List of professional designations in the United States

Contents

Accounting and finance

Name Post-nominal
Certified Financial Planner CFP
Chartered Financial Analyst CFA
Certified Fraud Examiner CFE
Certified Payroll Professional CPP
Fundamental Payroll Certification FPC
Certified California Municipal Treasurer CCMT
Certified Government Auditing Professional CGAP
Certified Government Financial Manager CGFM
Certified Government Finance Officer CGFO
Certified Management Accountant CMA
Certified Network Professional CNP
Certified Public Accountant CPA
Certified Public Finance Administrator CPFA
Certified Public Finance Officer CPFO
Enrolled Agent EA
Fraternal Insurance Counsellor FIC
Fraternal Insurance Counsellor Fellow FICF

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 EA Joint Board for the Enrollment of Actuaries

Architecture and urban/regional planning

Name Post-nominal
Registered Architect RA
Member of the Association of Licensed Architects ALA
Member of the American Institute of Architects AIA
Fellow of the American Institute of Architects FAIA
Council of Educators of Landscape Architecture CELA
Fellow of the Council of Educators of Landscape Architecture FCELA
National Council of Architectural Registration Boards NCARB
Member of the American Society of Landscape Architects ASLA
Fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architects FASLA
American Institute of Certified Planners AICP
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional LEED AP

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 Network 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

Engineering

Name Post-nominal
Professional Engineer PE
Structural Engineer SE
Engineer Intern EI
Engineer-in-Training EIT
Certified Engineering Technician CET
Senior Member of the Institute of Industrial Engineers SIIE
Certified Drafter CD

Economics

Name Post-nominal
Member of the International Association for Energy Economics IAEE

Surveying

Name Post-nominal
Professional Land Surveyor PLS
Registered Land Surveyor RLS
Surveyor Intern SI
Land Surveyor-in-Training LSIT

Medicine and health care

Name Post-nominal Agency
American Board of Professional Psychology ABPP Qualification beyond state licensure currently in 13 specialties, including clinical, school, and forensic psychology
Certified HIPAA Professional CHP
Certified HIPAA Security Specialist CHSS
Certified Veterinary Assistant CVA[1]
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine DVM
Doctor of Chiropractic DC
Doctor of Nursing Practice DNP A terminal professional degree that focuses on the clinical aspects of nursing rather than academic research. The curriculum for the DNP degree generally includes advanced practice, leadership, and application of clinical research. The DNP is intended primarily to prepare registered nurses to become advanced practice registered nurses. Advanced practice roles in nursing include the nurse practitioner (NP), certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA), certified nurse midwife (CNM), the clinical nurse specialist (CNS), and Nursing Administrators.
Emergency Medical Dispatcher EMD Certified through the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials-International (APCO), the National Academies of Emergency Dispatch, and PowerPhone, Inc.
Nationally Registered Emergency Medical Responder (Begin January 1, 2012) NREMR All require passage of the National EMS Certification Exam-EMR (NREMR), developed by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians
Emergency Medical Technician - Basic (End December 31, 2011) EMT-B All require passage of the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians EMT-Basic Exam (NREMT-B), developed by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians
Nationally Registered Emergency Medical Technician (Begin January 1, 2012) NREMT All require passage of the National EMS Certification Exam-EMT (NREMT), developed by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians
Emergency Medical Technician - Intermediate/85 (End March 31, 2013) EMT-I/85 All require passage of the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians EMT-Intermediate/85 Exam (NREMT-I/85), developed by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians
Emergency Medical Technician - Intermediate/99 (End December 31, 2013) EMT-I/99 All require passage of the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians EMT-Intermediate/99 Exam (NREMT-I/99), developed by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians
Nationally Registered Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (Begin June 1, 2011) NRAEMT All require passage of the National EMS Certification Exam-Advanced EMT (NRAEMT), developed by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians
Emergency Medical Technician - Paramedic (End December 31, 2012) EMT-P All require passage of the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians EMT-Paramedic Exam (NREMT-P), developed by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians
Nationally Registered Paramedic (Begin January 1, 2013) NRP All require passage of the National EMS Certification Exam-Paramedic (NRP), developed by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians
Licensed Paramedic (Texas) LP Licensure by Texas Department of State Health
All require passage of the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians- EMT-Paramedic or National EMS Certification Exam-Paramedic (NREMT-P or NRP after January 1, 2013), developed by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians
All require an associate degree in emergency medical services (EMS), a baccalaureate degree, or a postgraduate degree
Licensed Practical Nurse (much of U.S.)
Licensed Vocational Nurse (California and Texas)
LPN
LVN
Licensure by individual state nursing boards
All require passage of the National Council Licensure Examination-Practical Nurse (NCLEX-PN), developed by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing
Registered Nurse RN Licensure by individual state nursing boards
All require passage of the National Council Licensure Examination-Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN), developed by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing
Advanced Practice Nurse
Advanced Practice Registered Nurse
APN
APRN
Various
Licensed Midwife LM state or provincial licensing
Certified Midwife CM Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (accredits education programs)
American Midwifery Certification Board (administers certification exam)
American College of Nurse-Midwives (defines requirements)
Certified Professional Midwife CPM North American Registry of Midwives
Certified Nurse-Midwife CNM Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (accredits education programs)
American Midwifery Certification Board (administers certification exam)
American College of Nurse-Midwives (defines requirements)
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist CRNA American Association of Nurse Anesthetists Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (accredits education programs)
AANA Council on Certification of Nurse Anesthetists (administers certification exam)
AANA Council on Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists (recertification)
Nurse Practitioner NP State licensure
Physician Assistant PA-C National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants
Registered Veterinary Technician RVT
Physical Therapist PT State licensure
Physical Therapy Assistant PTA State licensure
Medical Laboratory Scientist MLS
Licensed Master Social Worker LMSW State licensure
Licensed Clinical Social Worker LCSW State licensure
Licensed Veterinary Technician LVT
Qualified Clinical Social Worker QCSW National Association of Social Workers
Certified Tissue Bank Specialist CTBS American Association of Tissue Banks
Certified Hypnotherapist CHt
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
Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing FAAN American Academy of Nursing
Fellow of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists FASHP American Society of Health-System Pharmacists
Fellow of the American Academy of Emergency Medicine FAAEM American Academy of Emergency Medicine
Fellow of the American College of Cardiology FACC American College of Cardiology
Fellow of the American College of Surgeons FACS American College of Surgeons
Fellow of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists FACOG American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Fellow of the American College of Chest Physicians FACCP American College of Chest Physicians

Real estate

Name Post-nominal
Member of the Appraisal Institute MAI

Law

Name Post-nominal Agency
Esquire Esq. Used by attorneys who have been admitted to the bar. Its use by non-attorneys may be restricted by state bar associations (see unauthorized practice of law)
Justice of the Peace J.P.[2]
Notary Public N.P.[2]
Board Certified Civil Trial Attorney National Board of Legal Specialty Certification
Board Certified Criminal Trial Attorney National Board of Legal Specialty Certification
Board Certified Family Law Attorney National Board of Legal Specialty Certification
Certified Legal Assistant CLA National Association of Legal Assistants
Certified Paralegal CP National Association of Legal Assistants
Accredited Legal Secretary NALS (formerly the National Association of Legal Secretaries)
Professional Legal Secretary NALS (formerly the National Association of Legal Secretaries)
Professional Paralegal NALS (formerly the National Association of Legal Secretaries)

Government

Name Post-nominal
Certified Municipal Clerk CMC

Logistics and transportation

Name Designation Agency
Certified Professional Logistician CPL International Society of Logistics
Certified Transportation Professional CTP National Private Truck Council

Emergency management

Name Post-nominal Agency
Certified Emergency Manager CEM International Association of Emergency Managers
Associate Emergency Manager AEM International Association of Emergency Managers
Emergency Number Professional ENP National Emergency Number Association
Registered Public-Safety Leader RPL Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials-International

Military

Name Post-nominal
United States Army USA
United States Navy USN
United States Air Force USAF
United States Marine Corps USMC
United States Coast Guard USCG
Retired (Ret.)

Other

Name Post-nominal
Accredited Business Communicator ABC
Fellow of The Explorers Club FEC
Fellow of the National Speleological Society FNSS
Member of the National Academy of Engineering MNAE
Fellow of the Society of Decision Professionals FSDP
Board Certified Criminal Defense Investigator CCDI
Certified Protection Professional CPP
Professional Certified Investigator PCI
Certified Information Systems Security Professional CISSP
Physical Security Professional PSP
Registered Professional Archaeologist RPA
Professional in Human Resources PHR
Senior Professional in Human Resources SPHR
Global Professional in Human Resources GPHR
Project Management Professional PMP
Certified Systems Engineering Professional CSEP
Certified Fire Protection Specialist CFPS
National Board Certified Teacher NBCT

References

  1. ^ "Texas Veterinary Medical Association". tvma.org. http://www.tvma.org/RVTs_and_CVAs/certified_vet_assistant.phtml. 
  2. ^ a b Southern Reporter, Vol. 69, p. 931, St. Paul: West Publishing, 1911.

See also