Healthcare credentials abbreviations are the letters after a clinician's name, such as MD, DO or PA-C, that show their degree, license or certification. This hub also covers the short names for care team roles, hospital units and the records and coding terms printed on bills and forms.
Knowing the letters helps you understand who signed a note, who will see you next and where a family member is being moved. Students and new staff can use the tables below as a quick reference for badge titles and unit names.
At a glance
Covers
Degrees, licenses, therapy roles, units, records termsWhere you see it
Badges, signature lines, room signs, bills and portal messagesDegree versus license
Some letters show schooling, others show a license or certificationMultiple meanings
PT, CNS and RRT each have more than one common useRelated hub
Why healthcare credentials abbreviations matter to patients
In a single hospital stay, a patient might meet a physician, a physician assistant, a nurse practitioner, several nurses, a therapist and a medical assistant. The letters on a badge or under a signature tell you each person's training and role. They also help you know whom to ask about what.
Portal message signature: a name followed by "MSN, APRN, FNP-BC." The sender holds a master's degree in nursing, is an advanced practice registered nurse, and is board certified as a family nurse practitioner. The FNP-BC entry explains that last set of letters.
Physicians and advanced practice clinicians
These titles belong to clinicians who can diagnose conditions, order tests and prescribe medicines, within the rules set by each state. The degree letters often come first, followed by license and certification letters.
| Letters | Title | In brief |
|---|---|---|
| MD | Doctor of Medicine | Physician degree |
| DO | Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine | Physician degree with added training in the musculoskeletal system |
| PA | Physician assistant | Also called physician associate |
| PA-C | Physician assistant, certified | PA who holds national certification |
| APRN | Advanced practice registered nurse | Umbrella term for nurse practitioners, midwives and others |
| FNP | Family nurse practitioner | Nurse practitioner who cares for all ages |
| CNM | Certified nurse midwife | Pregnancy, birth and gynecologic care |
| DNP | Doctor of Nursing Practice | A degree, not a separate license |
| APP | Advanced practice provider | Group name for PAs and nurse practitioners |
| PCP | Primary care provider | Your main clinician for general care |
Therapy and support roles
Therapists and assistants carry out much of the daily work of recovery and clinic visits. Some of these letters also have unrelated clinical meanings, so context matters.
| Letters | Role |
|---|---|
| PT | Physical therapy or physical therapist |
| OT | Occupational therapy or occupational therapist |
| SLP | Speech language pathologist |
| RT | Respiratory therapist |
| RRT | Registered respiratory therapist |
| MA | Medical assistant |
| CMA | Certified medical assistant |
RRT can also mean rapid response team in a hospital note, and PT can mean patient or a clotting test. CNS may be a clinical nurse specialist or the central nervous system.
Hospital units and care settings
Unit names tell you the level of care. A move from a critical care unit to a regular floor, or from the hospital to a skilled nursing facility, is often a step forward in recovery.
| Letters | Place |
|---|---|
| ED | Emergency department |
| OR | Operating room |
| PACU | Post anesthesia care unit, where people wake after surgery |
| CCU | Coronary or cardiac care unit |
| SNF | Skilled nursing facility, short term rehab and nursing care |
| LTC | Long term care |
A note that says a patient came from an OSH means an outside hospital, and PCU is a progressive care unit, a step between intensive care and a regular floor.
Records, coding and specialty labels
These terms appear on bills, privacy notices and referral forms. Specialty labels also turn up as department names, such as a referral to GI or ENT.
| Letters | Meaning |
|---|---|
| EHR | Electronic health record |
| PHI | Protected health information |
| CPT | Current Procedural Terminology, the procedure code set |
| DRG | Diagnosis related group, a hospital payment category |
| GI | Gastrointestinal, the digestive tract specialty |
| ENT | Ear, nose and throat |
Coding trainees will see these alongside diagnosis codes; the conditions themselves are grouped in the diagnosis hub, and procedure names in the surgery hub.
Tips for reading names, titles and signatures
- Degree letters such as MD, DO, MSN or DNP show education; letters such as APRN, PA-C or CMA show a license, role or certification.
- Doctor can refer to anyone with a doctoral degree, so ask about a person's role if you are unsure.
- The person who signs a note is the best one to answer questions about it.
- Students and trainees often wear a badge that says so, and their notes are reviewed and cosigned by a licensed clinician.
- Unit letters on a whiteboard or transfer form often tell families where to go next; ask the nurse for directions and visiting rules.
Titles explain training and role in general terms. If you are unsure who should handle part of your own care, the clinic that treats you can point you to the right person.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between an MD and a DO?
Both are fully licensed physicians who complete medical school and residency. DO programs add training in the musculoskeletal system and hands on techniques, but both can practice in any specialty.
What does PA-C mean after a name?
It means physician assistant, certified. The C shows the PA has passed a national certification exam and keeps it current.
Is a nurse practitioner the same as an APRN?
A nurse practitioner is one type of APRN. The APRN group also includes certified nurse midwives, clinical nurse specialists and nurse anesthetists.
What does SNF mean on discharge papers?
SNF means skilled nursing facility, a place that provides nursing care and rehabilitation after a hospital stay. People often say it as sniff.
What is the difference between an EHR and an EMR?
An EMR, electronic medical record, usually means the digital chart kept by one practice. An EHR, electronic health record, is built to share information across different clinics, hospitals and labs. In everyday speech many people use the two names as if they were the same thing.