Academic Degrees, Certifications, and Honors
The following academic degrees are abbreviated in bylines and in the text when used with the full name of a person. (See also 14.6, Names and Titles of Persons.) In some circumstances, however, use of the abbreviation alone is acceptable (eg, Katharine is a doctor of medicine and also holds a PhD in biochemistry). (See also 9.5, Plurals, Abbreviations.)
Generally, US fellowship designations (eg, FACP, FAAN, FACS) and honorary designations (eg, PhD[Hon]) are not used in bylines. In contrast, non-US designations such as the British FRCP and the Canadian FRCPC (attained through a series of qualifying examinations) should be listed in bylines.
At JAMA and the Archives Journals, for example, if an author holds both an FACP and an FRCPC, the former would be deleted.
Degrees below the master’s level (eg, BA, BS) are generally not listed in bylines or elsewhere. However, if a bachelor’s degree is the highest degree held, it may be listed. Exceptions are also made for specialized degrees, licenses, certifications, and credentials below the master’s level in medical and health-related fields (included below). Any unusual degrees should be verified with the author.
ART |
accredited record technician |
BPharm |
bachelor of pharmacy |
BS, BCh, BC, CB, or ChB |
bachelor of surgery |
BSN |
bachelor of science in nursing |
CHES |
certified health education specialist |
CIH |
certified industrial hygienist |
CNM |
certified nurse midwife |
CNMT |
certified nuclear medicine technologist |
CO |
certified orthoptist |
COMT |
certified ophthalmic medical technologist |
CPFT |
certified pulmonary function technologist |
CRNA |
certified registered nurse anesthetist |
CRTT |
certified respiratory therapy technician |
CTR |
certified tumor registrar |
DC |
doctor of chiropractic |
DCh or ChD |
doctor of surgery |
DDS |
doctor of dental surgery |
DHL |
doctor of humane letters |
DMD |
doctor of dental medicine |
DME |
doctor of medical education |
DMSc |
doctor of medical science |
DNE |
doctor of nursing education |
DNS or DNSc |
doctor of nursing science |
DO or OD |
doctor of optometry |
DO |
doctor of osteopathy |
DPH or DrPH |
doctor of public health; doctor of public hygiene |
DPharm |
doctor of pharmacy |
DPM |
doctor of podiatric medicine |
DSW |
doctor of social work |
DTM&H |
diploma in tropical medicine and hygiene |
DTPH |
diploma in tropical pediatric hygiene |
DVM, DMV, or VMD |
doctor of veterinary medicine |
DVMS |
doctor of veterinary medicine and surgery |
DVS or DVSc |
doctor of veterinary science |
EdD |
doctor of education |
ELS |
editor in the life sciences |
EMT |
emergency medical technician |
EMT-P |
emergency medical technician-paramedic |
FCGP |
fellow of the College of General Practitioners |
FCPS |
fellow of the College of Physicians and Surgeons |
FFA |
fellow of the Faculty of Anaesthetists |
FFARCS |
fellow of the Faculty of Anaesthetists of the Royal College of Surgeons |
FNP |
family nurse practitioner |
FRACP |
fellow of the Royal Australian College of Physicians |
FRCA |
fellow of the Royal College of Anesthesia |
FRCGP |
fellow of the Royal College of General Practitioners |
FRCOG |
fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists |
FRCP |
fellow of the Royal College of Physicians |
FRCPath |
fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists |
FRCPC |
fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Canada |
FRCP(Glasg) |
fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow qua Physician |
FRCPE or FRCP(Edin) |
fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh |
FRCPI or FRCP(Ire) |
fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland |
FRCR |
fellow of the Royal College of Radiologists |
FRCS |
fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons |
FRCSC |
fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada |
FRCSE or FRCS(Edin) |
fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh |
FRCS(Glasg) |
fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow qua Surgeon |
FRCSI or FRCS(Ire) |
fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland |
FRCVS |
fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons |
FRS |
fellow of the Royal Society |
GNP |
gerontologic or geriatric nurse practitioner |
JD |
doctor of jurisprudence |
LLB |
bachelor of laws |
LLD |
doctor of laws |
LLM |
master of laws |
LPN |
licensed practical nurse |
LVN |
licensed visiting nurse; licensed vocational nurse |
M(ASCP) |
registered technologist in microbiology (American Society of Clinical Pathologists) |
MA or AM |
master of arts |
MB or BM |
bachelor of medicine |
MBA |
master of business administration |
MBBS or MB,BS |
bachelor of medicine, bachelor of surgery |
MD or DM |
doctor of medicine |
MEd |
master of education |
MFA |
master of fine arts |
MHA |
master of hospital administration |
MLS |
master of library science |
MMM |
master of medical management |
MN |
master of nursing |
MPA |
master of public administration |
MPH |
master of public health |
MPharm |
master of pharmacy |
MPhil |
master of philosophy |
MPPA |
master of public policy administration |
MRCP |
member of the Royal College of Physicians |
MRCS |
member of the Royal College of Surgeons |
MS, MSc, or SM |
master of science |
MS, SM, MCh, or MSurg |
master of surgery |
MSN |
master of science in nursing |
MSPH |
master of science in public health |
MStat |
master of statistics |
MSW |
master of social welfare; master of social work |
MT |
medical technologist |
MTA |
medical technical assistant |
MT(ASCP) |
registered medical technologist (American Society of Clinical Pathologists) |
MUS |
master in urban studies |
ND |
naturopathic doctor |
NP |
nurse practitioner |
OT |
occupational therapist |
OTR |
occupational therapist, registered |
PA |
physician assistant |
PA-C |
physician assistant, certified |
PharmD, DP, or PD |
doctor of pharmacy |
PhD or DPhil |
doctor of philosophy |
PhG |
graduate in pharmacy |
PNP |
pediatric nurse practitioner |
PsyD |
doctor of psychology |
PT |
physical therapist |
RD |
registered dietitian |
RN |
registered nurse |
RNA |
registered nurse anesthetist |
RNC or RN,C |
registered nurse, certified |
RPFT |
registered pulmonary function technologist |
RPh |
registered pharmacist |
RPT |
registered physical therapist |
RRL |
registered record librarian |
RT |
radiologic technologist; respiratory therapist |
RTR |
recreational therapist, registered |
ScD, DSc, or DS |
doctor of science |
STD |
doctor of systematic theology |
ThD or DTh |
doctor of theology |