Nurses should think about listing credentials in the order they are most relevant to their practice or in which they were obtained if there are multiple types of the same nursing credential. Nurses should list the highest degree, if there are multiple degrees that should be listed (e g. , PhD, MSN) or the most relevant degree (e. g. , MBA, MSN for a nurse executive) first.
Is it important to order your credentials after your name?
It’s crucial to list your credentials in the correct order because it shows how valuable they are. It can assist others in determining your profession, educational background, and level of experience. When addressing someone else, it’s also polite to use their credentials in the proper order. Despite having a number of credentials, a person may decide to use a different set of credentials depending on the situation or limit the number of credentials they list after their name.
As an illustration, a specialist with a Master of Business Administration (M B. A. ) who is a fraternity alumnus may decide to use their M B. A. when communicating with other members of Greek organizations, their fraternal credential and on business-related documents
What are credentials?
Credentials are letters that are added after a person’s name to show that they hold a particular title, office, academic degree, accreditation, or other qualification. Credentials, also called post-nominal letters, can denote a particular military decoration or honor. Finally, credentials may show that a person belongs to a particular fraternity or religious group. A credential demonstrates your expertise in a particular subject or line of work. You might need to have a specific credential before you can take on a particular job role depending on the industry or employer.
The most typical categories of academic and professional credentials are illustrated by the following examples:
Awards and honors
You may decide to list any professional honors or awards you have won, even though many professionals do so on their resume or curriculum vitae rather than after their name. This is a personal choice. In either case, emphasizing your accomplishments outside of your formal education and training can help you demonstrate your qualifications and professional skills. For your outstanding service or accomplishments in a particular field, you might be given honors and awards.
If you decide to do so, put your accolades right at the end of your credentials, after your name. For instance, if you work in the medical industry, you might list your Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN) membership after all of your other qualifications. If you are a professor, you might mention a distinction from your employer’s university, such as Distinguished Scholar or Distinguished Teacher.
How to order your credentials after your name
Professionals may list permanent credentials first in order to highlight which credentials are the most significant. An example of a permanent credential is a degree. You can list any non-permanent credentials you possess after you’ve listed your permanent credentials. Non-permanent credentials include those that must be renewed every year by your state or an advisory board. In order to properly list your credentials after your name, adhere to the following sequence:
1. Include your academic degrees
After a student completes a program successfully, accredited colleges and universities award academic degrees. If you have a degree, start by stating your highest degree, such as a master’s degree, bachelor’s degree, or associate degree, immediately after your name. If you have multiple degrees, you might decide to only list the highest one since it frequently supersedes others. If you have both a master’s and a doctoral degree, for instance, you could choose to only list the Ph D. behind your name.
This alone suggests that you have earned other degrees in addition to your Ph. D. , so listing all of them may not be necessary. However, if they demonstrate distinctive skill sets, you might want to list multiple degrees. For instance, if you have a Doctor of Oriental Medicine (D.O.M. O. M. ), but you also hold a M.S. in Business Administration (M B. A. ), you can choose to add both to your name to demonstrate that you are a skilled medical professional and a business owner. In this case, you could list your credentials as follows:
Matilda Jones, D.O.M., M.B.A.
2. List your professional licenses
Include any current licenses that your profession requires after that. After completing a particular educational program, passing a national licensing or certification exam, or fulfilling any additional requirements outlined by the state you work in, you may be granted a state licensure credential. People with this kind of licensure are able to work in a specific location. If you work in medicine, for instance, you might add the abbreviations for a registered nurse (RN) license or a licensed practical nurse (LPN) license after your name.
3. Add your state designations or requirements
Include any additional state designations or requirements you have met after listing your licenses. These titles typically attest to your ability to engage in more advanced forms of your profession. If you work in medicine, for instance, you might follow your name with the abbreviations for an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) or a clinical nurse specialist (CNS).
4. Include your national certifications
If you hold any national certifications, list them next. National certifications are usually given out by accredited organizations associated with a particular industry or profession. These professional certifications attest to your knowledge, expertise, and capacity to engage in a given profession. If you work in the medical field, for instance, you might mention that you are a registered nurse with board certification (RN-BC).
5. List any other certifications you have
Next, list any other certifications you hold. This might include certifications that don’t directly relate to your line of work but still place an emphasis on a particular set of abilities. You could, for instance, mention that you are a licensed emergency medical technician (EMT). If you work in technology, you could list the certifications you’ve obtained attesting to your proficiency with various computer programs or other computer skills. These credentials may or may not be linked to a particular license, but they do show that a professional has added skill sets through training or testing.
Tips to order your credentials
The following advice will help you properly order your credentials after your name:
Examples of credentials after your name
In order to correctly order your credentials after your name, use the following examples as a guide:
Example 1
Samantha Patton is a licensed nurse with a bachelor’s degree in science. S. N. ) and a Master of Science in healthcare administration (M. S. ). She is a certified long-term care nursing director and a certified registered nurse (RN). Given that she holds a master’s degree in healthcare administration, Samantha may decide to disregard her bachelor’s degree in nursing. Therefore, Samanthas credentials would look like this:
Samantha Patton, M.S., RN, CDON/LTC
Example 2
Physical therapist Lawrence Wiles holds a Bachelor of Science in biology (B S. ) and a Master of Science in sports physiology (M. S. ). He also holds certifications as a water safety instructor (WSI) and emergency medical technician (EMT). He can list his credentials as follows if he wants to include both his bachelor’s degree and his master’s degree:
Lawrence Wiles, M.S., B.S., EMT, WSI
Example 3
Network engineer David Shaffer holds a Bachelor of Science in computer science (B S) and a Master of Science in business administration (MBA). He is a Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) and a Full Stack Network Engineer (FSNE) certified individual. David may decide to list his credentials as follows to highlight his various educational skill sets and certifications:
David Shaffer, M.B.A., B.S., FSNE, CCNP
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Adding Credentials after Name
FAQ
How do you display multiple credentials after a name?
If you have a degree, start by stating the highest degree you have, such as a master’s degree, bachelor’s degree, or associate degree, immediately after your name. If you have multiple degrees, you might decide to only list the highest one since it frequently supersedes others.
How do you write credentials after name example?
Some nurses use their RN first, followed by any relevant academic degrees and certifications (if any), as in the case of Jane Arnold, RN, MS, CNOR. Academicians use their academic credentials first, followed by their nursing credentials, and then their certifications. For instance, Jane Arnold, MS, RN, CNOR Either way is correct.
What order do you list certifications after your name?
After your name, list your professional credentials in the following order: academic degrees first, then professional licenses, and certifications last. Use abbreviations and separate the items with commas. The highest academic degree is placed first.
How do you list academic credentials after your name?
It’s up to you whether or not to use all of your degree credentials. Most of the time, one should list their degrees in order of highest to lowest earned, as in “Mary Smith, M S. , Ph. D. ”. The preferred approach is to only include the most advanced academic degree, such as only the Ph
