List of professional designations in the United States
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Many professional designations in the United States take the form of post-nominal letters. Professional societies or educational institutes usually award certifications. Obtaining a certificate is voluntary in some fields, but in others, certification from a government-accredited agency may be legally required to perform specific jobs or tasks.
Organizations in the United States involved in setting standards for certification include the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the Institute for Credentialing Excellence (ICE). Many certification organizations are members of the Association of Test Publishers (ATP).
Accounting and finance
| Name | Post-nominal | Agency |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate in Investment Performance Measurement[1] | CIPM | CFA Institute |
| Chartered Financial Analyst[2] | CFA | |
| Chartered Business Valuator[3] | CBV | CBV Institute |
| Chartered Market Technician[4] | CMT | Market Technicians Association |
| Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst | CAIA | Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst Association |
| Chartered Management Consultant | ChMC | Chartered Institute of Management Consultants |
| Chartered Global Management Accountant | CGMA | American Institute of CPAs and Chartered Institute of Management Accountants |
| Certified Accounts Payable Specialist | CAPS | The Institute of Financial Operations Leadership |
| Certified Accounts Payable Practitioner | CAPP | |
| Certified Public Accountant | CPA | American Institute of CPAs and Chartered Institute of Management Accountants |
| Certified Internal Control Specialist | CICS | Internal Control Institute |
| Certified Internal Control Professional | CICP | Internal Control Institute |
| Certified Financial Planner | CFP | Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards |
| Certified Divorce Financial Analyst | CDFA | Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts |
| Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist | CAMS | Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists |
| Certified Financial Consultant | CFC | Institute of Financial Consultants |
| Certified Credit Union Financial Counselor | CCUFC | Credit Union National Association |
| Chartered Life Underwriter | CLU | American College of Financial Services |
| Certified Fraud Examiner | CFE | Association of Certified Fraud Examiners |
| Certified Internal Auditor | CIA | Institute of Internal Auditors |
| Certification in Risk Management Assurance | CRMA | |
| Certified Government Auditing Professional | CGAP | |
| Certified Payroll Professional | CPP | American Payroll Association |
| Fundamental Payroll Certification | FPC | |
| Certified California Municipal Treasurer | CCMT | California Municipal Treasurers Association |
| Certified Government Financial Manager | CGFM | Association of Government Accountants |
| Certified Government Finance Officer | CGFO | Government Finance Officers Association of Texas |
| Certified Management Accountant | CMA | Institute of Management Accountants |
| Certified MBA™ | MBA+™ | MBA Board of Standards |
| MBA Executive | MBAe™ | MBA Board of Standards |
| Certified Municipal Finance Officer[5] | CMFO | Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury |
| Certified Public Finance Administrator | CPFA | Association of Public Treasurers of the United States and Canada |
| Certified Public Finance Officer | CPFO | Government Finance Officers Association |
| Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter | CPCU | American Institute For Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters |
| Certified Defense Financial Manager | CDFM | Society of Defense Financial Management |
| Communication Management Professional | CMP | Global Communication Certification Council |
| Registered Tax Return Preparer | RTRP | Internal Revenue Service |
| Enrolled Agent | EA | |
| Fraternal Insurance Counselor Fellow | FICF | National Association of Fraternal Insurance Counselors |
| Fraternal Insurance Counselor | FIC | |
| Certified Corporate FP&A Professional[6] | FP&A | Association for Financial Professionals |
| ISSP Sustainability | ||
| Certified Treasury Professional[7] | CTP | |
| Certified Trust and Financial Advisor | CTFA | American Bankers Association |
| Certified Turnaround Professional[8] | CTP | Turnaround Management Association |
| Registered Financial Planner[9] | RFP | Registered Financial Planners Institute |
| Financial Risk Manager | FRM | Global Association of Risk Professionals |
| Professional Risk Manager | PRM | Professional Risk Managers' International Association |
| Strategic Communication Management Professional | SCMP | Global Communication Certification Council |
| Licensed Public Accountant | LPA | State Board of Accountancy |
| Accredited Business Accountant/Advisor | ABA | Accreditation Council for Accountancy and Taxation |
| Investment Adviser Certified Compliance Professional | IACCP | Investment Adviser Association and National Regulatory Services |
Actuarial
| Name | Post-nominal | Agency |
|---|---|---|
| Associate of the Society of Actuaries | ASA | Society of Actuaries |
| Fellow of the Society of Actuaries | FSA | Society of Actuaries |
| Chartered Enterprise Risk Analyst | CERA | Society of Actuaries |
| Associate of the Casualty Actuarial Society | ACAS | Casualty Actuarial Society |
| Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society | FCAS | Casualty Actuarial Society |
| Member of the American Academy of Actuaries | MAAA | American Academy of Actuaries |
| Associate of the Conference of Consulting Actuaries | ACA | Conference of Consulting Actuaries |
| Fellow of the Conference of Consulting Actuaries | FCA | Conference of Consulting Actuaries |
| Enrolled Actuary | EAc | Joint Board for the Enrollment of Actuaries |
Architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, and planning
| Name | Post-nominal | Agency |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Architect | RA | state licensing board |
| Professional Landscape Architect | PLA | state licensing board |
| Professional Planner | PP | state licensing board (NJ[10]) |
| Registered Interior Designer | RID | state licensing board |
| National Council of Architectural Registration Boards Certified | NCARB | National Council of Architectural Registration Boards |
| National Council for Interior Design Qualification Certified | NCIDQ | National Council for Interior Design Qualification |
| Association of Licensed Architects Member | ALA | Association of Licensed Architects |
| Association of Licensed Architects Fellow | FALA | Association of Licensed Architects |
| American College of Healthcare Architects | ACHA | American College of Healthcare Architects |
| American College of Healthcare Architects Fellow | FACHA | American College of Healthcare Architects |
| American Institute of Architects Member | AIA | American Institute of Architects |
| American Institute of Architects Fellow | FAIA | American Institute of Architects |
| American Society of Interior Designers Member | ASID | American Society of Interior Designers |
| American Society of Interior Designers Fellow | FASID | American Society of Interior Designers |
| Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture Member | CELA | Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture |
| Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture Fellow | FCELA | Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture |
| American Society of Landscape Architects Member | ASLA | American Society of Landscape Architects |
| American Society of Landscape Architects Fellow | FASLA | American Society of Landscape Architects |
| American Institute of Certified Planners Member | AICP | American Institute of Certified Planners |
| American Institute of Certified Planners Fellow | FAICP | American Institute of Certified Planners |
| Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional | LEED AP | U.S. Green Building Council |
| Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Associate | LEED GA | U.S. Green Building Council |
| Construction Specification Institute Member | CSI | Construction Specifications Institute |
| Construction Document Technologist | CDT | Construction Specifications Institute |
| Certified Construction Contract Administrator | CCCA | Construction Specifications Institute |
| Certified Construction Specifier | CCS | Construction Specifications Institute |
| Certified Construction Product Representative | CCPR | Construction Specifications Institute |
Association, credentialing, and not-for-profit management
Broadcast engineering
| Name | Post-nominal |
|---|---|
| Certified Radio Operator | CRO |
| Certified Television Operator | CTO |
| Certified Broadcast Networking Technologist | CBNT |
| Certified Broadcast Technologist | CBT |
| Certified Audio Engineer | CEA |
| Certified Broadcast Television Engineer | CBTE |
| Certified Broadcast Networking Engineer | CBNE |
| Certified Senior Broadcast Radio Engineer | CSRE |
| Certified Senior Broadcast Television Engineer | CSTE |
| Certified Professional Broadcast Engineer | CPBE |
| Certified 8-VSB Specialist | 8-VSB |
| Certified AM Directional Specialist | AMD |
| Certified Digital Radio Broadcast Specialist | DRB |
| Certified Senior Broadcast Engineer | CSBE |
| Certified Radio and Television Broadcast Engineer | CBRTE |
| Certified Senior Radio and Television Broadcast Engineer | CSRTE |
Communications
| Name | Post-nominal | Agency |
|---|---|---|
| Accredited Business Communicator | ABC | International Association of Business Communicators[13] |
| Accreditation in Public Relations | APR | Public Relations Society of America[14] |
| Accreditation in Public Relations and Military Communication | APR+M | |
| Certified Cooperative Communicator | CCC | National Rural Electric Cooperative Association[15] |
| Certified Speaking Professional | CSP | National Speakers Association[16] |
| Communication Management Professional | CMP | Global Communication Certification Council[17] |
| Strategic Communication Management Professional | SCMP |
Contract management
| Name | Post-nominal | Agency | Levels |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certified Commercial Contract Manager | CCCM | National Contract Management Association | N/A |
| Contract and Commercial Management Certification | CCM | International Association for Contract and Commercial Management | Associate, Practitioner, and Expert |
| Certified Federal Contract Manager | CFCM | National Contract Management Association | N/A |
| Certified Professional Contract Manager | CPCM | National Contract Management Association | N/A |
| Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act Contracting Certification | DAWIA Contracting Certification | Defense Acquisition University | I, II, and III |
| Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting | FAC-C | Federal Acquisition Institute | I, II, and III |
| Industry Certification in Contract Management - Defense | ICCM-D | National Contract Management Association | I, II, and III |
| Industry Certification in Contract Management - Federal | ICCM-F | National Contract Management Association | I, II, and III |
Economics
| Name | Post-nominal |
|---|---|
| Member of the International Association for Energy Economics | IAEE |
| Member of the Global Association of Economics Education | GAEE[18] |
Emergency management and public safety
| Name | Post-nominal | Agency |
|---|---|---|
| Certified Emergency Manager® | CEM® | International Association of Emergency Managers |
| Associate Emergency Manager® | AEM® | International Association of Emergency Managers |
| Certified Floodplain Manager | CFM | Association of State Floodplain Managers[19] |
| Chief Fire Officer | CFO | Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE) [20] |
| Fellow of the Academy of Emergency Management | FAcEM | Emergency Management Academy[21] |
| Executive Fire Officer | EFO | U.S. Fire Administration[22] |
| Emergency Number Professional | ENP | National Emergency Number Association |
| Center Manager Certification Program | CMCP | National Emergency Number Association |
| Excellence in Dispatch Certificate | EID | National Emergency Number Association |
| Communications Center Manager Certification | CCM | APCO International - Leaders in Public Safety Communications |
| Registered Public-Safety Leader Program | RPL | APCO International - Leaders in Public Safety Communications |
| Certified Public-Safety Executive Program | CPE | APCO International - Leaders in Public Safety Communications |
| Master Exercise Practitioner | MEP | Federal Emergency Management Agency, Master |
| Certified Fire Executive | CFE | Texas Fire Chiefs Association[23] |
| National Crime Prevention Specialist | NCPS | National Crime Prevention Association |
| Fire Marshal | FM | Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE)[24] |
| Chief EMS Officer | CEMSO | Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE)[25] |
| Chief Training Officer | CTO | Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE)[26] |
| Fire Officer | FO | Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE)[27] |
| Certified Homeland Protection Professional | CHPP | National Sheriffs' Association[28] |
| Certified Forensic Manager I | CFM-I | National Forensic Science Academy[29] |
| Certified Forensic Manager II | CFM-II | National Forensic Science Academy[29] |
| Certified Forensic Manager III | CFM-III | National Forensic Science Academy[29] |
Engineering
| Name | Post-nominal | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Certified Energy Manager | CEM | Certified by Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) |
| Professional Engineer | PE | Licensure by individual state boards, examination by National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying |
| Certified Sales Engineer | CSE | Certified by the North American Association of Sales Engineers (NAASE) |
| Master of Engineering Management | MEM | Professional engineering business degree comparable to an MBA. |
| Model Law Engineer | MLE | Designation bestowed by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying |
| Model Law Structural Engineer | MLSE | Designation bestowed by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying |
| Structural Engineer | SE | Licensure by individual state boards, examination by National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying[30] |
| Structural Engineering Certification Board | SECB | Designation bestowed by Structural Engineering Certification Board |
| Engineer Intern | EI | Designation bestowed by individual state boards, examination (FE) by National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying[30] |
| Engineer-in-Training | EIT | Designation bestowed by individual state boards, examination (FE) by National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying[30] |
| National Institute For Certification In Engineering Technologies | NICET I/II/III/IV | Also, TT, AET, ET, SET, or simply CET (technicians) – CT, CET (technologists) |
| Certified Engineering Technician | CET | |
| Member of the National Academy of Engineering | MNAE | |
| Student Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers | StMIEEE | |
| Graduate Student Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers | GSMIEEE | |
| Associate Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers | AMIEEE | |
| Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers | MIEEE | |
| Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers | SMIEEE | |
| Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers | FIEEE | |
| Member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers | MAIChE | |
| Senior Member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers | SMAIChE | |
| Fellow of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers | FAIChE | |
| Senior Member of the Institute of Industrial Engineers | SIIE | |
| Certified Drafter | CD | |
| Distinguished Member, American Society of Civil Engineers | Dist.M.ASCE | A person who has attained eminence in some branch of engineering or in the arts and sciences related thereto, including the fields of engineering education and construction.[31] |
| Fellow, American Society of Civil Engineers | F.ASCE | A prestigious honor held by 3% of ASCE members.[32] |
| Member, American Society of Civil Engineers | M.ASCE | [33] |
| Associate, American Society of Civil Engineers | A.M.ASCE | [33] |
| Affiliate, American Society of Civil Engineers | Aff.M.ASCE | [33] |
| Student Member, American Society of Civil Engineers | S.M.ASCE | [34] |
Fine and Performing Arts
| Name | Post-nominal | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Artist Diploma | AD | A non-degree program offered by various conservatories and schools of music for exceptional and experienced performers |
| Service Playing Certificate of the American Guild of Organists | SPC | Professional designation by the American Guild of Organists[35] |
| Colleague of the American Guild of Organists | CAGO | Professional designation by the American Guild of Organists[35] |
| Associate of the American Guild of Organists | AAGO | Professional designation by the American Guild of Organists[35] |
| Choir Master of the American Guild of Organists | ChM | Professional designation by the American Guild of Organists[35] |
| Fellow of the American Guild of Organists | FAGO | Professional designation by the American Guild of Organists[35] |
| Fellow of the Hymn Society | FHS | Professional designation by the Hymn Society in the United States and Canada[36] |
Genealogy
| Name | Post-nominal | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Accredited Genealogist | AG | Accreditation by the International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists (ICAPGen)[37] |
| Certified Genealogist | CG | Certification by the Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG)[38] |
| Certified Genetic Genealogist | CGG | Certification by the BCG[38] |
| Certified Genealogical Lecturer | CGL | Certification by the BCG[38] |
| Qualified Genealogist | QG | Qualification by the Register of Qualified Genealogists[39] |
Geology, soil science, and other earth sciences
| Name | Post-nominal | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Professional Geologist | PG | Licensure by individual state boards, examination by National Association of State Boards of Geology[40] |
| Geologist-in-Training | GIT | Licensure by individual state boards, examination by National Association of State Boards of Geology[40] |
| Certified Professional Geologist | CPG | American Institute of Professional Geologists[41] |
| Professional Hydrologist | PH | Designation bestowed by the Society for Certification of Hydrology Professionals[42] |
| Associate Professional Soil Scientist | APSS | Designation bestowed by the Soil Science Society of America Soils Certifying Board,[43] examination by the Soil Science Society of America Council of Soil Science Examiners |
| Certified Professional Soil Classifier | CPSC | Designation formerly bestowed by the Soil Science Society of America Soils Certifying Board,[43] examination by the Soil Science Society of America Council of Soil Science Examiners |
| Certified Professional Soil Scientist | CPSS | Designation bestowed by the Soil Science Society of America Soils Certifying Board,[43] examination by the Soil Science Society of America Council of Soil Science Examiners |
| Licensed Professional Soil Scientist, or similar | LPSS | Lincensure by individual state boards,[44] examination by the Soil Science Society of America Council of Soil Science Examiners |
Geospatial and surveying
| Name | Post-nominal | Agency |
|---|---|---|
| Certified Photogrammetrist | CP | American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS) |
| Geographic Information Systems Professional | GISP | GIS Certification Institute (GISCI) |
| Professional Land Surveyor | PLS | Licensure by individual state boards, examination by National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying[45] |
| Surveying Intern | SI | Designation bestowed by individual state boards, examination (FS) by National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying[30] |
| Model Law Surveyor | MLS | Designation bestowed by National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying[46] |
| Professional Surveyor & Mapper | PSM | |
| Registered Land Surveyor | RLS | |
| Land Surveyor Intern | LSI | |
| Land Surveyor-in-Training | LSIT | |
| Certified Federal Surveyor | CFedS |
Government
| Name | Post-nominal |
|---|---|
| Certified Environmental Authority Supervisor | CEAS |
| Credentialed Manager | ICMA-CM |
| Certified Government Chief Information Officer[47] | CGCIO |
| Certified Municipal Clerk | CMC |
| Certified Municipal Finance Officer | CMFO |
| Certified Municipal Official (MO) | CMO |
| Certified Public Manager | CPM |
| Certified Public Works Manager (NJ) | CPWM |
| Certified Tax Assessor (NJ) | CTA |
| Certified Tax Collector (NJ) | CTC |
| Professional County Collector | PCC |
| Qualified Purchasing Agent (NJ) | QPA |
| Registered Municipal Accountant | RMA |
| Registered Municipal Clerk (NJ) | RMC |
| Registered Public Purchasing Official (NJ) | RPPO |
| Registered Public Purchasing Specialist (NJ) | RPPS |
Hospitality, tourism and recreation
| Name | Post-nominal | Agency |
|---|---|---|
| Aquatic Facility Operator | AFO | National Recreation & Park Association |
| Designated Aquatics Professional | AqP | Association of Aquatic Professionals |
| Certified Meeting Professional | CMP | Convention Industry Council |
| Certified in Exhibition Management | CEM | International Association of Exhibitions and Events |
| Certified Hospitality Digital Marketer | CHDM | Hospitality Sales and Marketing International |
| Certified Revenue Management Executive | CRME | Hospitality Sales and Marketing International |
| Certified in Hospitality Business Acumen | CHBA | Hospitality Sales and Marketing International |
| Certified in Hospitality Sales Competences | CHSC | Hospitality Sales and Marketing International |
| Certified Hospitality Sales Executive | CHSE | Hospitality Sales and Marketing International |
| Certified Ganjier | CG | The Ganjier Cannabis Sommelier Certification Program |
| Certified Guest Service Professional | CGSP | American Hotel & Lodging Association Educational Institute |
| Certified Hospitality Administrator | CHA | American Hotel & Lodging Association Educational Institute |
| Certified Hospitality Educator | CHE | American Hotel & Lodging Association Educational Institute |
| Certified Hospitality Instructor | CHI | American Hotel & Lodging Association Educational Institute |
| Certified Room Division Executive | CRDE | American Hotel & Lodging Association Educational Institute |
| Certified Hospitality Revenue Manager | CHRM | American Hotel & Lodging Association Educational Institute |
| Certified Lodging Security Director | CLSD | American Hotel & Lodging Association Educational Institute |
| Certified Interpretive Guide | CIG | National Association for Interpretation |
| Certified Park & Recreation Professional | CPRP | National Recreation & Park Association |
| Certified Park & Recreation Executive | CPRE | National Recreation & Park Association |
| Certified Playground Safety Inspector | CPSI | National Recreation & Park Association |
| Certified Special Events Professional | CSEP | International Live Events Association |
| Certified Specialist of Spirits | CSS | Society of Wine Educators |
| Certified Specialist of Wine | CSW | Society of Wine Educators |
| Certified Spirits Educator | CSE | Society of Wine Educators |
| Certified Youth Sports Administrator | CYSA | National Association of Youth Sports |
| Certified Wedding and Event Planner | CWEP | The Wedding Planning Institute, a division of Lovegevity |
| Certified Wedding Planner | CWP | The Bridal Society |
| Certified Wine Educator | CWE | Society of Wine Educators |
| Digital Events Strategist | DES | Professional Convention Management Association |
| Master Sommelier | MS | The Court of Master Sommeliers |
Human resources professions
| Name | Post-nominal |
|---|---|
| SHRM Certified Professional | SHRM-CP |
| SHRM Senior Certified Professional | SHRM-SCP |
| IPMA-HR Certified Professional | IPMA-CP |
| IPMA-HR Senior Certified Professional | IPMA-SCP |
| Certified Benefits Professional | CBP |
| Certified Compensation Professional | CCP |
| Global Remuneration Professional | GRP |
| Associate Professional in Human Resources | aPHR |
| Professional in Human Resources | PHR |
| Professional in Human Resources – California | PHRca |
| Senior Professional in Human Resources | SPHR |
| Global Professional in Human Resources | GPHR |
| Certified Employee Benefits Specialist | CEBS |
| Group Benefits Associate | GBA |
| Compensation Management Specialist | CMS |
| Retirement Plans Associate | RPA |
| Certification in Volunteer Administration | CVA |
| Certified Conflict Manager | CCM |
Insurance industry
| Name | Post-nominal |
|---|---|
| Accredited Claims Adjuster | ACA |
| Accredited Claims Professional | ACP |
| Accredited Claims Professional Candidate | ACAc |
| Associate in Claims | AIC |
| Applied Microbial Remediation Technician | AMRC |
| Casualty General Adjuster | CGA |
| Certified Claims Adjuster | CCA |
| Certified Claims Professional | CCP |
| Certified Claims Professional Candidate | CCPc |
| Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter | CPCU |
| Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter candidate | CPCUc |
| Certified Forensic Litigation Consultant | CFLC |
| Certified General Adjuster | CrtGA |
| Certified Mold Specialist | CMS |
| Certified Mold Inspector | CMI |
| Certified Property Appraiser and Umpire | CPAU |
| Certified Property Loss Appraiser | CPLA |
| Certified Property Loss Umpire | CPLU |
| Casualty General Adjuster | CGA |
| Certified General Adjuster | CrtGA |
| Casualty General Adjuster | CGA |
| Executive General Adjuster | EGA |
| Fire & Smoke Restoration Technician | FSRT |
| General Adjuster, Board Certified | GA-BC |
| GrandMaster General Adjuster | GMGA |
| HAAG Engineering Certified Roofing Inspector Residential/Commercial | HCI-R/C |
| Insurance Claims Expert / Insurance Claims Expert Prof./ Practitioner | ICE; ICEP |
| Litigation Specialist / Litigation Consultant | LS-LC |
| Legal Principles Claims Specialist | LPCS |
| Master General Adjuster | MGA |
| Master Public Adjuster | MPA |
| Property Claims Law Associate | PCLA |
| Property General Adjuster | PGA |
| Registered General Adjuster | RGA |
| Senior Professional Public Adjuster | SPPA |
| Universal Claims Certification | UCC |
| Windstorm Insurance Network Professional | WIND-P |
| Water Remediation Technician | WRT |
IT industry
| Name | Post-nominal |
|---|---|
| Accredited Operations Specialist | AOS |
| Accredited Sustainability Advisor | ASA |
| Accredited Tier Designer | ATD |
| Accredited Tier Specialist | ATS |
| Accredited Operations Professional | AOP |
| Accredited Tier Professional | ATP |
| Certified Business Analysis Professional | CBAP |
| Certified Computer Examiner | CCE |
| Certified Data Center Audit Professional | CDCAP® |
| Certified Data Center Design Professional | CDCDP® |
| Certified Data Center Energy Professional | CDCEP® |
| Certified Data Center Management Professional | CDCMP® |
| Certified Data Center Project Management | CDCPM® |
| Certified Data Center Sustainability Professional | CDCSP® |
| Certified Data Center Technician Professional | CDCTP® |
| Certified Digital Marketing Professional | CDMP |
| Certified Chief Information Security Officer | CCISO |
| Certified Cloud Security Knowledge | CCSK |
| Certified Ethical Hacker | CEH |
| Certified Green IT Professional | IFGICT |
| Certified Forensic Computer Examiner | CFCE |
| CyberSec First Responder | CFR |
| Certified in the Governance of Enterprise IT | CGEIT |
| Certified in Cybersecurity | CC |
| Certified Information Professional | CIP |
| Certified Information Systems Auditor | CISA |
| Certified Information Security Manager | CISM |
| Certified Information Systems Security Professional | CISSP |
| Certified Network Professional | CNP |
| Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control | CRISC |
| Certified Scrum Master | CSM |
| Certified Scrum Professional | CSP |
| Certified Scrum Product Owner | CSPO |
| Certified Speaking Professional | CSP |
| Certified Secure Computer User | CSCU |
| Certified Secure Software Lifecycle Professional | CSSLP |
| Certified Software Tester | CSTE |
| Certified Technology Specialist | CTS |
| Certified Virtualization Professional | CVP |
| Certified Wireless Network Administrator | CWNA |
| Certified Wireless Analysis Professional | CWAP |
| Certified Wireless Design Professional | CWDP |
| Certified Wireless Security Professional | CWSP |
| Certified Wireless Network Expert | CWNE |
| Comptia Advanced Security Practitioner | CASP |
| Cisco Certified DevNet Associate | CCDevA |
| Cisco Certified DevNet Professional | CCDevP |
| Cisco Certified Network Associate | CCNA |
| Cisco Certified Network Professional | CCNP |
| Cisco Certified Internetworking Expert | CCIE |
| CyberSAFE | CBS |
| Cyber Secure Coder | CSC |
| Certified Usability Analyst | CUA |
| Certified User Experience Analyst | CXA |
| Google Associate Cloud Engineer | ACE |
| Lean IT Kaizen | LITK |
| Lean IT Leadership | LITL |
| Lean IT Professional | LITP |
| Master of Library and Information Science | MLIS |
| Master Mobile Application Developer | MMAD |
| Master of Mobile Application Security | MMAS |
| Microsoft Certified Database Administrator | MCDBA |
| Microsoft Certified Professional | MCP |
| Microsoft Certified Professional Developer | MCPD |
| Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate | MCSA |
| Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer | MCSD |
| Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert | MCSE |
| Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator | MCSA |
| Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer | MCSE |
| Microsoft Certified Trainer | MCT |
| Modern Certified Classroom Trainer | MCCT |
| Offensive Security Certified Professional | OSCP |
| Open-Source Certified | OSC[48] |
| Oracle Certified Associate | OCA |
| Oracle Certified Professional | OCP |
| Oracle Certified Master | OCM |
| PMI Agile Certified Practitioner | PMI-ACP |
| Professional Scrum Master I | PSM I |
| Professional Scrum Master II | PSM II |
| Professional Scrum Master III | PSM II |
| Red Hat Certified Architect | RHCA |
| Registered Communication Distribution Designer | RCDD |
| SAFe Agilist | SA |
| SAFe Advanced Scrum Masters | SASM |
| Training from the BACK of the Room Certified Trainer | TBR-CT |
| User Experience Certification | UXC |
| User Experience Master Certification | UXMC |
| VMware Certified Professional | VCP |
| Zend Certified Engineer (PHP) | ZCE |
Law
| Name | Post-nominal Abbreviation | Agency or Description |
|---|---|---|
| Juris Doctor | J.D. | An academic, not a professional designation. Identifies a person who has obtained the academic degree Juris Doctor or Doctor of Jurisprudence, which are different names for the same professional degree in law. Arizona discourages use of the initials by people who are not members of the Arizona Bar, in case that might mislead the general public into thinking the person is licensed; and other U.S. jurisdictions may do likewise. However, this may be unenforceable on First Amendment grounds and because the letters indicate an academic degree, not a professional qualification to practice law. |
| Doctor of Jurisprudence | D.Jur. or J.D. | An academic, not a professional designation. Identifies a person who has obtained the academic degree Doctor of Jurisprudence – functionally the same degree as Juris Doctor but conferred in English instead of Latin. Although conferred in English, the degree may be abbreviated in Latin (viz., compare Latin Ed.D. used for either Doctor of Education or Educationis Doctor; and M.D., used for both Medicinae Doctor and Doctor of Medicine, the latter which can also be abbreviated D.M.). |
| Doctor of Juridical Science | S.J.D. | An academic, not a professional designation. Identifies a person who has obtained the academic degree Scientiae Juridicae Doctor. It is academically the equivalent of a Ph.D.[49] and is designed for aspiring legal academics who wish to pursue sustained independent study, research, and writing.[50] |
| Master of Laws | LL.M. | An academic, not a professional designation. Identifies a person who has obtained the degree Legum Magister. Originally the second of three degrees in sequence – Legum Baccalaureus (LL.B., last conferred by an American law school in 1970); LL.M.; and Legum Doctor (LL.D.) or Doctor of Laws, which has only been conferred in the United States as an honorary degree but is an earned degree in other countries. In American legal academia, the LL.M. was historically conferred after the LL.B. When the LL.B. was replaced by the J.D., the LL.M. functionally metamorphosed from a post-baccalaureate degree into a post-doctoral degree. |
| Bachelor of Civil Law | BCL | An academic, not a professional designation. The BCL is a degree in professional law conferred by some Anglophone universities. It originated as a second baccalaureate degree at Oxford University, where it is still conferred as a law degree higher than the BA in law. However, it is also conferred by other institutions as a first baccalaureate degree. |
| Esquire | Esq. | Used by attorneys who have been admitted to the bar. Use by non-attorneys may be restricted by law (see unauthorized practice of law); however, these provisions may not be enforceable on First Amendment grounds, and because the abbreviation has never been limited to the legal profession. It is used by some fraternal organisations, including a branch of Freemasonry that uses it as a degree; and, perhaps more importantly, it can be used by and in address to commissioned officers in the United States foreign service. Otherwise, 'Esq.' has been historically used by non-attorneys who are the fourth or later generation with the same name as a forebear, e.g., Henry Smith I, Henry Smith II, Henry Smith III, thereafter Henry Smith, Esq. Traditional etiquette directs that courtesy titles like Esquire are not used with honorific or post-nominal abbreviations. But when Esquire or Esq. represent a professional qualification (legal or otherwise), the opposite rule applies; especially if there are multiple pre- and/or post-nomial abbreviations, e.g. Dr. Lt.Col. Henry J. Smith, Esq., J.D., M.D., Ph.D., USA (the last set of letters representing United States Army). |
| Justice of the Peace | J.P. | Denotes a level of judgeship |
| Notary Public | N.P.[51] | Notaries in the USA are commissioned by the Secretary of State or equivalent officers of a state, commonwealth, territory, or the District of Columbia. The federal United States does not commission notaries public. Notarial responsibility varies from state to state, with California notaries required to use a seal that contains the Great Seal of California. In contrast, notaries from some other states are not required to have a seal. |
| Board Certified Civil Trial Attorney | National Board of Trial Advocacy | |
| Board Certified Criminal Trial Attorney | National Board of Trial Advocacy | |
| Board Certified Family Law Attorney | National Board of Trial Advocacy | |
| Certified Legal Assistant | CLA | National Association of Legal Assistants; NALA, The Paralegal Association |
| Certified Paralegal | CP | National Association of Legal Assistants; NALA, The Paralegal Association |
| Advanced Certified Paralegal | ACP | National Association of Legal Assistants; NALA, The Paralegal Association |
| Accredited Legal Professional | ALP | NALS (formerly the National Association of Legal Secretaries) |
| Professional Legal Secretary | PLS | NALS (formerly the National Association of Legal Secretaries) |
| Professional Paralegal | PP | NALS (formerly the National Association of Legal Secretaries) |
| Professional Registered Parliamentarian | PRP | National Association of Parliamentarians |
| Registered Paralegal | RP | NFPA (National Federation of Paralegal Associations) |
| Registered Parliamentarian | RP | National Association of Parliamentarians |
| CORE Registered Paralegal | CRP | NFPA (National Federation of Paralegal Associations) |
| Indiana Registered Paralegal | IRP | Indiana State Bar Association |
| North Carolina State Bar Certified Paralegal | NCCP | North Carolina State Bar |
| South Carolina Certified Paralegal | SCCP | South Carolina Bar |
Additionally, many jurisdictions grant some or all judges the right to use postnominal letters, which they generally employ in place of "Esq." The most common is "J." (for "Judge" or "Justice"), but more complex systems exist. For instance, in New Jersey, Judges of the New Jersey Superior Court are entitled to the postnomials "J.S.C.", except for the a Presiding Judges of the Family, Civil, Criminal, and General Equity Parts in a vicinage (entitled to the letters "P.J.F.P.", "P.J. Civ. P.", "P.J. Cr. P.", and "P.J. Ch. P."), a vicinage assignment judge (entitled to "A.J.S.C."), Appellate Division judges ("J.A.D.") and the Presiding Judge of the Appellate Division ("P.J.A.D."). Justices of the Supreme Court of New Jersey are entitled to the simple postnominal "J.", except for the Chief Justice, who uses "C.J."
Supply chain, logistics, and transportation
Medicine and Health Care
| Name | Post-nominal | Explanation or Issuing Agency |
|---|---|---|
| Professional Practice Degrees (required for state licensure) | ||
| Doctor of Chiropractic | DC | A professional doctoral degree for Chiropractors |
| Doctor of Dental Medicine | DMD | A professional doctoral degree for Dentists |
| Doctor of Dental Surgery | DDS | A professional doctoral degree for Dentists |
| Doctor of Medical Science | DMSc, DMS | A professional degree for physician assistants |
| Doctor of Health Science | DHSc | A professional degree for health scientists |
| Doctor of Medicine | MD | A professional doctoral degree for allopathic Physicians |
| Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine | ND, NMD | A professional doctoral degree for naturopathic Physicians |
| Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice | DNAP | A professional doctoral degree for Nurse Anesthetists |
| Doctor of Nursing Practice | DNP | A professional doctoral degree for Nurse Practitioners |
| Doctor of Occupational Therapy | OTD | A professional doctoral degree for Occupational Therapists |
| Doctor of Optometry | OD | A professional doctoral degree for Optometrists |
| Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine | DO | A professional doctoral degree for osteopathic Physicians |
| Doctor of Pharmacy | PharmD | A professional doctoral degree for Pharmacists |
| Doctor of Physical Therapy | DPT | A professional doctoral degree for Physical Therapists |
| Doctor of Physician Assistant Studies | DPAS | A professional doctoral degree for Physician Assistants |
| Doctor of Science in Physician Assistant Studies | DScPAS | A professional doctoral degree for Physician Assistants |
| Doctor of Podiatric Medicine | DPM | A professional doctoral degree for Podiatrists |
| Doctor of Public Health | DrPH | A professional doctoral degree for Public Health professionals |
| Doctor of Psychology | PsyD | A professional doctoral degree for clinical Psychologists |
| Doctor of Speech-Language Pathology | SLPD | A professional doctoral degree for Speech-Language Pathologists |
| Master of Physician Assistant Studies | MPAS, MSc | The minimum degree required for licensure as a Physician Assistant |
| Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology | MS-SLP | The minimum degree required for licensure as a Speech-Language Pathologist |
| Master of Science in Nursing | MSN | A professional master's degree for Registered Nurses |
| Bachelor of Science in Nursing | BSN | A professional bachelor's degree for Registered Nurses |
| Associate Degree in Nursing | ASN or ADN | The minimum degree required for licensure as a Registered Nurse |
| Associate Degree in Paramedicine | AAS | The minimum degree required for licensure as a Paramedic |
| State Licensure (post-nominals different than degree) | ||
| Certified Nursing Assistant | CNA | Assistive personnel who are state-licensed and work under the direction of a Registered Nurse |
| Emergency Medical Technician | EMT | An EMT must be certified by the NREMT to be eligible for initial state licensure |
| Advanced Emergency Medical Technician | AEMT | An AEMT must be certified by the NREMT to be eligible for initial state licensure |
| Paramedic | NRP | An NRP must be certified by the NREMT to be eligible for initial state licensure |
| Licensed Clinical Social Worker | LCSW | State-licensed Social Worker |
| Licensed Master Social Worker | LMSW | State-licensed Social Worker |
| Licensed Practical Nurse | LPN | Licensed by a state board of nursing and works under the direction of a Registered Nurse |
| Licensed Vocational Nurse | LVN | Licensed by a state board of nursing and works under the direction of a Registered Nurse |
| Nurse Practitioner | NP | State-licensed Advanced Practice Registered Nurse |
| Advanced Practice Nurse | APN | State-licensed Advanced Practice Registered Nurse |
| Advanced Practice Registered Nurse | APRN | State-licensed Advanced Practice Registered Nurse |
| Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist | CRNA | State-licensed Advanced Practice Registered Nurse |
| Certified Nurse Midwife | CNM | State-licensed Advanced Practice Registered Nurse |
| Occupational Therapist | OT | State-licensed Occupational Therapist |
| Physician Assistant | PA-C | A Physician Assistant must be certified by the NCCPA to be eligible for initial state licensure |
| Physical Therapist | PT | State-licensed Physical Therapist |
| Registered Dental Hygienist | RDH | State-licensed Dental Hygienist |
| Registered Dietitian | RD or RDN | A Registered Dietitian must be certified by the Commission on Dietetic Registration to be eligible for initial state licensure |
| Registered Nurse | RN | State-licensed Registered Nurse |
| Registered Pharmacist | RPh | State-licensed Pharmacist |
| Registered Respiratory Therapist | RRT or CRT | A Respiratory Therapist must be certified by the NBRC to be eligible for initial state licensure |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | CCC-SLP | State-licensed Speech-Language Pathologist |
| Fellowships | ||
| Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians | FAAFP | American Academy of Family Physicians |
| Fellow of the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition | FASPEN | American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition |
| Fellow of the American Geriatrics Society | AGSF | American Geriatrics Society |
| Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology | FAAN | American Academy of Neurology |
| Fellow of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists | FASHP | American Society of Health-System Pharmacists |
| Fellow of the American Academy of Emergency Physicians | FAAEP | American Academy of Emergency Physicians |
| Fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians | FACEP | American College of Emergency Physicians |
| Fellow of the Aerospace Medical Association | FAsMA | Aerospace Medical Association |
| Fellow of the Academy of Emergency Medical Services | FAEMS | National Association of EMS Physicians |
| Fellow of the Academy of Operational Medicine | FAOM | Academy of Operational Medicine |
| Fellow of the Academy of Wilderness Medicine | FAWM | Wilderness Medical Society |
| Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics | FAAP | American Academy of Pediatrics |
| Fellow of the American College of Cardiology | FACC | American College of Cardiology |
| Fellow of the American College of Dentists | FACD | American College of Dentists |
| Fellow of the American College of Endocrinology | FACE | American College of Endocrinology |
| Fellow of the American College of Epidemiology | FACE | American College of Epidemiology |
| Fellow of the American College of Physicians | FACP | American College of Physicians |
| Fellow of the American Heart Association | FAHA | American Heart Association |
| Fellow of the American Vein & Lymphatic Society | FACPh | American Vein & Lymphatic Society |
| Fellow of the American College of Surgeons | FACS | American College of Surgeons |
| Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons | FAAOS | American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons |
| Fellow of the American Academy of Neurological Surgeons | FAANS | American Academy of Neurological Surgeons |
| Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons | FACFAS | American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons |
| Fellow of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians | FACOFP | American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians |
| Fellow of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists | FACOG | American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists |
| Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association | FAPA | American Psychiatric Association |
| Fellow of the Infectious Diseases Society of America | FIDSA | Infectious Diseases Society of America |
| Certifications (not required for licensure) | ||
| American Board of Professional Psychology | ABPP | Qualification beyond state licensure currently in 13 specialties, including clinical, school, and forensic psychology |
| Basic Life Support Instructor | BLS-I | Any credentialing organization that conforms to the recent International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation guidelines for Basic Life Support. |
| Certified Genetic Counselor | CGC | The American Board of Genetic Counseling (ABGC) is the credentialing organization for the genetic counseling profession in the United States and Canada. The ABGC certifies and recertifies qualified genetic counseling professionals. In this way, the work of the ABGC protects the public and promotes the ongoing growth and development of the genetic counseling profession.[54] |
| Certified Dietitian or Certified Dietitian Nutritionist | CD or CDN | (State) Department of Health. Minimum degree and practice requirements for certification as a Certified Dietitian or Certified Dietitian Nutritionist. Must be certified or eligible for certification by the Commission on Dietetic Registration to be eligible for initial state certification (must be eligible to hold RD/RDN credentials [Registered Dietitian/Registered Dietitian Nutritionist credentials]). [55] |
| Certified Eating Disorder Specialist | CEDS | International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals[56] |
| Certified Health Education Specialist | CHES | National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. |
| Certified Nutritionist | CN | (State) Department of Health. Minimum degree required for certification as a Certified Nutritionist. [55] |
| Credentialed Professional Gerontologist | CPG | National Association for Professional Gerontologists |
| Master Certified Health Education Specialist | MCHES | National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. |
| Certified Director of Assisted Living | CDAL | Senior Living Certification Commission (SLCC) is a nonprofit corporation, autonomous from Argentum, with its own governing Board of Commissioners. SLCC offers a voluntary certification program for assisted living executive directors. |
| Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator | CHSE | Society for Simulation in Healthcare |
| Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator (Advanced) | CHSE-A | Society for Simulation in Healthcare |
| Certified Healthcare Simulation Operations Specialist | CHSOS | Society for Simulation in Healthcare |
| Certified Health Physicist | CHP | Certification as a professional health physicist awarded by the American Board of Health Physics and the American Academy of Health Physics.[57] |
| Diplomate of the American Board of Health Physics | DABHP | Certification as a professional health physicist awarded by the American Board of Health Physics and the American Academy of Health Physics.[57] |
| Registered Radiation Protection Technologist | RRPT | Registration as a Radiation Protection Technologist by meeting the required standards set forward by the National Registry of Radiation Protection Technologists.[58] |
| Certified HIPAA Professional | CHP | |
| Certified Professional in Infection Control | CIC | |
| Certified Hospice and Palliative Licensed Nurse | CHPLN | must hold a current, unrestricted practical/vocational nurse license in the United States or its territories and must have hospice and palliative licensed practical/vocational nursing practice of 500 hours in the most recent 12 months or 1000 hours in the most recent 24 months before applying for the examination.[59] |
| Certified HIPAA Security Expert | CHSE | Intermediate level certification for covered entities and business associates' employees who need to validate their HIPAA Security knowledge. This certification is primarily intended for IT staff, security consultants, and members of the security compliance team. |
| Certified HIPAA Security Specialist | CHSS | |
| Certified in Medical Quality | CMQ | American College of Medical Quality (ACMQ) |
| Certified Orthotist | CO | Certified by the American Board for Orthotist/Prosthetics Certification (ABC) |
| Certified Sex Therapist | CST | |
| Certified Tissue Banking Specialist | CTBS | |
| Certified Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurse | CWOCN, CWCN, COCN, CCCN or CWON | Must hold a bachelor's degree in Nursing and complete WOC Education Program accredited by the WOCN Society. Certification must be re-established every five years. |
| Diplomate of the American Board of Medical Physics | DABMP | |
| Diplomate of the American Board of Radiology | DABR | |
| Diplomate of the American Board of Science in Nuclear Medicine | DABSNM | |
| National Board for Certification in Hearing Instrument Sciences | NBC-HIS | The achievement of this designation represents the initiative to excel beyond the standard requirements for operating a hearing instrument dispensing practice. The designation, BC-HIS (Board Certified in Hearing Instrument Sciences), distinguishes the Board Certificant's outstanding skills and professional expertise needed for completion of the National Competency Exam. |
| Board Certified Critical Care Paramedic | CCP-C | International Board of Specialty Certification (IBSC) |
| Board Certified Flight Paramedic | FP-C | International Board of Specialty Certification (IBSC) |
| Board Certified Community Paramedic | CP-C | International Board of Specialty Certification (IBSC) |
| Board Certified Tactical Paramedic | TP-C | International Board of Specialty Certification (IBSC) |
| Board Certified Tactical Responder | TR-C | International Board of Specialty Certification (IBSC) |
| Board Certified Designated Infection Control Officer | DICO-C | International Board of Specialty Certification (IBSC) |
| Board Certified Wilderness Paramedic | WP-C | International Board of Specialty Certification (IBSC) [In preparatory phase as of August, 2022] |
| Mobile Intensive Care Paramedic (Alaska) | MICP | MICPs are currently licensed by the Alaska State Medical Board |
| Certified Massage Therapist | CMT | Certification by individual state boards |
| Licensed Massage Therapist | LMT | Licensure by individual state boards Requires passing of NCETMB or MBLEx |
| Licensed Clinical Massage Therapist | LCMT | Licensure by individual state boards Requires passing of NCETMB or MBLEx Clinical education specialized for health care practice |
| Licensed Midwife | LM | state or provincial licensing |
| Certified Professional Midwife | CPM | North American Registry of Midwives |
| Nationally Certified EMS Educator | NCEE | Education credential awarded by the National Association of EMS Educators upon demonstrated experience teaching EMS programs and earning a successful passing score on the National EMS Educator Certification (NEMSEC) Exam |
| Music Therapist- Board Certified | MT-BC | Certification Board for Music Therapists[60] |
| Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant | COTA | State licensure; National Board for Certification of Occupational Therapists[61] |
| Physical Therapy Assistant | PTA | State licensure |
| Certified in Public Health | CPH | National Board of Public Health Examiners |
| Medical Laboratory Scientist | MLS | American Society for Clinical Pathology |
| Medical Technologist | MT | State Licensure, American Medical Technologists |
| Medical Laboratory Technician | MLT | State Licensure, American Society for Clinical Pathology, American Medical Technologists |
| Licensed Professional Counselor | LPC or LCPC | State licensure |
| Licensed Associate Counselor | LAC | State licensure |
| Certified Tissue Bank Specialist | CTBS | American Association of Tissue Banks |
| National Board Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist | NBCCH | National Board for Certified Clinical Hypnotherapists |
| National Board Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist in Public Service | NBCCH-PS | National Board for Certified Clinical Hypnotherapists |
| National Board Certified Diplomate in Clinical Hypnotherapy | NBCDCH | National Board for Certified Clinical Hypnotherapists |
| National Board Certified Diplomate in Clinical Hypnotherapy in Public Service | NBCDCH-PS | National Board for Certified Clinical Hypnotherapists |
| National Board Certified Fellow in Clinical Hypnotherapy | NBCFCH | National Board for Certified Clinical Hypnotherapists |
| National Board Certified Fellow in Clinical Hypnotherapy in Public Service | NBCFCH-PS | National Board for Certified Clinical Hypnotherapists |
| Licensed Acupuncturist | L.Ac. | State licensure |
| Diplomate in Acupuncture | Dipl.Ac. | National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine |
| Diplomate in Oriental Medicine | Dipl.O.M. | National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine |
| Diplomate of the American Board of Family Medicine | DABFM | American Board of Family Medicine |
| Diplomate of the American Board of Medical Microbiology | D(ABMM) | American Board of Medical Microbiology[62] |
| Diplomate of the American Board of Venous & Lymphatic Medicine | DABVLM | American Board of Venous & Lymphatic Medicine |
| Certified Aerospace Physiologist | CAsP | Aerospace Medical Association |
| Certified Pharmacy Technician | CPhT | Pharmacy Technician Certification Board |
| Certified Phlebotomy Technician | CPT | National Healthcareer Association |
| Certified Personal Trainer | CPT | Aerobics and Fitness Association of America, National Academy of Sports Medicine, American Council on Exercise, National Strength & Conditioning Association |
| Certified Athletic trainer | ATC | Board of Certification, Inc. May be restricted by state licensure. |
| Certified Medical Assistant | CMA | American Association of Medical Assistants |
| Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | RDMS | American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography |
| Registered Vascular Technologist | RVT | American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography |
| Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer | RDCS | American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography |
| Registered Musculoskeletal Sonographer | RMSKS | American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography |
Military
| Name | Post-nominal |
|---|---|
| United States Army | USA |
| United States Army Reserve | USAR |
| United States Navy | USN |
| United States Navy Reserve | USNR |
| United States Air Force | USAF |
| United States Air Force Reserve | USAFR |
| Civil Air Patrol | CAP |
| United States Marine Corps | USMC |
| United States Marine Corps Reserve | USMCR |
| United States Coast Guard | USCG |
| United States Coast Guard Auxiliary | USCG Aux |
| United States Space Force | USSF |
| Retired | (Ret.) |
| Veteran | (Vet.) |
Real estate
| Name | Post-nominal | Agency |
|---|---|---|
| Member of the Appraisal Institute[63] | MAI | Appraisal Institute |
| Senior Residential Appraiser[63] | SRA | Appraisal Institute |
| Accredited Member[64] | AM | American Society of Appraisers |
| Accredited Senior Appraiser[64] | ASA | American Society of Appraisers |
| Real Property Administrator[65] | RPA | Building Owners and Managers Association International |
| Facilities Management Administrator[65] | FMA | Building Owners and Managers Association International |
| Systems Maintenance Technician[65] | SMT | Building Owners and Managers Association International |
| Systems Maintenance Administrator[65] | SMA | Building Owners and Managers Association International |
| High-Performance Sustainable Building Management[65] | HP | Building Owners and Managers Association International |
| Counselor of Real Estate [66] | CRE | The Counselors of Real Estate |
| Assessment Administration Specialist[67] | AAS | International Association of Assessing Officers |
| Certified Assessment Evaluator[68] | CAE | International Association of Assessing Officers |
| Cadastral Mapping Specialist[69] | CMS | International Association of Assessing Officers |
| Personal Property Specialist[70] | PPS | International Association of Assessing Officers |
| Residential Evaluation Specialist[71] | RES | International Association of Assessing Officers |
| Master in Residential Marketing [72] | MIRM | National Association of Home Builders |
| Certified Green Professional [72] | CGP | National Association of Home Builders |
| Certified Graduate Builder[72] | CGB | National Association of Home Builders |
| Certified Graduate Associate[72] | CGA | National Association of Home Builders |
| Master Certified New Home Sales Professional [72] | Master CSP | National Association of Home Builders |
| Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist[72] | CAPS | National Association of Home Builders |
| Certified New Home Marketing Professional [72] | CMP | National Association of Home Builders |
| Housing Credit Certified Professional [72] | HCCP | National Association of Home Builders |
| Certified New Home Sales Professional [72] | CSP | National Association of Home Builders |
| Graduate Master Remodeler [72] | GMR | National Association of Home Builders |
| Graduate Master Builder[72] | GMB | National Association of Home Builders |
| Certified Graduate Remodeler [72] | CGR | National Association of Home Builders |
| Facilities Management Professional [72] | FMP | International Facility Management Association |
| Sustainability Facility Professional [72] | SFP | International Facility Management Association |
| Certified Facilities Manager [72] | CFM | International Facility Management Association |
| Accredited Buyer's Representative | ABR | National Association of Realtors |
| Graduate Realtor Institute | GRI | National Association of Realtors |
| Accredited Land Consultant | ALC | National Association of Realtors |
| Certified International Property Specialist | CIPS | National Association of Realtors |
| Certified Property Manager | CPM | National Association of Realtors |
| Certified Commercial Investment Member | CCIM | National Association of Realtors |
| Certified Corporate Housing Professional | CCHP | Corporate Housing Providers Association |
| Member of the National Association of Appraisers[73] | MNAA | National Association of Appraisers |
| General Appraiser | MRA | Massachusetts Board of Real Estate Appraisers |
| Residential Appraiser | RA | Massachusetts Board of Real Estate Appraisers |
Religion and theology
| Name | Post-nominal | Agency |
|---|---|---|
| Doctor of Divinity | DD | Used by those who a theological seminary or university in the United States has granted an honorary degree. |
| Doctor of Theology | ThD | Used by those who have earned a doctorate in academic studies at a theological seminary or university. At those institutions offering it, it is considered a terminal degree in academic theology (at other institutions, it is the PhD or DPhil in theology). |
| Doctor of Ministry | DMin | Used by those who have earned a professional doctorate at a theological seminary or university. |
| Master of Theology | ThM | Used by those who have earned a master's in academic studies at a theological seminary or university. |
| Master of Divinity | MDiv | Used by those who have earned a master in academic studies at a theological seminary or university. |
| Certified Spiritual Director | CSD | Used by those who have earned certification at a theological seminary or university. |
| Board Certified Chaplain | BCC | Used by those who have earned certification by an accredited chaplain association. |
| Master of Theological Studies | MTS | Used by those who have earned a master's degree at a theological seminary or university. |
| Certified Church Business Administrator | CCA | National Association of Church Business Administrators |
| Knight/Dame of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem | KHS/DHS | Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem |
| Knight/Dame Commander of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem | KCHS/DCHS | Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem |
| Knight/Dame Commander with Star of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem | KC*HS/DC*HS | Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem |
| Knight/Dame Grand Cross of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem | GCHS | Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem |
Telecommunications and cable
| Name | Post-nominal | Agency |
|---|---|---|
| Broadband Installation Professional | BPI | Society of Cable and Telecommunication Engineers / International Society of Broadband Experts |
| Broadband Premises Technician | BPT | |
| Broadband Premises Expert | BPE | |
| Business Class Services Specialist | BCSS | |
| Broadband Distribution Specialist | BDS | |
| Broadband Transport Specialist | BTS | |
| Broadband TelecomCenter Specialist | BTCS | |
| DOCSIS Engineering Professional | DEP | |
| Digital Video Engineering Professional | DVEP | |
| Internet Protocol Engineering Professional | IPEP |
Veterinary medicine
| Name | Post-nominal | Agency |
|---|---|---|
| Doctor of Veterinary Medicine | DVM | A professional doctoral degree for veterinarians. VMD stands for the Latin "Veterinariae Medicinae Doctoris" and is exclusively conferred by the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. |
| VMD | ||
| Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners | DABVP | Used by veterinarians who have pursued specialized training in a specific species and passed the board examination. The ABVP has 12 recognized specialty groups:[74]
|
| Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Toxicology | DABVT | [75] |
| Diplomate of the American College of Animal Welfare | DACAW | The diplomates of ACAW are specialized in the practice of advancing animal welfare and veterinary medical ethics. [76] |
| Diplomate of the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine | DACLAM | [77] |
| Diplomate of the American College of Poultry Veterinarians | DACPV | [78] |
| Diplomate of the American College of Theriogenologists | DACT | [79] |
| Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia | DACVAA | [80] |
| Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists | DACVB | [81] |
| Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Clinical Pharmacology | DACVCP | [82] |
| Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Dermatology | DACVD | [83] |
| Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine | DACVIM | Used by veterinary internal medicine specialists who have completed a post-doctoral internship and an accredited residency program.[84] There are six concentrations that can be pursued:
|
| Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Microbiologists | DACVM | There are four concentrations within this specialty:[85]
|
| Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Nephrology and Urology | DACVNU | Provisional recognition was granted by the American Board of Veterinary Specialties in 2022.[86] |
| Diplomate of the American College of Ophthalmologists | DACVO | [87] |
| Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists | DACVP | Used by veterinarians who have pursued specialized training in either anatomic or clinical pathology and achieved board certification.[88] |
| Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine | DACVPM | [89] |
| Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Radiology | DACVR | [90] |
| Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation | DACVSMR | [91] |
| Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons | DAVCS | Used by veterinarians who have pursued specialized training in either small or large animal surgery and achieved board certification.[92] |
| Diplomate of the American College of Zoological Medicine | DACZM | [93] |
| Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care | DACVECC | [94] |
| Diplomate of the American Veterinary Dental College | DAVDC | [95] |
| Certified Veterinary Technician | CVT | Credentialed veterinary nurses are recognized by titles that vary by state. All veterinary nurses are required to attend an AVMA-approved program and pass the Veterinary Technician National Exam to become credentialed.[96] |
| Licensed Veterinary Medical Technician | LVMT | |
| Licensed Veterinary Technician | LVT | |
| Registered Veterinary Technician | RVT | |
| Veterinary Technician Specialist | VTS | Credentialed veterinary nurses can pursue specialized training in one of 16 NAVTA/CVTS-approved academies that specialize in subjects such as dentistry, ophthalmology, or internal medicine. Post-nominal titles typically include the specialty academy's abbreviation to indicate subject (e.g., Jane Doe, LVTS, ADVT).[97] |
| Academy of Dermatology Veterinary Technicians | ADVT | [98] |
| Academy of Equine Veterinary Nursing Technicians | AEEVT | [99] |
| Academy of Internal Medicine for Veterinary Technicians | AIMVT | [100] |
| Academy of Laboratory Animal Veterinary Technicians and Nurses | ALAVTN | [101] |
| Academy of Physical Rehabilitation Veterinary Technicians | APRVT | [102] |
| Academy of Veterinary Behavior Technicians | AVBT | [103] |
| Academy of Veterinary Clinical Pathology Technicians | AVCPT | [104] |
| Academy of Veterinary Dental Technicians | AVDT | [105] |
| Academy of Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care Technicians and Nurses | AVEECTN | [106] |
| Academy of Veterinary Nutrition Technicians | AVNT | [107] |
| Academy of Veterinary Ophthalmic Technicians | AVOT | [108] |
| Academy of Veterinary Surgical Technicians | AVST | [109] |
| Academy of Veterinary Technicians in Anesthesia and Analgesia | AVTAA | [110] |
| Academy of Veterinary Technicians in Clinical Practice | AVTCP | [111] |
| Academy of Veterinary Technicians in Diagnostic Imaging | AVTDI | [112] |
| Academy of Veterinary Zoological Medicine Technicians | AVZMT | [113] |
| Certified Veterinary Assistant | CVA | |
| Approved Veterinary Assistant | AVA | [114] |
| Certified Veterinary Healthcare Documentation Professional | CVHDP | [115] |
| Certified Veterinary Practice Manager | CVPM | Awarded by the Veterinary Hospital Managers Association |
Workplace learning and performance
| Name | Post-nominal | Agency |
|---|---|---|
| Certified Professional in Talent Development | CPTD | Association for Talent Development |
| Associate Professional in Talent Development | APTD | Association for Talent Development |
| Certified Performance Technologist | CPT | International Society for Performance Improvement |
| Certified Professional in Training Management[116] | CPTM | Training Industry[117] |
Other
| Name | Post-nominal | Agency |
|---|---|---|
| Certified Customer Experience Professional | CCXP | Customer Experience Professionals Association[118] |
| Certified Archivist | CA | Academy of Certified Archivists |
| Digital Archives Specialist | DAS | Society of American Archivists |
| Certified Energy Manager | CEM | Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) |
| Certified Energy Auditor | CEA | Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) |
| Certified Environmental Specialist | CES | OSHA |
| Certified At-Risk Adult Crime Tactics Specialist | CACTS | Georgia Department of Human Services |
| American Board Certified Teacher | ABCTE | American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence[119] |
| Associate Safety Professional[120] | ASP | Board of Certified Safety Professionals |
| Associate in Risk Management | ARM | Insurance Institute of America |
| Associate Wildlife Biologist | AWB | The Wildlife Society |
| Certified Administrative Professional | CAP | International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) |
| Certified Analytics Professional | CAP | INFORMS, Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences |
| Certified Anti-Terrorism Specialist | CAS | |
| Certified Assistant Refrigeration Operator | CARO | Refrigerating Engineers & Technicians Association |
| Certified Associate in Project Management | CAPM | Project Management Institute |
| Certified Biological Safety Professional | CBSP | ABSA International |
| Certified Broadcast Meteorologist | CBM or AMS | American Meteorological Society |
| Certified Cost Professional | CCP | AACE International |
| Certified Cost Technician | CST | AACE International |
| Certified Disability Specialist | CDS | |
| Certified E-Discovery Specialist | CEDS | Association of Certified E-Discovery Specialists |
| Certified Estimating Professional | CEP | AACE International |
| Certified Executive Pastry Chef | CEPC | American Culinary Federation, Inc. |
| Certified Forester | CF | Society of American Foresters[121] |
| Certified Experience Analyst | CXA | Human Factors International |
| Certified Fire Protection Specialist | CFPS | |
| Certified Forensic Claims Consultant | CFCC | AACE International |
| Certified Forensic Interviewer | CFI | International Association of Interviewers |
| Certified Hazardous Materials Manager | CHMM | Institute of Hazardous Materials Management (IHMM)[122][123][124] |
| Certified Industrial Refrigeration Operator | CIRO | Refrigerating Engineers & Technicians Association |
| Certified Manager[125] | CM | |
| Certified Master Anti-Terrorism Specialist | CMAS | |
| Certified Modeling and Simulation Professional | CMSP | National Training and Simulation Association |
| Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies | CPACC | International Association of Accessibility Professionals |
| Certified Professional in Web Accessibility | CPWA | International Association of Accessibility Professionals |
| Certified Professional Organizer | CPO | Board of Certification for Professional Organizers |
| Certified Professional Services Marketer | CPSM | Society for Marketing Professional Services[126] |
| Certified Protection Professional[127] | CPP | ASIS International, International Foundation for Protection Officers |
| Certified Protection Executive | CPE | National Protective Services [128] |
| Certified Protection Officer | CPO | International Foundation for Protection Officers |
| Certified in Security Supervision and Management | CSSM | International Foundation for Protection Officers |
| Certified Institutional Protection Specialist | CIPS | International Foundation for Cultural Property Protection |
| Certified Visitor Relations Specialist | CVRS | International Foundation for Cultural Property Protection |
| Certified Public Relations Counselor[129] | CPRC | Florida Public Relations Association |
| Certified Safety Professional | CSP | Board of Certified Safety Professionals |
| Certified Sales Engineer | CSE | Certified by the National Association of Sales Engineers (NAASE) via submission online[130] |
| Certified Scheduling Technician | CST | AACE International |
| Certified Senior Advisor | CSA | Society of Certified Senior Advisors |
| Certified Systems Engineering Professional | CSEP | International Council on Systems Engineering |
| Certified Usability Analyst | CUA | Human Factors International |
| Certified Utility Safety Professional[131] | CUSP | Utility Safety & Ops Leadership Network |
| Certified Wildlife Biologist | CWB | The Wildlife Society |
| Certified Youth Development Specialist | CYDS | |
| Credentialed Advocate | CA | National Advocate Credentialing Program, National Office for Victim Assistance. Designation indicates a professional victim advocate credential. |
| Designated Erosion Control Inspector | DECI | Lake County Stormwater Management |
| Decision & Risk Management Professional | DRMP | AACE International |
| Distinguished Toastmaster | DTM | The highest educational achievement in Toastmasters International |
| Divemaster[132] | DM | Professional Association of Diving Instructors |
| Assistant Instructor[132] | AI | Professional Association of Diving Instructors |
| Open Water Scuba Instructor[132] | OWSI | Professional Association of Diving Instructors |
| Master Scuba Diver Trainer[132] | MSDT | Professional Association of Diving Instructors |
| Master Instructor[132] | MI | Professional Association of Diving Instructors |
| Course Director[132] | CD | Professional Association of Diving Instructors |
| Doctor of Science | DSc or ScD | |
| Doctor of Management | D.M. | |
| Doctor of Musical Arts | DMA or D.M.A. | |
| Doctor of Arts | DA or D.A. | |
| Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine | ND or NMD | A professional doctoral degree for naturopathic practitioners in the United States. Holders of the ND or NMD degree are known as naturopathic physicians in states where they may be licensed. The designation NMD is used in Arizona. |
| Doctor of Business Administration | DBA or DrBA | |
| Doctor of Education | EdD or DEd | |
| Doctor of Philosophy | Ph.D. | |
| Doctor of Philosophy Candidate | ABD | Doctor of Philosophy Candidate ("all but dissertation") |
| Doctor of Philosophy Candidate | Ph.C. | Doctor of Philosophy Candidate |
| Doctor of Public Health | DrPH or Dr.PH | |
| Doctor of Emergency Management[133] | DEM | |
| Doctor of Liberal Studies | DLS | |
| Doctorate of Strategic Security[134] | DSS | Henley-Putnam University |
| Earned Value Professional | EVP | AACE International |
| Editor in the Life Sciences[135] | ELS | Board of Editors in the Life Sciences |
| Fellow of The Explorers Club | FEC | The Explorers Club |
| Member of The Explorers Club | MEC | The Explorers Club |
| Fellow of the Society of Decision Professionals | FSDP | The Society of Decision Professionals |
| French Wine Scholar | FWS | |
| Investment Adviser Certified Compliance Professional | IACCP | Investment Adviser Association[136] and National Regulatory Services[137] |
| ISSP Sustainability Associate | ISSP-SA | International Society of Sustainability Professionals |
| ISSP Certified Sustainability Professional | ISSP-CSP | International Society of Sustainability Professionals |
| Licensed Funeral Director | FD | |
| Fellow of the National Speleological Society | FNSS | National Speleological Society |
| Master of Arts | MA or M.A. | |
| Master of Education | MEd or M. Ed. | |
| Master Training Specialist | MTS or M.T.S. | |
| Master of Fine Arts | MFA or M.F.A. | |
| Master of Liberal Arts | MLS or M.L.S. | |
| Master of Library Science | MLS or M.L.S. | |
| Master of Music | MM or M.M. | |
| Master of Science | MS or M.S. | |
| Master of Engineering Management | MEM or MME or MSEM | |
| Master of Business Administration | MBA or M.B.A. | |
| Master of Business and Science | MBS | |
| Master of Public Administration | MPA or M.P.A. | |
| Master of Transportation Safety Administration[138] | MTSA | |
| Member of the ACE | ACE | American Cinema Editors |
| Member of the ASC | ASC | American Society of Cinematographers |
| Member of the CSA[139] | CSA | Casting Society of America |
| Member of the MPSE[140] | MPSE | Motion Picture Sound Editors |
| Mobile Certified Marketer[141] | MCM | Mobile Marketing Association |
| Multi Sport Athlete | MSA | |
| National Board Certified Teacher | NBCT | |
| Nationally Certified School Psychologist | NCSP | National Association of School Psychologists |
| NERC Certified System Operator | NCSO | NERC Personnel Subcommittee (PS) and Personnel Certification Governance Committee (PGSC) |
| Planning & Scheduling Professional | PSP | AACE International |
| Producers Mark | PGA | Producers Guild of America. The post-nominal letters are only used on film credits as a certification mark that certifies that the credited film producer performed a major portion of the film's producing duties.[142] |
| Portfolio Management Professional | PfMP | Project Management Institute |
| Professional Certified Investigator | PCI | |
| Professional Manager Certification[143] | PMC | The Air University |
| Program Management Professional[144] | PgMP | Project Management Institute |
| Project Management Professional[145] | PMP | Project Management Institute |
| Professional Operator[146] | PO | Water Professionals International |
| Professional Science Masters | PSM | |
| Sports Industry Management | SIM |
Sports Management Worldwide, Inc. (SMWW);[147] Columbia University at New York; New York University (NYU)[148] |
| Qualified SWPPP Designer | QSD | California Stormwater Quality Association |
| Qualified SWPPP Practitioner | QSP | California Stormwater Quality Association |
| Registered Business Analyst[149] | RBA | American Academy of Financial Management |
| Registered Construction Inspector (Division I, II, III, or IV) | RCI | American Construction Inspectors Association |
| Registered Archaeologist | RA | Registry of Professional Archaeologists |
| Registered Professional Archaeologist | RPA | Registry of Professional Archaeologists |
| Registered Resort Professional | RPP | American Resort Development Association (ARDA)[150] |
| Registered Quality Assurance Professional in Good Clinical Practices | RQAP-GCP | Society of Quality Assurance |
| Registered Quality Assurance Professional in Good Laboratory Practices | RQAP-GLP | Society of Quality Assurance |
| RETA Authorized Instructor | RAI | Refrigerating Engineers & Technicians Association |
| Systems Security Certified Practitioner | SSCP | |
| Web Accessibility Specialist | WAS | International Association of Accessibility Professionals |
| Utility Management Certification[151] | UMC | National Rural Water Association The Utility Management Certification (UMC) is the first credential to acknowledge an operator’s expertise in managing a water or wastewater utility. The UMC has become a standard for recognizing management expertise and potential for advancement. |