Hospital systems and large healthcare groups screen PA applications through Workday and Taleo before a recruiter reads them. The right credential, EHR, and procedure keywords are what get you through. Here is the full list.
Analyze My PA Resume (Free) →ATS scans for "PA-C" and "NCCPA" as distinct strings. Mentioning one without the other misses half the credential keyword matches.
Every PA uses an EHR. If the job is at an Epic shop and your resume says "EHR" instead of "Epic," you score zero for the platform keyword match.
Naming procedures is necessary but not differentiating. "Performed laceration repairs" matches the keyword; "performed 400+ procedures annually" tells the recruiter your credentialing depth.
"Jane Smith, PA-C" in the name field, then NCCPA + BLS/ACLS listed explicitly in a Certifications section — captures all credential keywords in the two locations ATS parses first.
"Managed patient documentation in Epic across 22-bed hospitalist unit." Product name + context = both the keyword match and a practice environment signal.
"History and physical," "differential diagnosis," "diagnostic workup" — the exact phrases job descriptions use. Not "evaluated patients."
72 terms drawn from active PA job postings across emergency medicine, hospitalist, surgery, and primary care settings.
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Real examples of how keyword gaps cost candidates interviews
Evaluated and treated patients in a busy emergency department setting
Managed 28–34 patients/shift in Level II trauma ED; performed history and physical examination, ordered and interpreted diagnostic workup (CBC, BMP, CT, X-ray), formulated differential diagnosis, and initiated evidence-based treatment plans — maintained door-to-provider time under 18 minutes, 97th percentile for department
Performed various clinical procedures and assisted with surgeries
Performed 400+ independent clinical procedures annually including laceration repair (suturing, stapling), incision and drainage, joint aspiration, splinting, and casting; assisted in 150+ orthopedic surgical cases (arthroplasty, arthroscopy, ORIF) — zero procedure-related adverse events across 24-month credentialing period
Worked with a team of physicians and nurses to provide patient care and improve outcomes
Led interprofessional care coordination across 22-bed hospitalist unit (Epic EHR); collaborated with attending physicians, nursing staff, and case management on discharge planning and care transitions — reduced average LOS 0.6 days and achieved 89% patient satisfaction score (vs 74% unit baseline)
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ATS systems parse the header first. "Jane Smith, PA-C" in the name field captures the credential keyword before the system even reads your experience section.
"Managed patient documentation in Epic" scores the Epic keyword. "Used electronic health records" scores nothing — it matches the concept, not the product name ATS is scanning for.
"Performed 400+ procedures annually" is both a keyword match and a credibility signal to the human reviewer. Most PA resumes name procedures without volume — adding the number differentiates you.
They are different keyword strings. List the NCCPA certification and any CAQ (Emergency Medicine, Orthopaedic Surgery, etc.) in separate lines in your Certifications section.
"BLS, ACLS, ATLS, PALS" buried in a paragraph score lower than a standalone Certifications section. ATS parsers weight named sections more heavily.
"Managed 28–34 patients/shift in Level II trauma ED" tells ATS and recruiters your practice environment at a glance. Acuity and volume numbers are among the most-read signals on PA resumes.
Large hospital systems and health networks — HCA Healthcare, CommonSpirit, Ascension, Kaiser, Mayo Clinic — run PA applications through Workday or Taleo before a recruiter or physician leader reviews them. Here is what their scoring logic looks for in the PA-specific keyword clusters.
ATS systems at regulated healthcare employers are configured to scan for PA-C, NCCPA certification, DEA license number presence, and state licensure as mandatory fields. Missing any of these from the resume text — not just the application form — can drop your score below the review threshold.
Healthcare hiring managers configure ATS to weight the specific EHR system the department uses. An Epic hospital will rank resumes mentioning Epic higher than equivalent candidates who say "EHR proficient." Find out which system the employer uses and name it explicitly.
A PA applying to an orthopaedic surgery role needs different keywords than one applying to emergency medicine. ORIF, arthroplasty, and arthroscopy score for ortho. ATLS, trauma assessment, and TNCC score for ED. Tailor your keyword set to the specific specialty in each application.
The most common failure mode is a generic PA resume submitted to multiple specialties with no keyword tailoring. A resume that passes ATS for a hospitalist role may score below 40% for an orthopaedic surgery PA posting — even if the candidate is clinically qualified for both.
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The highest-value clusters are: credentials (PA-C, NCCPA, PANCE, CAQ, DEA license), EHR systems (Epic, Cerner, MEDITECH, Athenahealth), clinical skills (history and physical, differential diagnosis, diagnostic workup, evidence-based medicine), procedures (suturing, laceration repair, joint aspiration, splinting), certifications (BLS, ACLS, ATLS), and specialty-specific terms for your practice area.
Use a single-column plain-text format. List PA-C immediately after your name. Include a dedicated Certifications section with BLS, ACLS, and any specialty certs listed explicitly. Name your EHR system in experience bullets. Use standard section headings — "Clinical Experience," "Certifications," "Education" — not custom variants that confuse parsers.
"PA-C" and "NCCPA" are different keyword strings to ATS systems. List both: "Jane Smith, PA-C" in the header, and "NCCPA certified" in your Certifications section. The same applies to subspecialty CAQs — list each by its full name and abbreviation.
Aim for 70% or above for roles at hospital systems using Workday or Taleo. For competitive academic medical centre postings, 75–80% is a safer target. Check your score free at resume.zoevera.com — paste your resume and any PA job description, no signup needed.
List every independent procedure you are credentialed for by name: suturing, laceration repair, stapling, incision and drainage (I&D), joint aspiration, splinting, casting, venipuncture, Foley catheter insertion, lumbar puncture, and any specialty-specific procedures (POCUS, fracture reduction, endoscopy assist). Add annual volume where possible — "400+ procedures annually" is a credentialing-depth signal.
APRN, FNP-C, AANP, ANCC, prescriptive authority, Epic, DEA license, and specialty NP credential keywords
RN, NCLEX, BLS, clinical skills, and EPR keywords
DPT, OCS, manual therapy, WebPT, functional assessment, outcome measures, and PT specialty keywords
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