List of post-nominal letters in Canada

This is a list of post-nominal letters used in Canada. The order in which they follow an individual's name is the same as the order of precedence for the wearing of order insignias, decorations, and medals, as laid out by the Department of Canadian Heritage.

Official post-nominals in Canada

Post-nominal Office Notes
Higher national decorations
VC Victoria Cross Currently there are no living Canadians permitted to use the post-nominal letters VC. Since its creation in 1993, the Canadian Victoria Cross has never been awarded. Historical Canadians with the post-nominals VC were Canadian recipients of the British Victoria Cross.
CV Cross of Valour
National orders and Commonwealth orders
OM Order of Merit Commonwealth order
CC Companion of the Order of Canada
OC Officer of the Order of Canada
CM Member of the Order of Canada
CMM Commander of the Order of Military Merit
COM Commander of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces
CVO Commander of the Royal Victorian Order Commonwealth order
OMM Officer of the Order of Military Merit
OOM Officer of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces
LVO Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order Commonwealth order
MMM Member of the Order of Military Merit
MOM Member of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces
MVO Member of the Royal Victorian Order Commonwealth order
Provincial orders
Note: Precedence of provincial orders are in order of when they were added to the national orders system at the request of the provincial orders system, not by the normal order of precedence for provinces.
GOQ Grand officier de l'Ordre national du Québec English: Grand officer of the National Order of Quebec
OQ Officier de l'Ordre national du Québec English: Officer of the National Order of Quebec
CQ Chevalier de l'Ordre national du Québec English: Knight of the National Order of Quebec
SOM Saskatchewan Order of Merit
OOnt Order of Ontario
OBC Order of British Columbia
AOE Alberta Order of Excellence
OPEI Order of Prince Edward Island
OM Order of Manitoba
ONB Order of New Brunswick
ONS Order of Nova Scotia
ONL Order of Newfoundland and Labrador
National Decorations
SMV Star of Military Valour
SC Star of Courage
MSC
French: CSM 		Meritorious Service Cross When awarded the Meritorious Service Cross, francophones use the post-nominal letters CSM for Croix du service méritoire, instead of MSC.[1]
MMV Medal of Military Valour
MB Medal of Bravery
MSM Meritorious Service Medal The post-nominal letters for the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) are the same in both English and French.[1]
RVM Royal Victorian Medal
CD Canadian Forces Decoration
Appointments to the monarch
PC
French: CP		 Privy Councillor A Privy Councillor is also entitled to be styled "The Honourable" or "L'honorable" for life. The post-nominal letters are necessary to denote that someone is a privy councillor because in Canada holding a certain office can also allow the use of The Honourable title.

In practice, post-nominals are not usually translated from one language to another, but this is an exception.

ADC Aide-de-Camp to Her Majesty
A de C Aide-de-Camp to Governor General, Lieutenant Governor or viceroy.[2]
QHS Queen's Honorary Surgeon[3]
QHP Queen's Honorary Physician[3]
QHDS Queen's Honorary Dental Surgeon[3]
QHNO Queen's Honorary Nursing Officer[3]
QPO Queen's Police Officer
Legal positions
CJC Chief Justice of Canada These letters are uncommon outside of the practice of law.
CJA Chief Justice of a Superior Court of Appeal
CJ Chief Justice of a Superior Court
JA Superior Appeal Court Justice
J Superior Court Justice
QC
French: c.r. 		Queen's Counsel (French: conseillier de la reine) During the reign of a male monarch, the letters are KC for King's Counsel.
Esq Used for persons qualified to practice law. Rarely used by the holder of the title, but it can be found in some official contexts, such as the "appearances" section in the decisions of Canadian courts.

Historically, it was also occasionally used for esquires in the British context of the title.

Academic degrees
PhD
(and others) 		Academic doctorate Also includes DD, DLitt, DPhil, DSocSci, DU, EdD, EngD, JSD, LLD, SJD.
MA
(and others) 		Academic master's degree Also includes LLM, MASc, MEd, MEng, MFA, MM, MMath, MRes, MSc, MSci.
MD
(and others) 		First professional degree Professional doctorates include DDS, DNP, DO, DSW, DVM, JD, MD, OD, PharmD, PsyD.

Professional master's degrees include MAcc, MBA, MC, MFin, MPA.

Professional bachelor's degrees include BASc, BCL, BEd, LLB, LL.L..

BA
(and others) 		Bachelor's degree Also includes BFA, BSc, BSocSc.
see note → school name In academic contexts, it is common to give an abbreviation of name of the school awarding the degree after the letters for the degree itself. The way school names are abriviated can vary. For example, a PhD from Memorial University of Newfoundland can be found written as PhD (MUN) or PhD (Memorial). When a person has multiple degrees from the same school, the school name is only written once, after all degrees from that school.
Academic orders, societies, academians
RMC graduate of the Royal Military College of Canada Students who graduate from the Royal Military College of Canada, the Collège militaire royal de Saint-Jean (CMR), or the Royal Roads Military College (RRMC) having successfully completed the four interlocking components merit the "RMC" post nominal.

This post nominal is presented by the Minister of National Defence to individuals upon successful completion of the four components, which are academics (undergraduate degree), leadership, athletics, and bilingualism.

CPMHN(C) Certified in Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing by the Canadian Nurses Association[4]
ARCT Associate of the Royal Conservatory of Toronto (Royal Conservatory of Music)
FCAHS Fellow of Canadian Academy of Health Sciences
MCFP Member of The College of Family Physicians of Canada
CCFP Certificant of The College of Family Physicians of Canada
FCFP Fellow of The College of Family Physicians of Canada
FRCPC Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (Physician)
FRCSC Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (Surgeon)
FRCD Fellow of the Royal College of Dentists of Canada
FCGmA Fellow of the Canadian Gemmological Association
FRSA Fellow of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce
FRSC
French: MSRC 		Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada
FRCA Fellow of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts established 1880[5]
RCA Member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts established 1880[5]
FCSI Fellow of the Canadian Securities Institute
FRCCO Fellow of the Royal Canadian College of Organists
FRCGS Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society
FCIC Fellow of the Chemical Institute of Canada
MCIC Member of the Chemical Institute of Canada
FRHSC Fellow of the Royal Heraldry Society of Canada
MRHSC Member of the Royal Heraldry Society of Canada
FRAIC Fellow of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada
FCAE Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering
FEC Fellow of Engineers Canada
FCIM Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum
FCIP Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Planners
FCASI Fellow of the Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute
MRAIC Member of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada
MCIP Member of the Canadian Institute of Planners
ARIDO Member of the Association of Registered Interior Designers of Ontario
OAA Member of the Ontario Association of Architects
MAIBC Member of the Architectural Institute of British Columbia
Professional institutions
AScT Applied Science Technologist
CBHF Companion of the Canadian Business Hall of Fame
OBHF Officer of the Canadian Business Hall of Fame
CAE Certified Association Executive
CGA Certified General Accountant
CHRP Certified Human Resources Professional
CIRP Chartered Insolvency and Restructuring Professional[6]
CMA Certified Management Accountant
CA Chartered Accountant
CFA Chartered Financial Analyst
CIM Chartered Investment Manager
CPA Chartered Professional Accountant[7]
CPHI(C) Certificate in Public Health Inspection (Canada)[8]
CHE Certified Health Executive[9]
C. Med. Chartered Mediator[10]
Q. Med. Qualified Mediator[10]
C. Arb. Chartered Arbitrator[10]
EP Environmental Professional[11]
I.S.P. Information Systems Professional[12]
EIT Engineer-in-Training/Engineering Intern[13]
FEA Certified Family Enterprise Advisor and Member of the Institute of Family Enterprise Advisors[14]
P.Eng. Professional Engineer[15]
StrucEng Structural Engineer
PGeo Professional Geoscientist[15]
PGeol Professional Geologist[15]
PGeoph Professional Geophysicist[15]
PPhys Professional Physicist
PMP Project Management Professional
GSC Gold Seal Certification[16]
GSI Gold Seal Certification - Intern[16]
ALS Alberta Land Surveyor[17]
BCLS British Columbia Land Surveyor[18]
CLS Canada Lands Surveyor[19]
MLS Manitoba Land Surveyor
MLT Medical Laboratory Technologist[20]
OLS Ontario Land Surveyor
SLS Saskatchewan Land Surveyor[21]
PRP Professional Registered Parliamentarian
RP Registered Parliamentarian
RM Registered Midwife[22]
RN Registered Nurse[23]
NP Nurse Practitioner[24]
LPN Licensed Practical Nurse[25]
RPN Registered Practical Nurse[26]
CTech Certified Technician
CET Certified Engineering Technologist
CPM Certified Payroll Manager
PCP Payroll Compliance Practitioner
RPF Forester (Registered Professional Forester)
RPH Registered Pharmacist[27]
RPP Registered Professional Planner
RPBio Registered Professional Biologist
OCT Ontario Certified Teacher
PLog Professional Logistician[28]
MMP Maintenance Management Professional[29]
Ad. E. Lawyer Emeritus Quebec Bar[30]
Legislators (while in office)
MP member of Canadian House of Commons Letters are short for "Member of Parliament". This title is used in Canada and other Commonwealth nations to describe members of the lower house of Parliament only. The Senate of Canada is part of Parliament, but its members are not called MPs.
MPP member of the Ontario Legislative Assembly after 1938 Letters are short for "Member of Provincial Parliament". Before 1938, members used MLA.
MNA member of the National Assembly of Quebec after 1968 Before 1968, members used MLA.
MLA Member of the Legislative Assembly Used for members of provincial and territorial legislatures except Ontario, Quebec, and Newfoundland and Labrador.
MHA member of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly Only used for members of the Newfoundland and Labrador legislative assembly. Even though Nova Scotia's assembly is called the Nova Scotia House of Assembly, its members are styled MLAs.

British post-nominals used alongside Canadian ones

Any person who, prior to 1 June 1972, was a member of a British order or the recipient of a British decoration or medal may use the post-nominal letters for the decoration or medal together with those of any Canadian order, decoration or medal.

Canadians can still be awarded British medals, as well as those from other countries, but this must first be approved by the Government of Canada. (See Nickle Resolution)

See also: List of post-nominal letters: United Kingdom.

Post-nominal Office Notes
Hereditary titles
Bt
Btss 		Baronet or Baronetess A small number of baronets were created for Canadians, such as Baron Shaughnessy of Montreal, and some still have living heirs. When used, it comes before all other Canadian honours. For more information, see Canadian peers and baronets.
British orders and decorations
VC Victoria Cross The letters VC can also refer to the Canadian Victoria Cross, but that decoration has never be awarded.
GC George Cross
GCVO Knight or Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
KCVO
DCVO 		Knight or Dame Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
CH Order of the Companions of Honour
CB Companion of the Order of the Bath
CMG Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George
CBE Commander of the Order of the British Empire
DSO Distinguished Service Order
OBE Officer of the Order of the British Empire
ISO Imperial Service Order
MBE Member of the Order of the British Empire
RRC Member of the Royal Red Cross
DSC Distinguished Service Cross
MC Military Cross
DFC Distinguished Flying Cross
AFC Air Force Cross
SMV Star of Military Valour
SC Star of Courage
MSC Meritorious Service Cross
MMV Medal of Military Valour
MB Medal of Bravery
MSM Meritorious Service Medal
ARRC Associate of the Royal Red Cross
DCM Distinguished Conduct Medal
CGM Conspicuous Gallantry Medal
GM George Medal
DSM Distinguished Service Medal
MM Military Medal
DFM Distinguished Flying Medal
AFM Air Force Medal
QGM Queen's Gallantry Medal
BEM British Empire Medal

Unofficial post-nominals

Post-nominal Office Notes
Unofficial hereditary titles
UE United Empire Loyalists U.E. is based on Lord Dorchester's Order in Council in 1789, which was meant to differentiate loyalists from later settlers. Entitled to use these letters are descendants of:
  • Either male or female, as of 19 April 1775, a resident of the American colonies, and joined the Royal Standard prior to the Treaty of Separation of 1783, or otherwise demonstrated loyalty to the Crown, and settled in territory remaining under the rule of the Crown; or
  • a soldier who served in an American Loyalist Regiment and was disbanded in Canada; or
  • a member of the Six Nations of either the Grand River or the Bay of Quinte Reserve who is descended from one whose migration was similar to that of other Loyalists. (Dorchester Proclamation is found at here).
Orders without official post-nominals
GCStJ Bailiff or Dame Grand Cross of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem Officially, membership in the order does not grant any post-nominals, but these letters are used within the order itself. When used, these post-nominals are placed after all other national decorations.

Often shortened to the Most Venerable Order of St. John.

KStJ
DStJ 		Knight or Dame of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem
CStJ Commander of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem
OStJ Officer of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem
SBStJ
SSStJ 		Serving Member (Brother or Sister) of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem

See also

Notes and references

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1
  2. ↑ Canada Gazette, February 9, 1974
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Department of National Defence, Canadian Forces Dress Instructions (PDF), Queen's Printer for Canada, pp. 3–7–3, retrieved 15 November 2010
  4. ↑ Canadian Nurses Association - Registered Certification Initials
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Who We Are". The Royal Canadian Academy of Arts. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  6. ↑ http://www.cairp.ca/membership/CIRP-certification/index.php
  7. ↑ http://cpacanada.ca
  8. ↑ http://www.ciphi.bc.ca/career.html
  9. ↑ http://www.cchl-ccls.ca/default_certification.asp?active_page_id=262
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 http://www.adrcanada.ca/resources/designation.cfm
  11. ↑ http://www.eco.ca/certification
  12. ↑ http://www.cips.ca/isp
  13. ↑ http://www.peo.on.ca/registration/eit.html
  14. ↑ http://ifea.ca/cpages/fea-certification-requirements
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 http://www.canlii.org/eliisa/highlight.do?text=P.Eng&language=en&searchTitle=Statutes+and+Regulations+of+Alberta&path=/en/ab/laws/stat/rsa-2000-c-e-11/latest/rsa-2000-c-e-11.html
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 http://www.goldsealcertification.com/
  17. ↑ http://www.canlii.org/en/ab/laws/stat/rsa-2000-c-l-3/latest/rsa-2000-c-l-3.html
  18. ↑ http://www.bclaws.ca/Recon/document/freeside/--%20l%20--/land%20surveyors%20act%20%20rsbc%201996%20%20c.%20248/00_96248_01.xml
  19. ↑ http://laws.justice.gc.ca/PDF/Statute/L/L-5.8.pdf
  20. ↑ http://csmls.org/
  21. ↑ http://www.qp.gov.sk.ca/documents/English/Statutes/Statutes/L3-1.pdf
  22. ↑ Midwifery
  23. ↑ Registered nurse
  24. ↑ http://www.cno.org/en/learn-about-standards-guidelines/educational-tools/nurse-practitioners/
  25. ↑ Licensed practical nurse
  26. ↑ Licensed practical nurse#Canada
  27. ↑ http://www.pharmacists.ca/index.cfm/about-cpha/
  28. ↑ http://www.loginstitute.ca
  29. ↑ http://www.pemac.org
  30. ↑ http://www.barreau.qc.ca/en/barreau/reconnaissance/avocats-emerites/