant position at Riverside Family Medicine. As a PA-C with three years of post-graduate experience in family and urgent care medicine, I have consistently managed panels of 22 to 28 patients daily and maintained a 96 percent patient satisfaction score across two consecutive annual reviews. At Lakeside Urgent Care, I independently evaluate and treat acute and chronic conditions including respiratory infections, musculoskeletal injuries, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes. My procedural experience includes laceration repair, joint injections, splinting, I&D of abscesses, and Nexplanon insertion and removal. I document exclusively in Epic and have received commendations from our medical director for chart completion rates that consistently exceed the 95 percent same-day threshold. Prior to my current role, I completed rotations in internal medicine, general surgery, pediatrics, and emergency medicine, which gave me a broad foundation I draw on daily in a mixed-acuity setting. I work closely with supervising physicians, nursing staff, and our care coordination team to manage transitions of care and reduce unnecessary ED visits among our high-utilization patients. I am drawn to Riverside because of your integrated behavioral health model and your focus on underserved communities -- priorities that align with the community medicine coursework I completed during my PA program. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss how my clinical background can support your team's goals. Thank you for your time and consideration. I am available for an interview at your convenience. Sincerely, Alex Caldwell, PA-C

Before you send your application

Use this checklist to review your physician assistant cover letter before submitting:

• Did you confirm your PA-C status and any CAQs or specialty certifications in the opening paragraph?
• Have you named specific procedures relevant to the position rather than listing generic clinical skills?
• Is the EMR system you use most proficient in mentioned by name?
• Did you include a patient volume or outcome metric that reflects real workload?
• Have you referenced the specific practice, not just the job title?
• Is your letter free of vague phrases like "passionate about patient care" without supporting detail?
• Is the letter one page, proofread, and saved as a PDF unless otherwise requested?

FAQ

How long should a physician assistant cover letter be?

Keep it to one page, roughly 300 to 400 words. PA hiring committees read applications quickly, and concise letters that lead with credentials and results are read to the end more often than long ones. For formatting guidance, see our how to write a cover letter guide.

What credentials should I mention in a physician assistant cover letter?

Always state your PA-C certification. If you have a Certificate of Added Qualifications (CAQ) in a specialty such as emergency medicine, orthopedics, or hospital medicine, include it early. State DEA registration or specific prescriptive authority is worth noting if the posting mentions prescribing responsibilities.

How do I write a physician assistant cover letter with no experience?

Focus on your clinical rotations, the procedures you performed under supervision, and any measurable outcomes from your PA program. Reference the hours and patient volume from your most relevant rotations. Highlight your NCCPA certification and any preceptor commendations. Our how to write a cover letter guide covers entry-level framing in more detail.

Should I tailor my physician assistant cover letter for each specialty?

Yes. A letter for a surgical PA role should emphasize first-assist experience, wound care, and post-op management. A primary care letter should highlight chronic disease management, preventive care, and patient panel size. A hospitalist role letter should reference inpatient admission and discharge workflows. Using the same letter for different specialties is one of the most common reasons PA applications do not advance.

How do I address a cover letter when I do not know the hiring manager's name?

Address it to the search committee by specialty: "Dear Family Medicine Hiring Committee" or "Dear Orthopedic Surgery PA Search Committee." Avoid "To Whom It May Concern," which reads as generic and suggests you did not research the practice. If the job posting lists a contact person, use their name and correct title.