Medical credentials

Healthcare professional credentials are credentials awarded to healthcare practitioners as a way to standardize level of education and ability to provide care. The credentials are seen behind the name of the practitioner in order of most permanent to least permanent (i.e., Jane Doe, PhD, RN, CCRN).

Diagnostics

• Radiographer and specialities
  • Varies by country, see main article.

Medicine

Physicians

• 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)
• Optometrist
  • Doctor of Optometry (OD)

Clinicians

• Respiratory practitioner (aka "respiratory therapist" or "respiratory care practitioner") (RT)
  • Associate of Science in Respiratory Therapy (ASRT)
  • Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy (BSRT)

Technicians

• Paramedic (PMD)
  • Associate of Applied Science in Pre-hospital Paramedical Sciences
• Emergency Medical Technician (EMT-B, EMT-I, EMT-IV, EMT-I/99, EMT-I/89)

Nursing

Nurses

• Registered nurse (RN)
  • Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD)
  • 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, LVN)

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)

Assistants

• Nurse aide (CNA)
• Nurse technician (CNT)
• Care partner (CP)

Pharmacy

• Pharmacist (R.Ph.)
  • Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD)

Technicians

• Pharmacy Technician (CPhT)

Surgery

Technicians

• Surgical technologist
  • Associate of Applied Science in Surgical Technology

Therapeutics

Therapy practitioners

• Physical therapist
  • Doctor of Physiotherapy (dPT)
• Occupational therapist
  • Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT)

Therapy assistants

• Physical therapy assistant
  • Associate of Applied Science in Physical Therapy Assistant
• Occupational therapy assistant
  • Associate of Applied Science in Occupational Therapy Assistant

References

1. ↑ "ECFMG 2008 Information Booklet - Reference Guide for Medical Education Credentials".