This list will help clarify the meanings of the credential abbreviations following the names of each practitioner. The parenthetical abbreviations (acad, lic, and cert) which appear after some definitions refer to the category in which the term falls: academic, licensing, and certification, respectively.
| AAMFT |
American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
(cert) |
|
AAPH |
American Association of Professional Hypnotherapists
(cert) |
|
ABECSW |
American Board of Examiners in Clinical Social Work
(cert) |
|
ABFamP |
American Board of Family Psychology (cert) |
|
ABMP |
American Board of Medical Psychotherapy (cert) |
|
ABPH |
American Board of Psychological Hypnosis |
|
ACP |
Advanced Clinical Practitioner (lic) |
|
ACSW |
Academy of Clinical Social Workers (cert) |
|
ANA |
American Nursing Association (cert) |
|
BCCS |
Board Certified in Clinical
Social Work (cert) |
|
BCDSW |
Board Certified Diplomate
in Clinical Social Work (cert) |
|
BSN |
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (acad) |
|
CADC |
Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor |
|
CCCP |
Board Certified in Child and Adolescent Psychology
(cert) |
|
CCMHC |
Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor (cert) |
|
CCSW |
Certified Clinical Social Worker (lic) |
|
CFNP |
Certified Family Nurse Practitioner (cert) |
|
CISW |
Certified Independent Social Worker (cert) |
|
CMFT |
Certified Marriage and Family Therapist (cert) |
|
CP |
Certified Psychologist (lic); Clinical Psychologist
(lic) |
|
CSW |
Certified Social Worker (lic); Clinical Social Worker
(lic) |
|
D/AABM |
Diplomate, American Academy of Behavioral Medicine
(cert) |
|
D/ABPN |
Diplomate, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology |
|
DBM |
Diplomate, International Academy of Behavioral Medicine,
Counseling and Psychology (cert) |
|
DPM |
Diplomate, Neuropsychiatry |
|
DSW |
Doctor of Social Work (acad) |
|
EdD |
Doctor of Education (acad) |
|
EdS |
Bachelor of Science in Education |
| LCP |
Licensed Clinical Psychologist (lic); Licensed CounselingProfessional (lic) |
|
LCSW |
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (lic) |
|
LGSW |
Licensed Graduate Social Worker (lic) |
|
LICSW |
Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (lic) |
|
LMFC |
Licensed Marriage and Family Counselor (lic) |
|
LMFCC |
Licensed Marriage, Family and Child Counselor (lic) |
|
LMFT |
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (lic) |
|
LMHC |
Licensed Mental Health Counselor (lic) |
|
LMHS |
Licensed Mental Health Services (lic) |
|
LP |
Licensed Psychologist (lic) |
|
LPA |
Licensed Psychological Associate (lic) |
|
LPC |
Licensed Professional Counselor (lic) |
|
LPE |
Licensed Psychological Examiner (lic) |
|
LSP |
Licensed School Psychologist (lic) |
|
LSW |
Licensed Social Worker (lic) |
|
MA |
Master of Arts (acad) |
|
MC |
Master of Counseling (acad) |
|
MD |
Doctor of Medicine (acad) |
|
MEd |
Master of Education (acad) |
|
MFC |
Marriage and Family Counselor (lic) |
|
MFCC |
Marriage, Family and Child Counselor (lic) |
|
MFCT |
Marriage, Family and Child Therapist (lic) |
|
MS |
Master of Science (acad) |
|
MSc |
Master of Science (acad) |
|
MSN |
Master of Science in Nursing (acad) |
|
MSS |
Master of Social Science (acad) |
|
MSSW |
Master of Science in Social Work (acad) |
|
MSW |
Master of Social Work (acad) |
|
NAMHC |
National Academy of Mental Health Counselors (cert) |
|
NBCC |
National Board of Certified Counselors (cert) |
|
NCC |
National Certified Counselor (cert) |
|
NRHSPP |
National Register of Health Services Providers in
Psychology (cert) |
|
PA |
Psychological Associate (lic) |
|
PhD |
Doctor of Philosophy (acad) |
|
PsyD |
Doctor of Psychology (acad) |
|
RHCP |
Registered Health Care Provider (cert) |
|
RISW |
Registered Independent Social Worker (lic) |
|
RN |
Registered Nurse |
|
|
|
|
ScD |
Doctor of Science (lic) |
|
SW |
Social Worker (lic) |