DO:
Doctor of Optometry
(also OD)
DO: Doctor of Osteopathy
DN: Doctor of Nursing
DNE: Doctor of Nursing Education
DNS or DNSc: Doctor of Nursing Science
DNC: Dermatology Nurse Certified
By: the Dermatology Nurses' Association (DNA)
DON: Director of Nursing
DOS or DOSc: Doctor of Ocular Science
DOS or DOSc: Doctor of Optical Science
DP: Doctor of Pharmacy
(also PharmD and PD)
DP: Doctor of Podiatry
(also DPM)
DPH: Doctor of Public Health
DPH: Doctor of Public Hygiene
(also DrPH)
DPhC: Doctor of Pharmaceutical Chemistry
DPHN: Doctor of Public Health Nursing
DPM: Doctor of Podiatric Medicine
(also DP)
DPM: Doctor of Physical Medicine
DPM: Doctor of Preventive Medicine
DPM: Doctor of Psychiatric Medicine
DrMed: Doctor of Medicine
(also MD) NOTE: in some areas, the degree of "Doctor of Medicine" is a
higher doctorate than "MD," reserved for those who have contributed
significantly to the study of medicine
DrPH: Doctor of Public Health
DrPH: Doctor of Public Hygiene
(also DPH)
DSc: Doctor of Science
DVM: Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
DVMS: Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and
Surgery
DVR: Doctor of Veterinary Radiology
DVS or DVSc: Doctor of Veterinary Science E
EdD: Doctor
of Education
ENPC: Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course
(16-hour post-RN course)
By: the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN)
ET: Enterostomal Therapist
Specialties include:
ET(CWOCN)
Certified Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurse
ET(COCN)
Certified Ostomy Care Nurse
By: the Wound Ostomy Continence Nursing Certification Board (WOCNCB)
F
FAAN: Fellow
of the American Academy of Nursing
FACAAI: Fellow of the American College of
Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
FACC: Fellow of the American College of
Cardiology
FACD: Fellow of the American College of
Dentists
FAAFP: Fellow of the American Academy of
Family Physicians
FACG: Fellow of the American College of
Gastroenterology
FACOG: Fellow of the American College of
Obstetricians and Gynecologists
FACP: Fellow of the American College of
Physicians
FACPM: Fellow of the American College of
Preventive Medicine
FACS: Fellow of the American College of
Surgeons
FACSM: Fellow of the American College of
Sports Medicine
FAMA: Fellow of the American Medical
Association
FAOTA: Fellow of the American Occupational
Therapy Association
FAPA: Fellow of the American Psychiatric
Association
FAPHA: Fellow of the American Public Health
Association
FCAP: Fellow of the College of American
Pathologists
FCCP: Fellow of the American College of
Chest Physicians
FCPS: Fellow of the College of Physicians
and Surgeons
FDS: Fellow in Dental Surgery
FNP: Family Nurse Practitioner - a job title
or an acronym for a program name (FNP Program)
Credentials:
APRN,BC By:
the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
NP-C By: the
American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)
G
GNP:
Gerontological Nurse Practitioner - a job title or an acronym for a program name (GNP
Program)
Credentials: APRN,BC
By: the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
GP: General Practitioner - a title, not a
credential
H
H(ASCP):
Medical Technologist in Hematology
By: the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Registry
HP(ASCP): Hemapheresis Practitioner
By: the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Registry
HT(ASCP): Histotechnician
By: the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Registry
HTL(ASCP): Histotechnologist
By: the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Registry
HNC: Certified Holistic Nurse
By: the American Holistic Nurses Association (AHNA)
HNC: Hyperbaric Nurse Clinician
By: the Baromedical Nurses Association (BNA)
J
JD: Doctor of
Jurisprudence (Doctor of Laws)
L
LNCC: Legal
Nurse Consultant Certified
By: the American Legal Nurse Consultant Certification Board (ALNCCB)
LPN: Licensed Practical Nurse (also known as
an LVN)
A graduate from a one-year diploma/certificate program at a vocational/technical school
LPN, CLTC: Licensed Practical Nurse -
Certified in Long-Term Care
By: the National Association for Practical Nurse Education & Service, Inc. (NAPNES)
LPN, NCP: Licensed Practical Nurse -
Certified in Pharmacology
By: the National Association for Practical Nurse Education & Service, Inc. (NAPNES)
LVN: Licensed Vocational Nurse (also known
as an LPN)
A graduate from a (usually) one-year diploma/certificate program at a vocational/technical
school
LVN, CLTC: Licensed Vocational Nurse -
Certified in Long-Term Care
By: the National Association for Practical Nurse Education & Service, Inc. (NAPNES)
LVN, NCP: Licensed Vocational Nurse -
Certified in Pharmacology
By: the National Association for Practical Nurse Education & Service, Inc. (NAPNES)
M
MA: Master of
Arts
M(ASCP): Medical Technologist in
Microbiology
certified by the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Registry
MB: Bachelor of Medicine
(also BM, BMed, CB, ChB, MBChB, BM ChB)
MBBS: Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of
Surgery
MBChB: Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of
Surgery
Usually a 5-year degree
MC: Master of Surgery
(also ChM, CM, MS)
MCPS: Member of the College of Physicians
and Surgeons
MD: Doctor of Medicine
(also DrMed)
MDentSc: Master of Dental Science
(also MScD)
MDS: Master of Dental Surgery
MLT: Medical Laboratory Technician
MLT(ASCP): Medical Laboratory Technician
By: the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Registry
MN: Master of Nursing
(also MScN or MSN)
MPh: Master of Pharmacy
(also MPharm)
MP(ASCP): Medical Technologist in Molecular
Pathology
By: the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Registry
MPharm: Master of Pharmacy
(also MPh)
MRad: Master of Radiology
MRL: Medical Records Librarian
MS: Master of Surgery
(also ChM, CM, MC)
MS or MSc: Master of Science
MScD: Master of Dental Science
(also MDentSc)
MScN or MSN: Master of Science in Nursing
(also MN)
MSPh, MScPh, MSPharm, or MScPharm: Master of
Science in Pharmacy
MSW: Master of Science in Social Work
Most states require social workers to pass a licensing exam
MT: Medical Technologist
MT(ASCP): Medical Technologist
By: the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Registry
MVD: Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
N
NCT: Nuclear
Cardiology Technologist
By: the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (NMTCB)
ND: Doctor of Nursing
ND: Doctor of Naturopathy
NMT: Nuclear Medicine Technologist
NP: Nurse Practitioner - a job title or an
acronym for a program name (NP Program)
Credentials: Usually by:
the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)
NP-C: A credential for nurse practitioners
in all specialties
By: the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) Certification Program
O
OCN: Oncology
Certified Nurse
By: the Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONCC)
OD: Doctor of Optometry (also DO)
ONC: Orthopedic Nurse Certified
By: the National Association of Orthopedic Nurses' (NAON) Orthopaedic Nurses Certification
Board
OT: Occupational Therapist - job title for
the position of Occupational Therapist, not a credential
OTR / OTReg: Registered Occupational
Therapist
P
PA: Physician
Assistant (licensed) - title for the position of Physician Assistant
Not a credential
PAs are licensed to practice medicine with physician supervision, are able to
diagnose/treat illnesses, perform physicals, order/interpret tests, assist with surgery,
write prescriptions (in most states).
A Physician's Assistant has a Bachelor's degree and four years of healthcare
experience, in addition to the 26 month PA training program
PA-C: Physician Assistant-Certified
By: the National Commission on the Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA)
PCP: Primary Care Physician
Usually designates the position of Primary Care Physician
Not a credential
PD: Doctor of Pharmacy
(also PharmD and DP)
PharmD: Doctor of Pharmacy
(also DP and PD)
PhD: Doctor of Philosophy
PNP: Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - job
title for the position of Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
Not a credential
PT: Physical Therapist or Physiotherapist -
job title for the position of Physical Therapist or Physiotherapist
Not a credential
R
RDA:
Registered Dental Assistant
RDA Level I: Registered Dental Assistant
Level I
In some areas this designates that an individual is registered to perform chairside
assistance and reception duties, but have not completed any intra-oral training
RDA Level II: Registered Dental Assistant
Level II
In some areas this designates that an individual is registered to perform any or all of
the legal intra-oral duties after completion of an in-school formal training program
RDCS: Registered Diagnostic Cardiac
Sonographer
By: the American Association of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS)
RDMS: Registered Diagnostic Medical
Sonographer
By: the American Association of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS)
RMA: Registered Medical Assistant
A non-licensed healthcare worker performing clerical, administrative, and basic clinical
support to doctors
Designates the credential earned after completing a medical assistant program (either a
one-year certificate or diploma program, or a two-year Associate's degree)
(also CMA)
RN: Registered Nurse
RN,BC or RN, BC: A basic certification for
baccalaureate (or higher) nurses
By: the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
RN,C or RN, C: A certification for Associate
degree or diploma nurses
By: the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
RNA: Registered Nurse Anesthetist
RNA: Registered Nursing Assistant
RNC: Various nursing specialists including
Women's Health Care Nurse Practitioner and Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
The following specialists also receive "RNC"
credential, but includes the
additional letters, as indicated:
RNC(INPT)
Inpatient Obstetric Nursing
RNC(MN)
Maternal Newborn Nursing
RNC(LRN) Low
Risk Neonatal Nursing
RNC(NIC)
Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing
RNC(TNP)
Telephone Nursing Practice
By: the National Certification Corporation (NCC)
ROUB: Registered Ophthalmic Ultrasound
Biometrist
By: the American Association of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS)
RPh: Registered Pharmacist
RPFT: Registered Pulmonary Function
Technologist
By the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC)
RPT: Registered Physical Therapist or
Registered Physiotherapist
RRA: Registered Record Librarian or
Registered Records Librarian
RRT: Registered Respiratory Therapist
By the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC)
RT: Respiratory Therapist or Radiological
Technologist - usually a job title for the positions Not a credential
RTN(ARRT): Registered Nuclear Medicine
Technologist
By the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT)
RTR(ARRT): Registered Radiography
Technologist
By: the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT)
RTT(ARRT): Registered Radiation Therapist
By the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT)
RVT: Registered Vascular Technologist
By: the American Association of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS)
S
SBB(ASCP):
Specialist in Blood Banking
By: the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Registry
SC(ASCP): Specialist in Chemistry
By: the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Registry
SCT(ASCP): Specialist in Cytotechnology
By: the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Registry
SH(ASCP): Specialist in Hematology
By: the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Registry
SLS(ASCP): Specialist in Laboratory Safety
By: the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Registry
SM(ASCP): Specialist in Microbiology
By: the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Registry
SV(ASCP): Specialist in Virology
By: the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Registry
SW: Social Worker - job title for the
position of Social Worker
Not a credential
T
TNCC: Trauma
Nursing Core Course
A 16 to 20 hour post-RN course
By: the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN)
V
VT:
Veterinary Technician |
