Deciphering the Alphabet Soup of Medical Professionals’ Initials
If you’ve ever wondered what the meanings are behind the letters and abbreviations at the end of your healthcare practitioner’s name, you’re not alone. Beyond the commonly known credentials, MD (medical doctor), RN (registered nurse) and PA (physician assistant), there is a litany of titles that signify a medical professional’s specialization, training and professional affiliations. Chances are, as a patient, you know which ailments your doctor or medical professional is capable of treating. However, the medical apparel industry is tasked with understanding medical and technical titles to best serve their clients, who wear lab coats and clinician scrubs in clinical settings, at the hospital, in laboratories and at the office. Lab coats typically bear the names and titles of their owners, who are educated and trained in their chosen profession. When ordering lab coats and scrubs as gifts for graduation, white coat ceremonies or for the holidays and birthdays, it’s important to obtain the recipient’s correct title before it is embroidered on the coat. These abbreviations can sometimes be found on a clinician’s business card but to ensure that you have the right title before ordering, check the list provided below.
A Summary of Common Medical Professional Titles
CDE - Certified Diabetes Educator
CNM – Certified Nurse Midwife
CPT - Certified Phlebotomy Technician
DHM or DHm - Doctor of Homeopathic Medicine
DMD - Doctor of Dental Medicine
DMFT - Doctor of Marriage and Family Therapy
DDS - Doctor of Dental Surgery
DO - Doctor of Osteopathy
DOM - Doctor of Oriental Medicine
DPM - Doctor of Podiatric Medicine
DVM - Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
EMT - Emergency Medical Technician
EENT or ENT - Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat specialist (MD)
EPC - Certified Exercise Physiologist
FAAD - Fellow American Academy of Dermatology
FAAFP - Fellow American Academy of Family Physicians
FAAO - Fellow American Academy of Optometry
FAAP - Fellow American Academy of Pediatrics
FACE - Fellow American College of Endocrinology
FACP - Fellow American College of Physicians
FACS - Fellow American College of Surgeons
FADA - Fellow American Dietetic Association
FAGD - Fellow Academy of General Dentistry
FAPhA - Fellow American Pharmaceutical Association
FASHP - Fellow American Society of Health-System Pharmacists
FNP - Family Nurse Practitioner
FNP-C - Family Nurse Practitioner, Certified
GP - General Physician
HMD - Homeopathic Medical Doctor
IBCLC- International Board Certified Lactation Consultant
ICCE - Certified Childbirth Educator
ICPE - Certified Postnatal Educator
LAc - Licensed Acupuncturist
LCCE- Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator
LCSW - Licensed Clinical Social Worker
LM - Licensed Midwife
LMA - Licensed Masters of Social Work, Adv Clinical Practitioner
LN - Licensed Nutritionist
LNC - Licensed Nutritionist Counselor
LNHA- Licensed Nursing Home Administrator
LPN - Licensed Practical Nurse
LVN - Licensed Vocational Nurse
MA - Medical Assistant
MAc - Masters in Acupuncture
MD - Medical Doctor
ME - Medical Examiner
MHSc - Master of Health Science
MNNP - Master of Nursing, Nurse Practitioner
MPH - Master of Public Health
MS - Master of Science Degree
MSN - Master of Nursing
MSW - Master of Social Work
ND - Naturopathic Doctor
NMD - Naturopathic Medical Doctor
NP - Nurse Practitioner
NP-C - Nurse Practitioner, Certified
OB/GYN - Obstetrician who is also a Gynecologist
OCN - Oncology Certified Nurse
OD - Doctor of Optometry; Optometrist
ONC - Orthopaedic (Orthopedic) Nurse, Certified
OPA-C - Orthopaedic (Orthopedic) Physician Assistant, Certified
OT - Occupational Therapist
PA - Physician Assistant
PA-C - Physician Assistant, Certified
PharmD - Pharmacy Doctorate
PhD - Doctorate Degree
PsyD - Doctor of Psychology
PT - Physical Therapist
PTA - Physical Therapist Assistant
RAc - Registered Acupuncturist
RD - Registered Dietitian
RDH - Registered Dental Hygienist
RDN - Registered Dietitian and Nutritionist
RKT - Registered Kinesiotherapist
RN - Registered Nurse
RN-C - Registered Nurse, Certified
RNCS - Registered Nurse Clinical Specialist
RN/NP - Registered Nurse, Nurse Practitioner
RPA-C - Registered Physician Assistant, Certified
RPh - Registered Pharmacist
RRT - Registered Respiratory Therapist
There are some medical apparel manufacturers that offer online ordering of lab coats and medical scrubs. Medelita’s web site offers custom embroidery on women’s scrubs, lab coats and nursing scrubs, for an additional charge.
Kim Green is a medical professional and has found these lab coats and clinician scrubs to be the best and very affordable.
