title: Medical credentials
text: # Medical credentials
  
  Healthcare professional credentials are credentials awarded to many healthcare practitioners as a way to standardize the level of education and ability to provide care.
  
  ## Clinicians
  
  * Physician
     * Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS)
     * Doctor of Medicine (M.D.)
     * Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.)
  * Dentist
     * Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS)
     * Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD)
     * Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS)
  * Optometrist
     * Doctor of Optometry (OD)
  * Podiatrist
     * Doctor of Podiatry (DPM)
  * Chiropractor
     * Doctor of Chiropractic (DC)
  * Physician Assistant (PA)
     * Doctor of Medical Science (D.Med.Sc.), (D.M.Sc.)
     * Master of Medical Science (M.Med.Sc), (M.M.Sc.)
     * Master of Physician Assistant Studies (M.P.A.S.)
     * Professional (Second-entry) Bachelor of Science in Physician Assistant (B.Sc.PA.), (B.H.Sc.PA)
  * Pharmacist (R.Ph.)
     * Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD)
     * Master of Pharmacy (MPharm)
     * Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharm)
  
  ## Medical Researchers
  
  * Philosophiae Doctor (Ph.D.)
  * Dr. mr. (Doctor of Medical Research)
  
  ## Allied Health Professionals
  
  * Respiratory practitioner (aka "respiratory therapist" or "respiratory care practitioner") (RRT, CRT)
     * Associate of Science in Respiratory Therapy (ASRT)
     * Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy (BSRT)
     * Master of Science in Respiratory Therapy (MSRT)
  * Paramedic (NRP)
  * Emergency Medical Technician (EMT-B, EMT-I, EMT-IV, EMT-I/99, EMT-I/89, NREMT, NRAEMT)
  * Athletic Trainer (ATC)
     * Bachelor of Science in Athletic Trainer (BS)
     * Masters of Athletic Training (MSAT, MAT)
     * CAATE
     * Board of Certification, Inc. (ATC)
  * Dietician
     * Registered Dietitian (RD)
     * Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)
  * Radiographer and specialties
     * Varies by country, see main article.
  * Occupational therapist
     * Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT)
     * Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)
  * Physical therapist
     * Master of Physical Therapy (MPT)
     * Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
  * Speech therapist/Speech-Language Pathologist
     * Speech and Language Pathologist (SLP)
  * Music therapist
     * Board Certified Music Therapist (MT-BC)
     * Master of Music Therapy (MMT)
  * Surgical technologist
     * Associate of Applied Science in Surgical Technology
  * Medical Laboratory Technician/Medical Laboratory Scientist/Medical Technologist (MLT, MLS, MT)
     * Associate of Science in Medical (Clinical) Laboratory Sciences (ASMLS, ASCLS, degrees, MLT Certification Eligible if from a NAACLS accredited program)
     * Bachelor of Science in Medical (Clinical) Laboratory Sciences (BSMT, BSMLS, BSCLS degrees, MLS Certification Eligible if from a NAACLS accredited program)
     * Masters of Science in Medical (Clinical) Laboratory Sciences (MSMLS, MSCLS degrees)
     * Doctor of Science in Clinical Laboratory Sciences (DSCLS degree)
  
  ## Nursing
  
  * Registered nurse (RN)
     * Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
     * 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, VN)
  * Certified anesthesiologist assistant (CAA)
  
  ## Assistants
  
  * Nurse aide (CNA)
  * Nurse technician (CNT)
  * Care partner (CP)
  * 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)
  * Pharmacy Technician
     * Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT)
  
  ### Therapy assistants
  
  * Physical therapy assistant (PTA)
     * Associate of Applied Science in Physical Therapist Assistant
  * Occupational therapy assistant
     * Associate of Applied Science in Occupational Therapy Assistant(AAS OTA) (COTA)
  
  ## Alternative Medicine
  
  * Naturopaths
     * Naturopathy (ND)
  