order of credentials after name

How to Properly Order Your Credentials After Your Name

Have you ever noticed those letters that come after some people’s names and wondered what they meant? Those are called credentials, and knowing how to list your credentials in the correct order is important for professional reasons My goal with this article is to clearly explain the proper order for credentials so you can accurately display your hard-earned achievements.

What Are Credentials?

Credentials are abbreviations for academic degrees, awards, honors, certifications, and licenses that you’ve earned throughout your career. They signify your expertise and qualifications in a certain field or industry. Some common examples include:

• RN – Registered Nurse
• Ph.D. – Doctor of Philosophy
• CPA – Certified Public Accountant
• CFP – Certified Financial Planner

Credentials allow you to quickly showcase your education and highlights to colleagues, employers, clients, and other professionals. Properly ordering your credentials is key so people understand your background at a glance.

Why Order of Credentials Matters

Listing credentials in the correct sequence maximizes their impact and shows their relative importance. People gauge your expertise level based on the order of your credentials. Leading with your highest degree and license establishes your authority.

When credentials are randomly organized or lower-level achievements are placed first, it can diminish and confuse your qualifications. Proper ordering demonstrates progression and hierarchy. It also shows respect for the time and effort required to earn each designation.

In addition, a standardized format allows credentials to be quickly understood industry-wide. Consistent placement avoids confusion and ambiguity.

General Guidelines for Ordering Credentials

While specific guidelines may vary slightly between professions, some overarching rules apply when determining sequence:

• Degrees – List first and in descending order starting with highest degree attained (Ph.D., Masters, Bachelors).

• Licenses – Follows degrees and indicates ability to practice in a regulated profession (RN, PE).

• State Designations – Denotes meeting requirements to perform advanced practice (APRN, NP).

• National Certifications – Shows specialty knowledge from an accredited organization (CDE, CNOR).

• Awards and Honors – Highlights professional excellence and merit (FAAN, FACHE).

Now let’s explore proper credential ordering for a few common professions.

Ordering Credentials for Nurses

For nurses, credentials should follow this order:

1. Degrees – List highest nursing degree first if you have multiple (PhD, MSN, BSN).

2. Licensure – Either RN for registered nurse or LPN for licensed practical nurse.

3. State Designations – Such as APRN for advanced practice registered nurse.

4. National Certifications – Relevant to specialty like OCN for oncology certified nurse.

5. Awards/Honors – Such as FAAN for Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing.

Here is an example for a nurse with multiple credentials:

Jane Smith, PhD, RN, APRN, OCN, FAAN

This shows Jane has a nursing PhD, RN license, advanced registered nurse designation, oncology certification, and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing.

Ordering Credentials for Engineers

For engineers, the proper order is:

1. Degrees – Highest engineering degree first like PhD, MS, BS.

2. Licensure – Such as PE for professional engineer.

3. State Designations – Some states have additional professional engineer designations.

4. National Certifications – Such as CCM for certified construction manager.

5. Awards/Honors – For example, NAE for National Academy of Engineering membership.

Sample credentials:

John Davis, PhD, PE, FNSPE, CCM, NAE

This indicates John has an engineering PhD, professional engineer license, society fellowship, construction management certification, and is a member of the National Academy of Engineering.

Ordering Credentials for Attorneys

For attorneys, the sequence is:

1. Degrees – JD for Juris Doctor degree goes first.

2. State Licenses – List state bar licenses like NY for New York.

3. National Certifications – Such as CELA for certified elder law attorney.

4. Awards/Honors – For example, Life Fellow of the American Bar Foundation.

Here is a properly ordered credential set for an attorney:

Mary Brown, JD, NY, CELA, Life Fellow of the American Bar Foundation

This shows Mary has a juris doctor degree, is licensed in New York, certified as an elder law attorney, and is a Life Fellow of the American Bar Foundation.

Ordering Credentials for Educators

For teachers and professors, credentials should be:

1. Degrees – List in descending order starting with highest like EdD, MA, BA.

2. State Licenses – Such as Texas Standard Teaching Certificate.

3. National Board Certification – For example, NBCT for nationally board certified teacher.

4. Awards/Honors – Such as Teacher of the Year 2021.

Properly ordered credentials:

James Davis, EdD, Texas Standard Teaching Certificate, NBCT, Teacher of the Year 2021

This indicates James has a Doctor of Education degree, Texas teaching certificate, national board teaching certification, and was Teacher of the Year in 2021.

Key Considerations for Listing Credentials

When organizing your credentials, keep these tips in mind:

• Only include earned and currently active credentials. Don’t list degrees in progress, expired licenses, or certifications you no longer hold.

• In most cases, limit to 3-5 of your highest achievements. Too many credentials can clutter and detract.

• Match credentials to what is most relevant in your current role. For example, a teacher who is now a principal may lead with educational leadership degrees and admin licenses.

• Be accurate and honest. Do not exaggerate credentials or claim achievements you have not earned.

• Check guidelines for your specific field. Some professions have definitive rules for ordering credentials.

Proper Use of Credentials

Once you’ve organized your credentials correctly, be thoughtful about when and where you display them. Some instances where credentials are commonly used include:

• Professional resumes, websites, and bios

• Email signatures and business cards

• Presentations, publications, and bylines

• Professional directories and membership profiles

• Application materials for jobs, boards, honors

• Introductions at conferences, events, meetings

• Social media platforms like LinkedIn

Exercising discretion is advised when listing credentials in informal settings to avoid pretension. However, in most professional contexts, credentials warrant inclusion when relevant.

Let your hard work shine by properly ordering your credentials. Represent your achievements clearly and accurately. Earned credentials are worth showcasing in the right situations when sequenced intentionally.