When looking for a therapist, it can become confusing with all of the “alphabet soup” that follows their names. The purpose of this article is to help you decipher some of the common abbreviations. Keep in mind that these can vary from country to country, and sometimes even state to state.
Please email and let me know if I’ve missed something in this article and we’ll continue to update it regularly.
Degrees
- Associate Degrees: Awarded for completion of a two-year program, usually at a Community College or Trade School.
- AA: Associate of Art.
- AS: Associate of Science.
- Bachelors Degrees: Awarded for completion of a four-year program, usually at a College or University.
- BA: Bachelor of Art.
- BS: Bachelor of Science.
- BSEd: Bachelor of Science in Education.
- BSW: Bachelor of Social Work.
- Masters Degrees: Awarded for completion of an additional two-year program beyond Bachelors Degrees. Includes intense focus on the selected field, including more practical experience and advanced classes.
- EdM: Master of Education.
- EdS: Education Specialist (requires a Masters Degree, additional coursework, and sometimes a project.)
- MA: Master of Arts.
- MAHS: Master of Arts in Human Services.
- MC: Master of Counseling.
- MDiv: Master of Divinity.
- MEd: Master of Education.
- MPC: Master of Professional Counseling.
- MPH: Master of Public Health.
- MPS: Master of Professional Studies.
- MS: Master of Science.
- MSc: Master of Science.
- MSC: Master of Science in Counseling.
- MSEd: Master of Science in Education.
- MSN: Master of Science in Nursing.
- MSS: Master of Social Science.
- MSSW: Master of Science in Social Work.
- MSW: Master of Social Work.
- Doctoral Degrees: The highest level of academic degree. Awarded for completion of an additional four-year program beyond a Masters Degree. Typically requires the completion of a Doctoral Thesis in the applied field of study, though some fields and online colleges no longer require this.
- DDiv: Doctor of Divinity.
- DMFT: Doctor of Marriage and Family Therapy
- DMin: Doctor of Ministry.
- DO: Doctor of Osteopathy.
- DrPH: Doctor of Public Health.
- DSW: Doctor of Social Work.
- EdD: Doctor of Education.
- LPsy: Licentiate in Psychology (EU and Latin American equivalent of a PsyD.)
- MD: Doctor of Medicine.
- PsyaD: Doctor of Psychoanalysis.
- PsyD: Doctor of Psuchology.
- PhD: Doctor of Philosophy.
- ScD: Doctor of Science.
Licenses & Certifications
- ABECSW: American Board of Examiners in Clinical Social Work
- ABFamP: American Board of Family Psychology
- ABPN: American Board of Professional Neuropsychology
- ABPP: American Board of Professional Psychology
- ACSW: Academy of Clinical Social Workers
- ADTR: American Dance Therapy Association
- APRN: Advanced Practice Registered Nurse
- ART: Registered Art Therapist
- ATR: Registered Art Therapist
- ATR-BC: Registered Art Therapist – Board Certified
- BCBT: Board Certification in Bereavement Trauma™
- BCD: Board Certified Diplomate in Clinical Social Work
- BCDT: Board Certification in Disability Trauma™
- BCDV: Board Certification in Domestic Violence™
- BCETS: Board Certified Expert in Traumatic Stress™
- BCFT: Board Certification in Forensic Traumatology™
- BCIT: Board Certification in Illness Trauma™
- BCMVT: Board Certification in Motor Vehicle Trauma™
- BCPM: Board Certification in Pain Management™
- BCRT: Board Certification in Rape Trauma™
- BCSA: Board Certification in Sexual Abuse™
- BCSCR: Board Certification in School Crisis Response™
- BCSM: Board Certification in Stress Management™
- BCUCR: Board Certification in University Crisis Response™
- CAC:
- Certified Addictions Counselor
- Certified Alcoholism Counselor (available in Level I, II and III depending on experience – CAC III is the highest)
- CADAC: Certified Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor
- CADC: Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor
- CAMF: Certified Anger Management Facilitator
- CAP: Certified Addictions Professional
- CART: Certified Anger Resolution Therapist
- CAS: Certified Addiction Specialist
- CASAC: Certified Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor
- CBT: Certified Bioenergetic Therapist
- CCADC: Certified Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor
- CCDP: Certified Chemical Dependency Professional
- CCHT: Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist
- CCPT: Certified Clinical Pastoral Therapist
- CCMH: Clinical Counselor in Mental Health
- CCMHC: Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor
- CCSW: Certified Clinical Social Worker
- CEAP: Certified Employee Assistance Professional
- CEDS: Certified Eating Disorders Specialist
- CFLE: Certified Family Life Educator
- CGP: Certified Group Psychotherapist
- CHT: Certified Hypnotherapist
- CICSW: Certified Independent Clinical Social Worker
- CISW: Certified Independent Social Worker
- CMFT: Certified Marriage and Family Therapist
- CP:
- Certified Psychologist
- Clinical Psychologist
- CpastC: Certified Pastoral Counselor
- CPC: Certified Professional Counselor
- CRADC: Certified Reciprocal Alcohol and Drug Counselor
- CRC: Certified Rehabilitation Counselor
- CS: Clinical Specialist, a designation used in the nursing profession
- CSAC: Certified Substance Abuse Counselor
- CSW:
- Certified Social Worker
- Clinical Social Worker
- CSW-C: Certified Social Worker – Clinical
- DAPA: Diplomate, American Psychotherapy Association
- DCSW: Diplomate in Clinical Social Work
- DOT SAP: Department of Transportation Substance Abuse Professional
- DTR: Dance Therapist Registered
- LAC: Licensed Associate Counselor
- LADAC: Licensed Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor
- LADC: Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor
- LAMFT: Licensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapist
- LASAC: Licensed Associate Substance Abuse Counselor
- LCADC: Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor
- LCAS: Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist
- LCAT: Licensed Creative Arts Therapist
- LCDC: Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor
- LCDP: Licensed Chemical Dependency Professional
- LCMFT: Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist
- LCMHC: Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor
- LCP:
- Licensed Clinical Psychologist
- Licensed Counseling Professional
- LCPC: Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor
- LCSW: Licensed Clinical Social Worker
- LCSW-C: Licensed Certified Social Worker-Clinical
- LGSW: Licensed Graduate Social Worker
- LICSW: Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker
- LIMFT: Licensed Independent Marriage and Family Therapist
- LISW: Licensed Independent Social Worker
- LISW-CP: Licensed Independent Social Worker – Clinical Practice
- LLP: Limited Licensed Psychologist
- LMFT: Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
- LMHC: Licensed Mental Health Counselor
- LMHP: Licensed Mental Health Practitioner
- LMSW: Licensed Master Social Worker
- LMSW-ACP: Licensed Master Social Worker – Advanced Clinical Practitioner
- LP: Licensed Psychologist
- LPA: Licensed Psychological Associate
- LpastC: Licensed Pastoral Counselor
- LPC: Licensed Professional Counselor
- LPCC: Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor
- LPCMH: Licensed Professional Counselor of Mental Health
- LPE: Licensed Psychological Examiner
- LPP: Licensed Pastoral Psychotherapist
- LSATP: Licensed Substance Abuse Treatment Practitioner
- LSCSW: Licensed Specialist Clinical Social Worker
- LSP: Licensed School Psychologist
- LSW: Licensed Social Worker
- MAC: Master Addiction Counselor
- MFCC: Marriage, Family and Child Counselor
- MFT: Marriage and Family Therapist
- NBCCH: National Board Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist
- NBCDCH: National Board Certified Diplomate in Clinical Hypnotherapy
- NCAC: Nationally Certified Alcohol Counselor (available in Level I and II – NCAC II is the highest)
- NCC: National Certified Counselor
- NCPsyA: Nationally Certified Psychoanalyst
- NCSC: National Certified School Counselor
- PA: Psychological Associate
- PLPC: Provisional Licensed Professional Counselor
- PMHNP: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- RAS: Registered Addiction Specialist
- RDT: Registered Drama Therapist
- REAT: Registered Expressive Arts Therapist
- RN: Registered Nurse
- RPC: Registered Professional Counselor
- RPT: Registered Play Therapist
- RPT-S: Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor
- SAP: Substance Abuse Professional
- SW: Social Worker
- TLLP: Temporary Limited License Psychologist