How to write a physician CV
Your curriculum vitae (CV) shapes the first impression employers have of your work.
Download free templates and get a professional review to build a standout resume that gives employers what they need clearly and quickly. As a member, you can use the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) tools and templates to post your CV confidentially and find a job.
What is a physician CV?
A CV is similar to a resume because it documents your education and professional accomplishments. It is typically more detailed than a resume and can include personal interests and activities. While optional, this information can help distinguish you as a candidate. As you draft your CV, focus on what the employer needs and present your experience in ways that speak to those needs.
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9 common sections to include on a physician CV
How much you include depends on your career stage, but most CVs cover the areas below. New physicians, experienced physicians and academic physicians who are AAFP members can download free custom CV templates.
1. Contact and personal information
Include your name, city and state, phone, professional email and a LinkedIn profile or professional website. You may omit your full street address if you prefer privacy.
2. Objective statement (optional)
Write one or two tailored sentences that highlight your scope, interests and the value you bring to the organization. If you skip the summary on the CV, include a version in your cover letter.
3. Education
List your education in reverse chronological order and include the institution, degree, location and graduation year.
4. Internships, residencies, fellowships
Include the organization, location, specialty, dates and any leadership roles.
5. Board certification, specialty, and licenses
List your board certification and the states where you hold an active license. Do not include license numbers.
6. Professional experience
Start with your current role and work backward. List experiences relevant to medicine or those that show your range of expertise. For each role, include the following in the order listed:
Position title
Organization name and address
Dates of employment
Short, one-sentence description of the scope followed by two to four impact bullets (full sentences), describing the scale, skills and outcomes
7. Publications, presentations and other activities
Use a consistent citation style and separate peer-reviewed publications, abstracts, posters and invited talks. Include titles, event names, dates, locations and identifiers when available.
8. Professional memberships, awards and honors
List organization names, your years of membership and any leadership roles you hold or have held. Include award names, the granting organization and the date of the award.
9. Extracurricular activities and interests (optional)
Include activities that demonstrate leadership, communication or collaboration.
Do not include your Social Security number, date of birth, photo, marital status or license numbers.
CV formatting tips
The goal is to keep your CV error-free, uncluttered and consistent. It is a good idea to have a colleague proofread it before sharing it with potential employers.
Tips and tricks
Use a simple, professional font between 10 and 12 points. This improves readability on screens and printouts.
Keep margins between 0.5 and 1 inch. This creates breathing room and keeps lines from feeling crowded.
Use a single-column layout to improve readability for application tracking systems. This helps ensure your content parses correctly.
Add a name header and page number on all pages, such as “First Last | Page 2.” This prevents pages from getting separated.
Place the title, organization and location on the left, and the dates on the right. This makes scanning timelines easier.
Keep layout, spacing and structure consistent across sections. Consistency helps reviewers find what they need quickly.
Use parallel structure in lists, and write all bullets as complete sentences. Clarity and consistency reflect well on your attention to detail.
Use present tense for your current role and past tense for previous roles. Consistent tense makes your experience easier to read.
Free CV review and matching services
Once your CV is drafted, use the AAFP CareerLink for a free professional CV review and confidential matching with potential employers. Create an account to upload your CV, receive jobs aligned with your skills and interests and keep your personal contact information private from recruiters and employers.
Download free physician CV templates
AAFP members can download free, custom templates created for family physicians by hiring and recruitment experts.
Resident/new physician CV template
Experienced practicing physician CV template
Academic physician CV template
Use these quick links to compare compensation and find your next role.
Frequently asked questions
A physician CV is a detailed document highlighting educational background, professional experience, publications and certifications, typically longer than a resume, which is concise and tailored for specific job applications.
Key sections include contact information, education, internships/residencies, board certification, professional experience, publications, memberships, awards and optional extracurricular activities.
Use a clean, professional font, consistent layout and plenty of white space. Include headers with clear section titles. Place dates aligned to the right and use bullet points for duties.
Objective statements are optional but can be included to tailor your CV to the prospective employer’s needs. If omitted, include your objectives in the cover letter.
List board certifications, specialties and states where you are licensed without including license numbers, typically in a dedicated section.
Include position title, organization name and address, dates of employment and a brief description of duties, focusing on relevance to family medicine.
Yes, including relevant extracurricular activities can demonstrate leadership, communication and collaboration skills, helping to show your fit for the organization.
AAFP offers free downloadable CV templates designed by recruitment experts specifically for family physicians at various career stages.
AAFP CareerLink provides free professional CV review services and confidential job matching to help you improve your CV and find suitable employment.
Avoid spelling and grammar errors, inconsistent formatting, cluttered layout and irrelevant personal information. Proofread carefully and maintain professionalism.