diff --git a/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md b/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
index 4949e777..b3c1c40f 100644
--- a/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
+++ b/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
@@ -1,10 +1,27 @@
-**Related issue**: <!-- if applicable -->
+**Related PRs / Issues **:
+<!-- List any related PRs/issues here, if applicable -->
 
 <!-- choose one -->
-**Type of change**: bug fix | new feature | other enhancement
+**Type of change**:
+- [ ] Bug fix
+- [ ] New feature
+- [ ] Other enhancement
 
 <!-- choose one -->
-**Impact**: rtl change | software change | unknown | other
+**Impact**:
+- [ ] RTL change
+- [ ] Software change (RISC-V software)
+- [ ] Build system change
+- [ ] Other
+
+<!-- must be filled out completely to be considered for merging -->
+**Contributor Checklist**:
+- [ ] Did you set `dev` as the base branch?
+- [ ] Did you delete any extraneous prints/debugging code?
+- [ ] (If applicable) Did you add documentation for the feature?
+- [ ] (If applicable) Did you add a test demonstrating the PR?
+<!-- Do this if this PR is a bug fix that should be applied to master -->
+- [ ] (If applicable) Did you mark the PR as "Please Backport"?
 
 **Release Notes**
 <!-- Text from here to the end of the body will be considered for inclusion in the release notes for the version containing this pull request. -->