What is a curriculum vitae and how do I write one?

I have been asked to create one for my nursing course.


Answer

What is a curriculum vitae?

A curriculum vitae (CV) is a a detailed and comprehensive account of your credentials, expertise, and accomplishments.  It summarizes your qualifications and professional journey.

What is the difference between a resume and a CV?

Resume CV
No more than 1-2 pages Can be many pages

Education and employment accomplishments

Include much more information
Used for typical jobs Typically used to apply for academic or scholarly positions

What should I include in my CV?

The most recent information for any of these sections should be listed first.

  • Personal information
    • Name 
    • Contact information
  • Credentials
    • Highest earned degree
    • Licensure
    • Any state-level designation for advanced practice
    • Professional certifications 
    • Fellowships
    • Honorary credentials
  • Education
    • Academic degrees earned by year and institution (list the last degree you earned first and your first degree last).  Include the areas of study and any academic distinctions earned)
    • Do not include a GPA
  • Current Licensure and Certifications
    • Non-academic licenses like state and professional certifications
    • No numbers are needed
  • Honors and Awards
    • List the name of the award, the year it was earned, the awarding organization, and the location
    • If it is not a well-known organization or award, provide a brief summary of the organization and award
  • Career Experiences
    • Teaching experiences
      • List courses taught including course name and number, year taught, program, credits, and level
      • Limit this list to a certain time period if you teach every semester
    • Research experience
      • List each study by year, your role, name of the study, and location
      • Include information relevant to the grant provided for you to conduct the research
    • Clinical experience
      • List clinical job experiences
      • Include years, job title, type of care
  • Publications
    • Include all publications in this section
    • Use an APA citation for each publication
  • Presentations
    • List each presentation by date, title, location, and type
    • Include the scope of the presentation (local, national, international)
  • Service/Professional Memberships

Do you have any other resources I can use to write my CV?

References

Kawar, L., Dunbar, G, & Scruth, E.A. (2017). Creating a credible and ethical curriculum vitae. Clinical Nurse Specialist, 31(6), 298-303. https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=ip,shib&db=rzh&AN=125838633&site=eds-live&custid=s9076023

  • Last Updated Dec 14, 2023
  • Views 367
  • Answered By Jessica Koltz

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