Medicine (doctors) CV guide
Put your medical registration and licence number near the top. List rotations with specialty, grade, hospital and dates.
Build a doctor CVYour first CV is free. The builder applies these rules and checks your CV before you download it.
Sections to include
| Section (in this order) | How important |
|---|---|
| Profile | Recommended |
| Registration & licences | Expected |
| Experience | Expected |
| Education | Expected |
| Courses & CPD | Recommended |
| Clinical skills | Recommended |
| Publications & presentations | Recommended |
| References | Recommended |
Key facts
- In the EU, doctors' basic medical qualifications listed in Directive 2005/36/EC are recognised automatically across member states. Source: employment-social-affairs.ec.europa.eu
- Doctors in the United Kingdom need registration with a licence to practise from the General Medical Council (GMC). Source: gmc-uk.org
- Medical licensure in the United States requires passing the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE); licences are issued by state medical boards. Source: usmle.org
- In Canada, doctors are licensed by a provincial or territorial College of Physicians and Surgeons; the Medical Council of Canada grants the Licentiate (LMCC). Source: mcc.ca
- Doctors in Australia must be registered with the Medical Board of Australia through Ahpra. Source: ahpra.gov.au
Facts checked 2026-10-15.
Tips
- Put your medical registration and licence number near the top.
- List rotations with specialty, grade, hospital and dates.
- Audit, QI, teaching and research are expected even at junior level.
- Life-support courses (BLS/ALS/ATLS/APLS) belong under courses.
- Postgraduate exams (e.g. MRCP, USMLE steps, FRACP) go under education with the date passed.
- Add a teaching line under each post, or list teaching under projects.
Registration by country
Regulated jobs need the local registration or licence on the CV, or a note that the application is in progress. Confirm current requirements with the regulator.
| Country | Profession | Registration or licence |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Doctors | GMC registration with a licence to practise |
| United States | Doctors | State medical licence; USMLE and (for IMGs) ECFMG certification |
| Canada | Doctors | Provincial College of Physicians and Surgeons licence; MCCQE Part I and LMCC (Part II ended in 2021) |
| Australia | Doctors | AHPRA registration (Medical Board of Australia) |
| New Zealand | Doctors | Medical Council of New Zealand registration |
| Ireland | Doctors | Irish Medical Council registration |
| Germany | Doctors | Approbation (or Berufserlaubnis) and Ärztekammer membership |
| Austria | Doctors | Österreichische Ärztekammer registration |
| Switzerland | Doctors | MEBEKO recognition and MedReg entry |
| Netherlands | Doctors | BIG register entry |
| France | Doctors | Ordre des médecins registration |
| Sweden | Doctors | Socialstyrelsen licence (legitimation) |
| Norway | Doctors | Helsedirektoratet authorisation (HPR number) |
| United Arab Emirates | Doctors | DHA (Dubai), DOH (Abu Dhabi), Sharjah Health Authority or MOHAP licence, or eligibility letter |
| Saudi Arabia | Doctors | Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS) classification and registration (Mumaris Plus) |
| Qatar | Doctors | Department of Healthcare Professions (DHP, formerly QCHP), Ministry of Public Health |
| Kuwait | Doctors | Kuwait Ministry of Health licence (Medical License Department) |
| Oman | Doctors | Oman Ministry of Health licence (after the OMSB occupational classification exam) |
| Singapore | Doctors | Singapore Medical Council registration |
| Japan | Doctors | Japanese medical licence (医師免許) |
| United Kingdom | Physician associates | GMC registration (physician associate; regulated since 13 December 2024, compulsory from December 2026) |
| United States | Physician associates | NCCPA certification and state licence |
Doctor CVs by country
- Doctor CV for the United Kingdom
- Doctor CV for the United States
- Doctor CV for Canada
- Doctor CV for Australia
- Doctor CV for New Zealand
- Doctor CV for Ireland
- Doctor CV for Germany
- Doctor CV for Austria
- Doctor CV for Switzerland
- Doctor CV for the Netherlands
- Doctor CV for France
- Doctor CV for Sweden
- Doctor CV for Norway
- Doctor CV for the United Arab Emirates
- Doctor CV for Saudi Arabia
- Doctor CV for Qatar
- Doctor CV for Kuwait
- Doctor CV for Oman
- Doctor CV for Singapore
- Doctor CV for Japan
Questions
What should a doctor CV include?
A doctor CV needs your contact details, experience, education and registration and licences, and usually profile, clinical skills, publications and presentations, courses and CPD and references. Lead with what employers in this field check first, and back it up with specific examples. Put your medical registration and licence number near the top. The CV Atlas readiness check flags anything this field expects that your CV is missing.
What order should the sections of a doctor CV be in?
Use this order for a doctor CV: Profile, Registration & licences, Experience, Education, Courses & CPD, Clinical skills and Publications & presentations. Put the most important evidence for this field near the top, and list entries within each section with the most recent first. Contact details and your name always come first, in the header. Some countries change the order, for example Japan lists history oldest first, and CV Atlas applies that automatically.
How long should a doctor CV be?
There is no strict page limit for a doctor CV. Academic and clinical CVs list publications, research, courses and posts in full, so four pages or more is normal for experienced applicants. Keep the layout consistent, and put the strongest evidence for the role on the first page. In the US and Canada this longer document is called a curriculum vitae rather than a résumé.
Do doctors need to put their registration on their CV?
Yes. Doctors should show their medical registration or licence (number and status), or that an application is in progress near the top of the CV, in its own section, with the registering body and status. If you are still applying, list it with the status “In progress” so employers can see where you stand. The body depends on the country. Confirm current requirements with the regulator before applying; CV Atlas names the usual body for the main destination countries.
How do I make a doctor CV stand out?
List rotations with specialty, grade, hospital and dates. Audit, QI, teaching and research are expected even at junior level. Be specific: name the systems, settings and results, start each bullet with a verb, and keep it to one line where you can. Show the scale of your work with numbers where it helps. Tailor the first lines of your profile and each role to the job advert.
Which jobs does the doctor CV guide cover?
This guide covers 39 job titles, including Doctor, General practitioner, Surgeon, Anaesthetist / anesthesiologist, Emergency medicine physician, Internal medicine physician, Paediatrician and Psychiatrist. They share the same CV structure and checks. If your exact title is not listed, type it into CV Atlas and pick the closest field. Country rules such as photos, length and references are added on top when you choose where you are applying.
Jobs this guide covers
Doctor (physician) · General practitioner (family physician) · Surgeon · Anaesthetist / anesthesiologist · Emergency medicine physician · Internal medicine physician · Paediatrician · Psychiatrist · Obstetrician and gynaecologist · Radiologist · Pathologist · Cardiologist · Dermatologist · Oncologist · Neurologist · Ophthalmologist · Orthopaedic surgeon · ENT surgeon · Intensive care physician · Junior doctor / resident · Foundation doctor / intern · Specialty registrar / fellow · Consultant physician · Locum doctor · Medical officer · Public health physician · Sports medicine physician · Geriatrician · Plastic surgeon · Urologist · Gastroenterologist · Endocrinologist · Rheumatologist · Nephrologist · Pulmonologist / respiratory physician · Haematologist · Infectious disease physician · Medical director · Physician associate / assistant
Country guides
Photo, date of birth, length and paper size change by country. Start with United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Netherlands, or see all 200 countries.
Open the builderYour first CV is free. The builder applies these rules and checks your CV before you download it.
Guidance checked October 2026; facts checked 2026-10-15. General information for most employers, not legal or immigration advice. A job advert’s own instructions always come first. CV Atlas is not affiliated with any regulator or professional body named.