#How to add the degrees after your name license
#How to add the degrees after your name professional

Think of the public confusion when they don’t understand the meaning of all those letters. We should do this for that elusive credibility that we want, but most importantly, for our profession.

What we need is clarity and uniformity that exhibits correctness. Why do we write RDH after our names? Why are we confused? Where did this misuse originate? It is probably fruitless and inconsequential to devote time to answering these questions, but it’s not too late to correct the way we write the letters after our names. These accepted guidelines for listing degrees, licenses, and credentials may have become blurred in dental hygiene. But there are accepted guidelines that contradict this practice. How do you identify yourself? If you identify first as a hygienist, you’re likely to sign your name on letterheads, business cards, and emails with the RDH after your name.

#How to add the degrees after your name professional

What does this certification mean? In the context of adding letters after our names, it is a display to show that a professional body has determined that skills and knowledge have been attained and we have the right to announce it. These letters tell the profession that you have authority and certification to practice. What does licensure mean? It means that a licensing agency vouches for your education and competence, hence the DH (dental hygienist), RDH (registered dental hygienist), or LDH (licensed dental hygienist).

#How to add the degrees after your name license

If you practice dental hygiene, you’re required to keep the license active or registered in the state where you practice. The fact that jurisdictional statutes require dental hygienists to maintain an active or registered status does not reflect our educational degree. I understand the sense of pride and belonging when we display our credentials, but what is the protocol for the letters we add after our names? In other words, just what is the proper way to list our degrees, licenses, and credentials? Even that is not a degree but the name of the profession. It may be that we followed the example of registered nurses, or RNs. Where did the idea of placing the RDH credential after one’s name come from? Who started it? If someone can answer this, I would ask that he or she enlighten us all. But hygienists earning any of these degrees do not come away with an “RDH degree.” We can celebrate the fact that a doctorate degree in dental hygiene (DDH) is now offered. Many programs also offer bachelor of science in dental hygiene (BSDH) degrees and the master of science degree in dental hygiene (MSDH).

She has a bachelor’s degree in English literature.There is no dental hygiene program that issues an “RDH degree.” Entry level dental hygiene educational institutions that are accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation grant associate in applied science (AAS) degrees in dental hygiene.

The word “degree” should not follow an abbreviation: The preferred form is to spell out degrees and avoid abbreviations. Bowman, M.D.īachelor of Science in Business Administration do not use them in combination with any other title or with abbreviations indicating scholastic or academic degrees