Displaying Your Credentials Proudly and Properly

National Certification Commission

® for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine

By Kory Ward-Cook, Ph.D., CAE, MT (ASCP), Chief Executive Officer and Mina Larson, M.S., Deputy Director of NCCAOM

One thing for certain about the credentials is a personal one. In most in the issuing state. Using the case above, acupuncture and Oriental medicine cases, one should list the lowest to the if Joe Smith is a licensed acupuncturist, (AOM) community is the number of highest degree earned, such as “Mary typically his designations would be impressive credentials that many AOM Smith, M.S., Ph.D.”. The preferred method displayed as Joe Smith, D.O.M., MBA, practitioners hold. Judging from the is to list only the highest academic degree, L.Ac. (or other similar designation). variety of ways these credentials are for example, only the Ph.D. even though Some states have also protected the titles displayed on business cards, publications, you may have earned a Masters degree they use in their regulations or statutes, and everywhere else, there is much as well. If you have also earned a Masters such as doctor of Oriental medicine confusion about how to use and list (M.S., MOM, MBA, etc.); however, you (D.O.M.). Although these titles are credentials correctly. AOM practitioners may want to highlight it if the degree is recognized for licensure, you cannot who devote years to earning their important to your career at the current use a protected credential in that state credentials should proudly display them; time. For example, you may have a D.O.M. unless authorized to do so by the board however, it is equally important to list degree, but you may wish to highlight or commission that governs practice of them correctly. that you earned an MBA, if, for instance, acupuncture. To do so would be violating you are running a clinic or another type Before we can start using credentials law in that state. This is not an acedemic of business. Your degrees would then be correctly, we need to understand the title. designated, Joe Smith, M.S., OMD. definition of each credential, how it is categorized and, subsequently, how it Professional Certification should be displayed after a practitioner’s State Licensure Titles for name. The following is a brief description Acupuncturists (e.g., L.Ac., These credentials are awarded by a of the different types of credentials used AP, DOM) nationally recognized, usually accredited, by professionals, along with the correct certifying body, such as the National manner in which they should be used: A state licensure credential is generally Certification Commission for Acupuncture awarded based on the completion of a and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM)®. Academic Degree (e.g., M.S., specified educational program, and the These professional certification credentials successful passing of a national licensure are linked to the knowledge, skills and J.D., Ph.D., Ed.D., OMD, etc.) or certification exam along with other abilities competencies for a particular Academic credentials are awarded requirements specified by the state profession which must be validated based on the completion of a particular issuing the credential. There needs to be through a national role delineation or educational program earned at an documentation of meeting predetermined job task analysis. Certifications like the accredited college or university. The educational training and/or a competency CAE (Certified Association Executive) choice of whether to use all of your degree assessment standard. The licensure from the American Society of Association credential allows the person to practice Executive’s certification commission would

also be included here as a professional NCCAOM certification indicates to credential. National certifications can be employers, patients, and peers that one entry-level or advanced certifications such has met national standards for the safe as nurse practitioner. For practitioners and competent practice of acupuncture in the AOM community who have and Oriental medicine as defined by the earned an entry-level certification from profession. National board certification in the NCCAOM, the designations are: acupuncture, Chinese herbology, Asian Dipl. O.M. (NCCAOM)®, Dipl. Ac. bodywork therapy and Oriental medicine (NCCAOM)®, Dipl. C.H. (NCCAOM)® has been the mark of excellence in AOM and Dipl. ABT (NCCAOM)®. Most since the inception of each certification national certification organizations have program. It is for this reason that the their certification designation registered by NCCAOM encourages all NCCAOM the United States Patent and Trade Office. Diplomates to correctly and uniformly Multiple NCCAOM credentials should be utilize their credentials after their name listed as Dipl. Ac. & ABT (NCCAOM)®, along with the initials of NCCAOM in Dipl. Ac. & C.H. (NCCAOM)®, and Dipl. parenthesis followed by the registration Ac., C.H. & ABT (NCCAOM)®. symbol ® (e.g., (NCCAOM)®). NCCAOM received registration for all Other Credentials of its trademarks from the United States Patent and Trademark Office in 2008. These can include a variety of things like These trademarks include theNCCAOM achieving a certificate for computer skills, acronym, NCCAOM logo, NCCAOM for instance, those who earn a certificate service or accomplishments in a particular tagline, “Public Service Through Quality through Microsoft. These credentials area. Generally these are not listed Credentials”, and service marks for may or may not be associated with the as designations after the individual’s Acupuncture, Chinese Herbology, profession or license, but they do indicate name, but instead are listed on a Asian Bodywork Therapy and Oriental additional skill sets a person has acquired resume or curriculum vitae. Examples Medicine. The registration mark must through education or testing. Typically of these designations are the Fulbright ® also follow these trademarks as they are these are awarded after a specified course Distinguished Senior Fellowship or a registered marks with the United States content has been completed or mastered. Distinguished Scholar or Teacher Award Patent and Trademark Office. An example is the clean needle technique from a university. course. Another type of credential is one to The NCCAOM service marks, which qualify for membership or a membership The NCCAOM Certification were introduced in 2005, were designed status. Examples of these designations Credentials to brand the four NCCAOM Certification would be a “Fellow” designation. These Programs; Acupuncture, Chinese may be earned on the basis of earning It is puzzling to see the number of certified Herbology, Oriental Medicine and Asian professional credentials through an NCCAOM Diplomates who do not list Bodywork Therapy. As each service mark assessment process or professional service their national certification credentials. has now been registered with the USPTO, criteria. A recent example in the AOM One of the benefits of becoming certified Diplomates can promote or identify their community is the Fellow of the American by the NCCAOM is the distinction of certification through the use of their Board of Oriental Reproductive Medicine using your Diplomate credential. It is a distinct service marks. For example, a (FABORM). considerable professional achievement Diplomate of Acupuncture can use the to earn the designation “NCCAOM NCCAOM acupuncture service mark to Awards or Honors Diplomate of Oriental Medicine, promote their credential on a website, Diplomate of Acupuncture, Diplomate of brochure, etc. Active Diplomates can These awards are given to individuals Chinese Herbology or Diplomate of Asian contact Mina Larson at publicrelations@ who are selected for their outstanding Bodywork Therapy” from the NCCAOM. thenccaom.org to receive an electronic

version of the service marks with the last. It is the hope that all practitioners References: registration symbol ®. will use this chart as a guide. See the chart below for examples of properly displayed For additional information on the credentials: different types of acronyms, please go to Proper Display of Credentials http://acronyms.thefreedictionary.com/ Below is a chart that displays the accurate Proper Display of Designations For more information on state designated designations for each NCCAOM titles for acupuncturists, please go to the certification, as well as academic for NCCAOM Certifications NCCAOM website at http://www.nccaom. credentials and other designations. Also with Other Credentials and org/regulation-affairs/state-licensure-map included in the chart are examples of how Designations to designate more than one NCCAOM For more information on NCCAOM certification, along with other credentials Please remember that educating the professional certifications, go to and how to list your credentials in the public about what your credentials mean www.nccaom.org proper order. It is important to remember is your responsibility. If you are applying that your academic degree is listed first, for a particular job, giving an important directly after your name, then your presentation or promoting your practice, certification and finally your licensure title. you can be assured that displaying The general rule of thumb is “Follow your your degrees and credentials properly name with the credential that is least likely will provide an essential professional to be taken away, in descending order, with touch to all of your documents and awards or fellowship designations last”. communications. You worked hard to get If multiple certifications are earned, the your credentials, so by all means use them most recently earned one is usually placed correctly – and have them pay off for you.

Proper Usage of Credentials and Service Marks

CHINESE ASIAN BODYWORK ORIENTAL MULTIPLE NCCAOM ACUPUNCTURE HERBOLOGY THERAPY MEDICINE CREDENTIALS

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John Smith, John Smith, John Smith, John Smith, John Smith, Dipl. Ac. (NCCAOM)® Dipl. C.H. (NCCAOM)® Dipl. ABT (NCCAOM)® Dipl. O.M. (NCCAOM)® Dipl. Ac. & C.H. (NCCAOM)® John Smith, M.A., John Smith, MBA, J.D., John Smith, M.O.M., John Smith, Ph.D., Dipl. Ac. (NCCAOM)®, AP Dipl. C.H. (NCCAOM)®, Dipl. ABT (NCCAOM)®, Dipl. O.M. (NCCAOM)®, John Smith, L.Ac., RD CP., AOBTA® L.Ac., FABORM Dipl. Ac., C.H. & ABT (NCCAOM)®