AHEC Connecticut
ADDITIONAL INFO - Abbreviations of Degrees and Titles
Initials can be confusing when they appear after a health professional's name. Those initials are very important, however, because they stand for a profession, an educational degree, or a professional certification. Many people are familiar with the "MD" after a physician's name - - but what about the MT(ASCP) after the name of the person who manages your local hospital's laboratory? Those letters mean that the individual is a Medical Technologist who has met the high standards of certification by the American Society of Clinical Pathologists.
Health professionals who achieve educational and professional standards in their fields proudly use the symbols for their profession after their names, because those letters stand for study, practice, learning, and accomplishment! Perhaps someday you, too, will earn credentials and display them next to your name.
Here are some health professional initials you may see:
- AA Associate of Arts
- AAH Associate in Allied Health
- AAN Associate of Arts in Nursing
- AAS Associate in Applied Science
- AAT Associate of Applied Technology
- AB Associate in Business
- AD Associate Degree
- ADN Associate Degree in Nursing
- AMSC Associate in Medical Science
- APRN Advanced Practice Registered Nurse
- AS Associate of Science
- ASDN Associate of Science in Dental Hygiene
- ASN Associate of Science in Nursing
- AART American Registry for Radiologic Technologists
- ART Accredited Record Technician
- BA Bachelor of Arts
- BHS Bachelor of Health Science
- BMSC Bachelor of Medical Science
- BS Bachelor of Science
- BSE Bachelor of Science in Engineering
- BSEH Bachelor of Science in Environmental Health
- BSEd Bachelor of Science in Education
- BSFC Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences
- BSN Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- BSPH Bachelor of Science in Public Health
- BSW Bachelor of Social Work
- CCC Certificate of Clinical Competency (for Speech/Language Pathologists and Audiologists)
- CCP Certified Cardiovascular Perfusionist
- CCVT Certified Cardiovascular Technologist
- CDA Certified Dental Assistant
- CHES Certified Health Education Specialist
- CLS Clinical Laboratory Scientist
- CMA Certified Medical Assistant
- CNA Certified Nursing Assistant
- CNM Certified Nurse Midwife
- CNMT Certified Nuclear Medicine Technologist
- CNS Clinical Nurse Specialist
- CO Certified Orthotist
- COMA Certified Ophthalmic Medical Assistant
- COTA Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
- CP Certified Prosthetist
- CP/O Certified Prosthetist/Orthotist
- CRNA Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
- CRTT Certified Respiratory Therapy Technician
- CT Cytotechnologist
- DC Doctor of Chiropractic
- DDS Doctor of Dental Surgery
- DMD Doctor of Dental Medicine
- DNSC Doctor of Nursing Science
- DO Doctor of Osteopathy
- DPM Doctor of Podiatric Medicine
- DrPH Doctor of Public Health
- DVM Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
- EdS Education Specialist
- EEGT Electroencephalographic Technologist
- EMT Emergency Medical Technician
- EMT-I Emergency Medical Technician - Intermediate
- EMT-P Emergency Medical Technician - Paramedic
- FNP Family Nurse Practitioner
- HT Histologic Technician
- HTL Histotechnologist
- LPN Licensed Practical Nurse
- LPT Licensed Physical Therapist
- MD Doctor of Medicine
- MEd Master of Education
- MHA Master of Health Administration
- MHA Master of Healthcare Administration
- MHE Master of Health Education
- MHS Master of Health Science
- MLS Master of Library Science
- MMSc Master of Medical Science
- MN Master of Nursing
- MPA Master of Pharmacy Administration
- MPA Master of Public Administration
- MPH Master of Public Health
- MPT Master of Physical Therapy
- MS Master of Science
- MSE Master of Science in Engineering
- MSEH Master of Science in Environmental Health
- MSLS Master of Science in Library Science
- MSN Master of Science in Nursing
- MSW Master of Social Work
- MLT Medical Laboratory Technician
- MRT Medical Record Technician
- MT Medical Technologist
- MT (ASCP) Medical Technologist with Certification from the American Society of Clinical Pathologists
- OD Doctor of Optometry
- OTR Registered Occupational Therapist
- PA-C Certified Physician's Assistant
- PhD Doctor of Philosophy
- PharmD Doctor of Pharmacy
- PT Physical Therapist
- PTA Physical Therapy Assistant
- RPh Registered Pharmacist
- RD Registered Dietitian
- RDH Registered Dental Hygienist
- RDMS Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
- RN Registered Nurse
- RRA Registered Record Administrator
- RRT Registered Respiratory Therapist
- RT Radiologic Technologist
- RT Recreation Therapist
- RT(R), (N), (T) Radiologic Technologist with specialization in Radiology/Nuclear Medicine/Radiation