What Is a PA School Letter of Recommendation?
A PA school letter of recommendation (LoR) supports a candidate’s admission to a physician assistant school. It highlights the candidate’s clinical experiences to show their readiness. It can also cover the candidate’s qualities to show alignment with the PA program’s values.
The candidate will ask someone familiar with their work ethic and educational background to write the letter. This way, the author can talk about their strengths accurately.
PA School LoR vs. Committee Letter
A PA school LoR comes from an individual who knows the applicant. A committee letter comes from the applicant’s undergraduate school. An endorsing body combines individual LoRs, academic history, and other elements into one letter. It creates a cohesive narrative for PA schools to evaluate.
Who Can Write a PA School Letter of Recommendation?
Applicants may wonder who to ask for a PA school letter of recommendation. Their first point of reference should be the school’s requirements. Some schools have strict requirements or preferences for applicants to follow. For example:
- University of Dayton requires three letters: One from a physician or PA, one from a recent college professor or advisor, and one from a supervisor in the health care industry.
- Berry College requires three letters: One from a PA, one from a professor or supervisor, and one from a healthcare professional.
- West Virginia University requires three letters: One from a professor, one from a clinical supervisor, and one more from either of the two previous categories.
Most PA schools require at least three LoRs, but some may allow or ask for more. LoR requirements for many PA schools are available on the PA Education Association’s website.
Some schools don’t list requirements or preferences. In this case, applicants may ask the following individuals to write their letters:
- Physician assistants
- Physicians
- Nurse practitioners
- Volunteer supervisors
- Professors
- Research supervisors
- Anyone who has interacted with the applicant in an academic or professional setting
How to Write a Letter of Recommendation for PA School
When an applicant needs you to write a letter of recommendation for PA school, they will likely send you a request via the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA). This system allows for easy uploading and distribution of your letter to the applicant’s choice of schools.
Follow these steps to write your PA LoR and prepare it for submission via the CASPA.
Step 1 – Introduce Yourself & Purpose for Writing
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. You can also state your endorsement, making it clear that you recommend them for admission into a PA program.
Step 2 – Discuss the Candidate’s Strengths
In the body of your letter, focus on specific qualities to highlight the applicant’s fit for PA schools. Each paragraph should begin with a topic sentence that mentions one of the applicant’s strengths. Then, follow it with a concrete example that emphasizes this quality.
Admissions committees are not just looking for academic excellence and clinical skills in applicants. They are also seeking individuals with strong character. Highlighting personal stories that show the applicant’s resilience and compassion can impact their application.
If you want guidance on what traits to cover, review some of the core competencies from the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA). They divide key criteria into the following seven categories:
- Knowledge for practice
- Interpersonal and communication skills
- Person-centered care
- Interprofessional collaboration
- Professionalism and ethics
- Practice-based learning and quality improvement
- Society and population health
These categories are just a place to start. You can review the AAPA’s competencies in more depth to find specific talking points.
Step 3 – Mention Other Accomplishments
You can also list other accomplishments that the applicant made outside of your perspective of them. For example, if you’re a professor or clinical supervisor, you may discuss their volunteer work or participation in extracurricular activities. These outside activities can inform an admissions committee about the applicant’s wider community impact.
Step 4 – Finalize Your Letter
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 more information.
Step 5 – Submit the Letter through CASPA
Once you write your letter, ensure it is submitted according to the CASPA application guidelines. An applicant can waive their right to read your letter under FERPA, which can increase its legitimacy and show integrity.
PA School Letter of Recommendation Example
Here’s an example of a letter of recommendation for PA school from a clinical supervisor. It’s based on Legal Templates’s form, so yours can look similar but contain details specific to your recommendation.
Dr. Melissa Carter, DNP, RN
Sunrise Community Hospital
123 Wellness Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89109
[email protected]
(702) 555-2398October 29, 2025
Dear Members of the Admissions Committee,
I am writing to enthusiastically recommend Alexis Nguyen for admission to the Physician Assistant Program at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine. Having had the pleasure of engaging with Alexis as her clinical supervisor for two years at Sunrise Community Hospital, I have been impressed by her commitment to achieving and maintaining a high standard in all endeavors. This positions me well to attest to her suitability for this application.
During her tenure in healthcare as a Certified Nursing Assistant, Alexis has consistently demonstrated cultural humility. A notable achievement was her commitment to supporting non-English-speaking patients by ensuring clear communication and understanding during care, often taking extra time to coordinate with interpreters or bilingual staff. As a result, patients from diverse backgrounds consistently reported feeling seen, heard, and respected under Alexis’s care.
Moreover, Alexis has shown effective advocacy for patients through her involvement in developing a patient feedback initiative that helped staff better understand preferences in care routines. Because of this, our unit saw a measurable increase in patient satisfaction and improved trust between patients and caregivers.
Beyond Alexis’s accomplishments in direct patient care, she has made significant contributions to community health outreach efforts that focused on preventive education in underserved neighborhoods. Time and time again, she has shown her dedication to equitable healthcare and compassionate leadership. Through these contributions, Alexis has demonstrated a deep understanding of the social factors affecting patient health and the ability to advocate effectively within the healthcare system.
To conclude, I am confident in recommending Alexis for the Physician Assistant Program. I have no doubt that she 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 Alexis’s journey further. I can be reached at [email protected].
Sincerely,
Dr. Melissa Carter, DNP, RN
Clinical Supervisor, Sunrise Community Hospital
PA School Letter of Recommendation Sample
View a free sample of a PA school letter of recommendation to understand how to phrase your endorsement. Write your own using our guided form, then download it in PDF or Word format.
