Credentials Explained

"What are all those letters behind your name?" That question is asked quite often. I know it's a mouthful sometimes. Credentials can be confusing because to be a mental health practitioner, you need a master's degree and some sort of certification through a board, which usually includes exams, being credentialed, and having to adhere to specific ethical codes. So, if you've checked out our profiles or been to a session and seen our names on the door with a lot of letters, here's a quick crash course on what they stand for:

MSW: Masters of Social Work

MS: Master of Science

MA: Master of Arts

LCSW: Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Once the MSW degree is earned, then you take a state licensing exam to be credentialed.

BCD: Board Certified Diplomat The BCD is issued by the American Board of Examiners (ABE) to those who can demonstrate their ability to practice advanced-generalist clinical social work at a high level of  competency. For healthcare delivery systems seeking a true measure of advanced competency, the BCD is the gold standard.

LAPC: Licensed Associate Professional Counselor, which is the provisional licensure for an individual who is just beginning clinical work. It means that you can provide counseling, but report to a supervisor.

LPCC: Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, which is a licensure for therapists.

LPCC-S: Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, Supervisor, which allows a therapist to serve as a supervisor to counselors who have their provisional licensure.

MSN: Master's of Science in Nursing

BSN: Bachelor of Science in Nursing

ADN: Associate's Degree in Nursing

RN: Registered Nurse

APRN: Advanced Practice Registered Nurse

PMHNP-BC: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Board Certified: This allows a practitioner to prescribe medication and provide counseling services.