Medical credentials explained

Healthcare professional credentials are credentials awarded to many healthcare practitioners as a way to standardize the level of education and ability to provide care.

Clinicians

• Physician
  • Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS)^[1]
  • Doctor of Medicine (M.D.)
  • Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.)
• Dentist
  • Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS)
  • Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD)
  • Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS)
• Optometrist
  • Doctor of Optometry (OD)
• Podiatrist
  • Doctor of Podiatry (DPM)
• Chiropractor
  • Doctor of Chiropractic (DC)
• Physician Assistant (PA)
  • Doctor of Medical Science (D.Med.Sc.), (D.M.Sc.)^[2]
  • Master of Medical Science (M.Med.Sc), (M.M.Sc.)
  • Master of Physician Assistant Studies (M.P.A.S.)
  • Professional (Second-entry) Bachelor of Science in Physician Assistant (B.Sc.PA.),^[3] (B.H.Sc.PA)^[4]
• Pharmacist (R.Ph.)
  • Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD)
  • Master of Pharmacy (MPharm) ^[5]
  • Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharm)

Medical Researchers

• Philosophiae Doctor (Ph.D.)^[6]
• Dr. mr. (Doctor of Medical Research)^[7]

Allied Health Professionals

• Respiratory practitioner (aka "respiratory therapist" or "respiratory care practitioner") (RRT, CRT)
  • Associate of Science in Respiratory Therapy (ASRT)
  • Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy (BSRT)
  • Master of Science in Respiratory Therapy (MSRT)
• Paramedic (NRP)
• Emergency Medical Technician (EMT-B, EMT-I, EMT-IV, EMT-I/99, EMT-I/89, NREMT, NRAEMT)
• Athletic Trainer (ATC)^[8]
  • Bachelor of Science in Athletic Trainer (BS)
  • Masters of Athletic Training (MSAT, MAT)
  • CAATE^[9]
  • Board of Certification, Inc. (ATC)^[10]
• Dietician
  • Registered Dietitian (RD)
  • Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)
• Radiographer and specialties
  • Varies by country, see main article.
• Occupational therapist
  • Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT)
  • Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)
• Physical therapist
  • Master of Physical Therapy (MPT)
  • Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
• Speech therapist/Speech-Language Pathologist
  • Speech and Language Pathologist (SLP)
• Music therapist
  • Board Certified Music Therapist (MT-BC)
  • Master of Music Therapy (MMT)
• Surgical technologist
  • Associate of Applied Science in Surgical Technology
• Medical Laboratory Technician/Medical Laboratory Scientist/Medical Technologist (MLT, MLS, MT)
  • Associate of Science in Medical (Clinical) Laboratory Sciences (ASMLS, ASCLS, degrees, MLT Certification Eligible if from a NAACLS accredited program)
  • Bachelor of Science in Medical (Clinical) Laboratory Sciences (BSMT, BSMLS, BSCLS degrees, MLS Certification Eligible if from a NAACLS accredited program)
  • Masters of Science in Medical (Clinical) Laboratory Sciences (MSMLS, MSCLS degrees)
  • Doctor of Science in Clinical Laboratory Sciences (DSCLS degree)

Nursing

See also: Nursing credentials and certifications.

• Registered nurse (RN)
  • Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
  • Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
  • Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN)
  • Diploma in Nursing
• Practical nurse (PN, LPN, VN)
• Certified anesthesiologist assistant (CAA)

Assistants

• Nurse aide (CNA)
• Nurse technician (CNT)
• Care partner (CP)
• Medical Assistants
  • Certified Medical Assistant (CMA)
  • Certified Medical Assistant - Admin (CMA-A)
  • Certified Medical Assistant - Clinical (CMA-C)
  • Certified Medical Assistant - Admin and Clinical (CMA-AC)
  • Registered Medical Assistant (RMA)
  • Medical Assistant (MA)
  • Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA)
  • Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA)
• Pharmacy Technician
  • Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT)

Therapy assistants

• Physical therapy assistant (PTA)
  • Associate of Applied Science in Physical Therapist Assistant ^[11]
• Occupational therapy assistant
  • Associate of Applied Science in Occupational Therapy Assistant(AAS OTA) (COTA)

Alternative Medicine

• Naturopaths
  • Naturopathy (ND)

References

1. Web site: ECFMG 2008 Information Booklet - Reference Guide for Medical Education Credentials . 2011-08-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110803155332/http://www.ecfmg.org/creds/refgde.html . dead .
2. Web site: Doctor of Medical Science .
3. Web site: PA Program | PA Program .
4. Web site: Prospective Students .
5. Web site: Master of Pharmacy (MPharm) UCL School of Pharmacy - UCL – University College London. 5 November 2021.
6. https://www.abbreviations.com/PH.D. Philosophiae Doctor abbreviations.com, retrieved April 14. 2022
7. "Dr. mr." Abbreviations.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2022 retrieved April 14, 2022
8. Web site: Education Overview . 19 March 2015 .
9. Web site: CAATE Recognized by CHEA . 2023-02-09 . caate.net.
10. Web site: BOC - About Us .
11. [Physical therapy]