The cover letter serves several purposes. It introduces you to the review board and allows you to further speak to the themes and criteria for the level you are applying for. Below are some hints from advanced clinicians and clinical scholars to assist you in writing the cover letter.

• Write the cover letter last after you have had a chance to review your portfolio
• Use your cover letter to strengthen your portfolio
• Decide what to address in your cover letter, read through your portfolio. Underline or highlight in different color markers examples that reflect each theme. Are the "colors"equally distributed? If not emphasize the them(s) in your cover letter.

Example #1-

Narrative XXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXX

Letter of Support XXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXX

Green - clinician patient relationship

Blue - clinical knowledge and decision-making

Red - teamwork and collaboration (emphasize this criteria in your cover letter)

Example #2 - Advanced Clinician Cover Letter

• Use the cover letter to add additional patient related stories to your portfolio. Do this by breaking your letter into themes and under each theme write a few sentences on a practice situation that reflects the criteria. If the review board wants more evidence on the criteria they have a natural starting point for the conversation.



• Show the letter - and your entire portfolio - to your manager, clinical specialist, a recognized clinician or someone who knows your practice and the criteria for the level you are applying for. Ask for Feedback.