PA School Letter of Recommendation Template

A PA (Physician Assistant) School Letter of Recommendation is a pivotal document of a physician assistant school application. It offers an admissions committee to learn valuable insights into an applicant’s qualifications and evaluate their readiness for PA school.

Typically, these letters are written by academic professors, PAs, or supervisors from medical settings who can provide an in-depth view of the applicant’s abilities, character, and experiences in the healthcare field.

Table of Contents

• Who to Request
• How to Write
• PA School Letter of Recommendation: Examples
• PA School Letter of Recommendation Sample
• Frequently Asked Questions

Who to Request

Aim to secure 3 to 5 PA school letters of recommendation in total. The letters should come from a mix of academic instructors, physician assistants, and other medical providers or supervisors.

Make sure your recommendation letter writers are well-acquainted with your strengths and can provide a thorough and enthusiastic endorsement of your qualifications. PA programs value genuine and detailed recommendations over those from high-status individuals who don’t know the applicant well.

Here’s a breakdown of the ideal sources for your recommendation letters:

• Science Instructors: Ideally, 1 or 2 of your letters should come from professors who have taught you in a science course such as biology, chemistry, or anatomy. These instructors can attest to your academic abilities and readiness for the rigorous coursework in PA school.
• Physician Assistants: At least 1 letter should come from a PA who has supervised or worked closely with you. This recommender can speak to your understanding of the PA role, patient interactions, and clinical skills.
• Other Medical Providers or Supervisors: You may also include 1 or 2 letters from other healthcare providers (e.g., a physician, nurse practitioner) or supervisors from a medical setting. These letters should highlight your professional behavior, reliability, and performance in a healthcare environment.

How to Request

Follow these steps to ensure you get solid and supportive letters:

Step 1: Prepare Your Materials

Before you reach out to potential recommenders, gather the necessary documents to provide them with a complete picture of your candidacy:

• Updated Resume: Include your educational background, work experience, volunteer activities, and relevant achievements.
• List of PA Schools: Provide a list of the schools you are applying to and their respective deadlines.
• Personal Statement Draft: Share a draft of your personal statement to help them understand your motivations and aspirations.

Step 2: Meet in Person

An in-person or virtual meeting allows you to discuss your request in detail and address any questions they might have.

During your meeting, clearly explain

• the purpose of the letter (how you are applying to PA school and why their letter will be valuable), and
• the submission process. Inform them about how to submit the letter through CASPA or other relevant platforms. Make sure they understand the deadlines and any specific requirements.

Step 3: Follow Up

After your meeting, send a follow-up email to the letter writer to reiterate key points and provide any additional information they might need, including

• submission instructions, and
• deadlines. Remind them of the deadline, ideally setting it a week before your earliest application deadline to ensure timely submission.

Step 4: Send Reminders

Check periodically to ensure that your letters are submitted. If the deadline is approaching and the letter has not been submitted, send a polite reminder to your recommenders.

Step 5: Express Gratitude

After the letter is submitted, send a thank-you note to express your appreciation and update them on the results of your application.

How to Write

A well-crafted letter of recommendation should:

• Explain your relationship with the applicant and your qualifications;
• Highlight the applicant’s relevant skills and qualities with specific examples;
• Provide a balanced view of their academic, clinical, and personal strengths; and
• Conclude with a strong endorsement of their application.

Step 1: Introduction

Begin by introducing yourself and explaining your relationship with the applicant. Mention how long you have known them and in what capacity. This sets the context for the admissions committee.

Step 2: Body Paragraphs

In the body of the letter, focus on specific qualities and provide concrete examples to highlight your distinct fit for PA schools. Each paragraph should start with a topic sentence mentioning one of the applicant’s strengths, followed by an example that demonstrates this quality.

Admissions committees are not just looking for academic excellence and clinical skills in PA school applicants; they are seeking individuals with strong character. Highlighting personal stories that demonstrate the applicant’s integrity, resilience, and compassion can significantly impact their application.

Some key qualities and characteristics to highlight include:

• Academic
  • Intellectual Aptitude: “Jane has consistently demonstrated exceptional intellectual aptitude. For instance, in my Advanced Biology course, she not only excelled academically, achieving the highest grade in the class, but also led study groups that helped her peers understand complex concepts.”
  • Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills: “One of John’s most remarkable qualities is his critical thinking ability. During a challenging research project on genetic mutations, he identified a flaw in our initial hypothesis and proposed an innovative solution that significantly advanced our study.”
  • Curiosity and Desire for Learning: “Mary’s curiosity and desire for learning are truly inspiring. She frequently attended office hours to discuss topics beyond the curriculum and even initiated an independent research project on microbial resistance.”
• Clinical
  • Compassion: “Anna’s compassion for patients is evident in her daily interactions. For example, she once stayed late to comfort a patient who was anxious about an upcoming procedure, demonstrating her dedication to patient care.”
  • Teamwork: “Brian excels in a team setting. In our clinic, he often steps in to help colleagues during busy shifts, and his positive attitude and willingness to collaborate make him a valued team member.”
  • Professionalism and Responsibility: “Kevin’s professionalism is beyond reproach. He handled a high-pressure situation in the ER with calm and efficiency, ensuring that all protocols were followed meticulously while providing excellent patient care.”
  • Initiative and Leadership: “Rachel has shown remarkable initiative and leadership. She organized a community health fair, coordinating volunteers and resources to provide free health screenings to underserved populations.”
  • Adaptability: “Alex demonstrated impressive adaptability when our clinic underwent a major transition to a new electronic medical record system. He quickly learned the new system and assisted others in the transition, ensuring minimal disruption to patient care.”
  • Empathy: “Emily consistently shows deep empathy in her interactions with patients. She takes the time to listen to their concerns and responds thoughtfully, which greatly enhances the patient experience.”
  • Good Communication Skills: “Oliver’s communication skills are outstanding. He effectively communicates with both patients and colleagues, ensuring that everyone is well-informed and comfortable with their care plans.”
• PA-Specific
  • Understanding of the PA Profession: “Emily has a deep understanding of the PA role. While shadowing me, she asked insightful questions about patient care and the PA profession, demonstrating her genuine interest and readiness for this career.”
  • Interpersonal Skills: “Mark’s interpersonal skills are outstanding. He builds rapport with patients quickly, as evidenced by his ability to calm a particularly anxious patient before a minor surgery, which significantly improved the patient’s experience.”
  • Motivation and Determination: “Jake’s motivation and determination are evident in his pursuit of continuous improvement. He often stays late to review cases and learn from experienced practitioners.”
  • Altruism: “Max’s altruism is demonstrated through his extensive volunteer work in underserved communities. He regularly organizes free health clinics and dedicates his time to ensuring everyone has access to care.”
  • Trustworthiness: “Isabella is exceptionally trustworthy. She handles confidential patient information with the utmost discretion and always adheres to ethical guidelines.”
  • Awareness and Responsiveness to Criticism: “Rachel shows remarkable awareness and responsiveness to criticism. She actively seeks feedback and implements suggestions to improve her clinical practice.”

In addition, ensure the examples and references in the letter are connected to the work and experiences the applicant has highlighted in their application. This makes the application feel cohesive and demonstrates the authenticity of the candidate’s experiences.

Step 3: Closing

Summarize your recommendation by reiterating your support for the applicant. Highlight why you believe they will succeed in PA school and as a future PA. Invite admissions committees to contact you for further inquiries or additional information.

Step 4: Submission

Once the letter is written, ensure it is submitted according to the CASPA application guidelines. The process involves several steps:

1. Evaluation Request: The applicant will enter the recommender’s name and email address in the CASPA application system. The recommender will then receive an email with a link to the Liaison Letters portal.
2. Completing the Evaluation: The recommender will review the request and can accept, complete, or deny it. They will be required to complete assessments such as writing essays, filling out Likert scales, and uploading the letter of recommendation.
3. Notification: Once the evaluation is complete, both the applicant and the recommender will receive an email notification. The applicant can check the status of the evaluation in the Check Status tab of their CASPA application.
4. Requirements: The applicant must request at least 2 and can request up to 5 evaluations. If more evaluations are needed, the applicant must send those directly to the programs.
5. Waiver Decision: The applicant must decide whether to waive their right to view the evaluation under FERPA. This decision cannot be changed once made and will be visible to both the recommender and the programs. Most applicants choose to waive the right to demonstrate integrity.

PA School Letter of Recommendation: Examples

Example #1: Clinical Supervisor Recommending a Certified Nursing Assistant

Dear Members of the Admissions Committee,

It is my pleasure to write this letter of recommendation for Jane Doe, who has worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) under my supervision at XYZ Clinic for the past two years. During this time, Jane has consistently demonstrated a remarkable combination of professionalism, compassion, and dedication, making her an outstanding candidate for your Physician Assistant program.

Jane’s compassion for patients is truly commendable. I recall a specific incident where a terminally ill patient was feeling particularly anxious and distressed one evening. Jane stayed well past her shift, sitting with the patient, holding their hand, and providing comforting words. Her presence significantly calmed the patient, who later expressed deep gratitude for Jane’s kindness and support.

Jane’s professionalism and maturity are evident in her daily interactions with both patients and colleagues. She consistently handles high-pressure situations with calm and poise. For instance, during a particularly hectic shift when our ER was overwhelmed with patients, Jane efficiently managed multiple tasks, ensured patient comfort, and assisted the medical staff without missing a beat. Her ability to maintain composure and provide excellent care under stress speaks volumes about her maturity and reliability.

In addition to her clinical skills, Jane possesses strong communication abilities. She effectively communicates with patients, making sure they understand their care plans and feel comfortable asking questions. An example of this is when Jane took the time to explain post-discharge care instructions to an elderly patient who was particularly anxious about managing their medication regimen at home. Her clear and compassionate explanation helped the patient feel more confident and at ease.

In conclusion, Jane Doe possesses the qualities and skills that make her an excellent candidate for your PA program. Her compassion, professionalism, and communication abilities will undoubtedly contribute to her success as a Physician Assistant. I wholeheartedly endorse her application and believe she will be a valuable asset to your program.

Please feel free to contact me if you require any further information.

Sincerely,

Anna Owen
Clinical Supervisor
XYZ Clinic

Example #2: Physician Assistant Recommending a Medical Assistant

Dear Members of the Admissions Committee,

I am delighted to write this letter of recommendation for John Smith, who has worked as a Medical Assistant at ABC Hospital for the past three years. During his time with us, John has consistently demonstrated outstanding clinical skills, professionalism, and a deep commitment to patient care, making him an ideal candidate for your Physician Assistant program.

John’s dependability and trustworthiness are second to none. On numerous occasions, he has been entrusted with significant responsibilities due to his reliability. For instance, when our clinic faced staff shortages during the peak flu season, John took on additional shifts without hesitation. His punctuality, preparedness, and willingness to go the extra mile ensured that our operations continued smoothly and that patient care was never compromised.

John’s adaptability has been tested and proven repeatedly. A particularly notable example occurred during the implementation of a new electronic health record system. John quickly adapted to the new system, mastering its intricacies within a short period. He then took the initiative to train other staff members, ensuring a smooth transition for the entire clinic. His ability to remain resilient and supportive during this challenging time was invaluable.

In addition, John’s teamwork and leadership abilities are exceptional. He frequently takes the lead in improving clinic operations. Last year, he spearheaded a project to streamline our patient intake process, reducing wait times by 20%. He identified bottlenecks, proposed solutions, and implemented changes that had a lasting positive impact on our clinic’s efficiency. His leadership in this project demonstrated his proactive approach and commitment to enhancing patient care.

In summary, John Smith embodies the qualities and skills that make him an exceptional candidate for your PA program. His dependability, adaptability, and leadership abilities will serve him well in his future career as a Physician Assistant. I fully support his application and believe he will be an invaluable asset to your program.

Should you require any additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Emily Johnson
PA-C
ABC Hospital

PA School Letter of Recommendation Sample

Copy the free sample or download a customizable PA School Letter of Recommendation template below.

___________________ [Recommender’s name]
___________________ [Recommender’s institution]
______________________________________ [Recommender’s address]
___________________ [Recommender’s phone or email]

___________________ [Date]

___________________ [Recipient’s name]
___________________ [Recipient’s institution]
______________________________________ [Recipient’s address]
___________________ [Recipient’s phone or email]

Dear ________________________ [Recipient’s name],

I am writing to enthusiastically recommend ___________________ [Applicant’s name] for admission to ___________________ [Program applied for] at ___________________ [Institution’s name]. Having had the pleasure of engaging with ___________________ [Applicant’s name] as their ___________________ [Relation to applicant] for ______ [Time] at ___________________ [Institution’s name], I have been impressed by their commitment to achieving and maintaining a high standard in all endeavors. This positions me well to attest to their suitability for this application.

During their tenure in ___________________ [Applicant’s field of study/interest], ___________________ [Applicant’s name] has consistently demonstrated ___________________ [Applicant’s attribute/skill]. A notable achievement was their commitment in _____________________________________ [Description of achievement]. As a result, _____________________________________ [Result of achievement].

Moreover, ___________________ [Applicant’s name] has shown remarkable ___________________ [Applicant’s attribute/skill] through their involvement in _______________________________ [Description of achievement]. Because of this, ___________________________ [Result of achievement].

Beyond ___________________ [Applicant’s name]’s accomplishments in ___________________ [Applicant’s field of study/interest], they have made significant contributions to ______________________________________ [Description of achievement], showcasing their ___________________ [Applicant’s attribute/skill]. Through these contributions, _____________________________________ [Result of achievement].

To conclude, I am confident in recommending ___________________ [Applicant’s name] for the ___________________ [Program applied for]. I have no doubt that they will continue to excel and go on to make significant contributions in the field of healthcare.

I am happy to provide any additional information or discuss ___________________ [Applicant’s name]’s journey further. I can be reached at ___________________ [Recommender’s phone or email].

Sincerely,

___________________ [Recommender’s name]
___________________ [Recommender’s department or title]

Frequently Asked Questions