NHS CV Template: Free Layout and 6 Examples by Band
By Mustafa Tarabya, founder of CVBooster · Published · Updated
7 min read
An NHS CV template is a two page CV in reverse chronological order with your professional registration at the top, a short profile that names the band and role, and experience bullets that show patient care, safety and the NHS values in action. The one constraint: most NHS posts are applied for through an application form with supporting information, so a CV is usually for bank and agency work, some senior and medical roles, and recruiters who ask for one. NHS recruitment is values based; NHS Employers describes it as recruiting people "whose personal values and behaviours align with those of your organisation." Below is the template, six filled examples by band, and what to change for each staff group. Written by Mustafa Tarabya, who hired for his own company, read every application himself and now writes CVBooster's guides.
NHS application forms have a way of asking for the same information three times in slightly different boxes. A good NHS CV is the one place where you get to say it once, in the right order.
The NHS CV template: section order
Use this order and keep it to two pages:
- Name and contact details. Phone, email, town. No photo, no date of birth.
- Professional registration. NMC PIN, HCPC number or GMC number with expiry or revalidation date.
- Profile. Three or four lines naming your role, band, setting and strongest clinical skills.
- Experience. Reverse chronological. Ward, department or service, band, dates, then bullets.
- Education and qualifications. Degree, diploma or Care Certificate with dates.
- Training and mandatory courses. Life support, safeguarding level, moving and handling.
- Skills. Clinical systems, procedures you are signed off for, languages.
- References. "Available on request" or two named referees, one your current line manager.
Registration matters because the employer will check it. The NMC lets anyone search the register online, and our guide to NMC PIN and HCPC numbers on a CV shows exactly where they go.
NHS CV example: Band 2 and Band 3 healthcare assistant
Band 2: care home assistant applying for a hospital healthcare assistant post (159 words)
AISHA KHAN Leicester | 07700 900123 | aisha.khan@email.com
PROFILE Healthcare assistant with two years in a 50 bed nursing home, applying for a Band 2 HCA post on an acute medical ward. Experienced in personal care, observations, fluid and food charts, and supporting people living with dementia. Care Certificate completed.
EXPERIENCE Care Assistant, Willow Court Nursing Home, March 2024 to present Support twelve residents per shift with personal care, eating, drinking and mobility Record observations, fluid balance and repositioning charts and escalate changes to the nurse in charge Recognised a resident's sudden confusion and reported it; she was assessed by the GP the same day Mentor new care assistants through their first two weeks of shifts
EDUCATION AND TRAINING Care Certificate, 2024 Level 2 Diploma in Care, 2025 Basic life support, moving and handling, safeguarding adults level 2, infection prevention (all in date)
SKILLS Observations, dementia care, end of life care support, electronic care records
REFERENCES Available on request
NHS CV example: Band 5 staff nurse
Band 5: newly qualified nurse applying for a staff nurse post (154 words)
THOMAS REID Bristol | 07700 900456 | thomas.reid@email.com NMC PIN: 24A1234E (registered September 2026)
PROFILE Newly registered adult nurse applying for a Band 5 Staff Nurse post on a surgical ward. Final placement on a 28 bed general surgery ward, managing a bay of six patients under supervision. Confident with post operative care, wound care and IV medication.
CLINICAL PLACEMENTS General surgery ward, Southmead Hospital, final placement, 12 weeks, 2026 Managed a bay of six post operative patients, including drain care and early warning scores Completed medication rounds under supervision, including IV antibiotics Led discharge planning for two patients with complex needs, working with occupational therapy
Community nursing team, 10 weeks, 2025 Wound care, catheter care and diabetes reviews in patients' homes
EDUCATION BSc (Hons) Adult Nursing, University of the West of England, 2026
TRAINING Immediate life support, safeguarding adults and children level 2, venepuncture and cannulation
SKILLS Electronic patient records, NEWS2, aseptic technique
NHS CV example: Band 3 medical secretary
Band 3: legal secretary moving into an NHS medical secretary role (136 words)
EMMA COLLINS Leeds | 07700 900789 | emma.collins@email.com
PROFILE Experienced secretary with six years in a busy law firm, applying for a Band 3 Medical Secretary post. Fast, accurate audio typing, diary management for three partners, and strict handling of confidential documents.
EXPERIENCE Legal Secretary, Hartley and Moore Solicitors, 2020 to present Type correspondence from digital dictation for three partners, around 40 letters a day Manage diaries, court dates and client meetings, keeping a deadline log with no missed dates Handle confidential files under the firm's data protection policy and train new staff on it
Receptionist, dental practice, 2018 to 2020 Booked appointments and handled patient queries by phone and in person
EDUCATION AND TRAINING AMSPAR Certificate in Medical Terminology, 2025 Typing speed 70 words per minute
SKILLS Digital dictation, Microsoft Office, diary management, medical terminology
NHS CV example: Band 6 physiotherapist
Band 6: physiotherapist applying for a specialist musculoskeletal post (111 words)
DANIEL OSEI Manchester | daniel.osei@email.com HCPC registration: PH123456
PROFILE Band 5 physiotherapist with three years of rotational experience, applying for a Band 6 MSK Physiotherapist post. Runs an independent outpatient caseload, supervises students and leads a weekly back pain class.
EXPERIENCE Rotational Physiotherapist (Band 5), Salford Royal, 2023 to present Managed an outpatient MSK caseload of around 12 patients a day, including first contact assessments Set up a weekly group exercise class for lower back pain and audited attendance and outcomes Supervised four physiotherapy students on placement Rotations in respiratory, stroke and orthopaedics
EDUCATION BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy, University of Salford, 2023
TRAINING Injection therapy course, 2026; acupuncture foundation course, 2025
NHS CV example: Band 7 ward manager
Band 7: deputy sister applying for a ward manager post (131 words)
GRACE MENSAH Birmingham | grace.mensah@email.com NMC PIN: 15I5678E
PROFILE Band 6 deputy sister with nine years in acute medicine, applying for a Band 7 Ward Manager post. Leads a team of 30, manages the rota and leads on safety and patient experience for a 30 bed ward.
EXPERIENCE Deputy Sister (Band 6), Acute Medical Unit, 2021 to present Lead shifts of up to 12 staff and act up as ward manager during absence Manage the e-rostering for the ward and reduced agency use by planning bank cover earlier Lead falls prevention work for the ward and present results at the divisional quality meeting Complete appraisals for eight registered nurses
Staff Nurse (Band 5), same unit, 2017 to 2021
EDUCATION BSc (Hons) Adult Nursing, 2017; Postgraduate Certificate in Leadership, 2024
NHS CV example: Band 5 career changer from retail
Band 5: retail manager moving into an NHS patient services manager role (97 words)
LIAM WATSON Newcastle | liam.watson@email.com
PROFILE Retail store manager with eight years leading teams of up to 25, applying for a Band 5 Patient Services Manager post. Strong on rotas, complaints, performance and service standards in a public facing setting.
EXPERIENCE Store Manager, national supermarket, 2019 to present Manage a team of 25 across early, late and weekend shifts Handle escalated customer complaints and write responses within company timescales Improved store audit scores for three years in a row
VOLUNTEERING Hospital volunteer, patient discharge lounge, Saturdays since 2025
EDUCATION Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management, 2023
How to show NHS values on your CV
The NHS Constitution sets out the values every trust recruits against, including "Respect and dignity" and "Compassion". It says: "Respect, dignity, compassion and care should be at the core of how patients and staff are treated". You do not need a values section; you need bullets that show them. "Recognised a resident's sudden confusion and reported it" shows commitment to quality of care better than writing the word "compassionate."
Values carry even more weight in the supporting information on your application form. Our NHS supporting information example shows how to write it against the person specification, and our nursing CV example goes deeper on nursing CVs.
The National Careers Service gives advice that fits every NHS CV: "you could highlight skills you have that they have asked for." Read the person specification and make sure each essential criterion appears somewhere on your CV.
Mistakes on NHS CVs
- Leaving out your registration number or its expiry date.
- Listing mandatory training without dates. Employers want to see it is in date.
- Writing patient details, even first names. Confidentiality applies on your CV too.
- Three pages of duties copied from your job description instead of what you achieved.
- Sending a CV when the advert asks for an application form only.
Frequently asked questions
Does the NHS accept CVs?
Many NHS posts ask for an application form with supporting information, usually through NHS Jobs or Trac, and do not accept a CV in its place. CVs are used for bank and agency work, some senior and medical roles, and recruitment agencies. Always follow what the advert asks for.
How long should an NHS CV be?
Two pages for most roles. Newly qualified staff can fit on one or two pages with placements listed. Senior clinicians and doctors may need more for audits, research and teaching, but put the most relevant experience first so the reader sees it on page one.
What should I put at the top of an NHS CV?
Your name, contact details and professional registration number with its date, then a short profile naming the role and band you are applying for. If you are not in a registered profession, list your key qualification, such as the Care Certificate, in the profile.
How do I write an NHS CV with no NHS experience?
Use the same template and describe your current work in NHS terms: patients or service users, safety, teamwork, confidentiality and recording. Care home, pharmacy, retail and admin experience all transfer. Add any volunteering in a hospital or care setting and the mandatory training you have completed.
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