When should someone put education credentials after their names? BS, MBA, MFA, JD, PhD etc etc etc when is it acceptable and at what level?

SGT Larry Prentice — Fri, 11 Dec 2015 12:54:30 -0500

There are so many of these around. When should they be used? I work in higher education and some of these people use three or four in a row after the name. One instructor uses JD, MBA, MPHR, MSCJ. I'm over here like "I have a Bachelor Degree should I add it? Heck I could go with Lawrence Prentice SGT. USA (RET.) BS right? I am sure that I am over thinking this but......

Response by LTC Kevin B. made Dec 11 at 2015 12:57 PM

LTC Kevin B. — Fri, 11 Dec 2015 12:57:18 -0500

I think a graduate degree or above is appropriate. I put it in my signature block, and that's about it. I also use only the highest degree earned. I think the highest degree trumps the lower degrees, so adding multiple degrees is unnecessary. I suppose an argument can be made if someone has two terminal degrees (like a PhD and JD, or a PhD and MD).

Response by SSG Audwin Scott made Dec 11 at 2015 1:18 PM

SSG Audwin Scott — Fri, 11 Dec 2015 13:18:22 -0500

I work in the education field myself and I only have a BAS but who needs to know that? To me it's just those person's in my opinion need this to feel important. It's like some of my co-workers here at work, call them by their first name oh it's Dr., LMBO give me a break lol.

Response by GySgt Ascencion Gomez, D.S.L. made Dec 11 at 2015 1:48 PM

GySgt Ascencion Gomez, D.S.L. — Fri, 11 Dec 2015 13:48:48 -0500

As a public school teacher I forced my student into using proper formal salutation. As a college professor I haven't had to do that. These college students do it naturally. However, the president of our university wants formal proper salutations used i.e. Dr. or professor. As far as correspondences we are required to use masters or doctoral credentials as part of our email signature. I don't recall anyone using baccalaureate degree credentials.

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made Dec 11 at 2015 2:07 PM

TSgt Joshua Copeland — Fri, 11 Dec 2015 14:07:36 -0500

Realistically, only when required by policy or when it is directly related to the subject at hand.

Response by PO3 Sherry Thornburg made Dec 11 at 2015 4:17 PM

PO3 Sherry Thornburg — Fri, 11 Dec 2015 16:17:47 -0500

Decided to go hunt for this answer. Check out https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-nominal_letters.
Basic answer:

In the United States, standard protocol is to place them in this order:
Religious institutes
Theological degrees
Academic degrees
Honorary degrees, honors, decorations
Professional licenses, certifications and affiliations
Retired uniformed service (active duty service brackets the name – e.g., Firefighter John Doe, CFD – and active duty armed services do not display postnominals other than branch of service)[1]

Common practice is to name only the highest degree in a particular discipline (e.g., if one had earned one's BS, MS, and PhD in Biology – even from different schools – as well as an MBA in Management, then the preferred listing would be John Doe, MBA, PhD).

Post-nominal letters. - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Response by SPC John Canning made Dec 11 at 2015 6:32 PM

SPC John Canning — Fri, 11 Dec 2015 18:32:04 -0500

I think Masters and above.

Response by CAPT Tom Bersson made Dec 11 at 2015 9:20 PM

CAPT Tom Bersson — Fri, 11 Dec 2015 21:20:13 -0500

The most common is PhD. Others are less common.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 13 at 2015 3:14 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 13 Dec 2015 03:14:32 -0500

Context is everything. If you are presenting in front of a body of professionals for example, your highest level in that field should be listed for credibility. I co-facilitate a medical awareness class with a nurse, therefore RN is listed after her name on the PowerPoint. I have a co-worker that is a subject matter expert in her discipline, yet she does not feel the necessity to list the fact that she has a Masters degree.

Response by MSG Wally Carmichael made Jan 5 at 2016 7:45 PM

MSG Wally Carmichael — Tue, 05 Jan 2016 19:45:39 -0500

There's one profession that every time I meet someone from that vocation they make a point to say "I'm a certified..." While any level of education is a great accomplishment to the individual who holds such credentials, I've always found most define themselves by the title. Like others have said, when the time is appropriate the credentials are beneficial.

Response by 1LT Aaron Barr made Jan 14 at 2016 10:49 AM

1LT Aaron Barr — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 10:49:10 -0500

I would argue that less than a Masters Degree should never be included and that higher should be included only if such a degree is a requirement for the job. For example, for a doctor to put PhD after his or her name makes sense, ditto for JD for a lawyer. A required certification to practice is probably a good idea as well, ie CPA for accountants. But for me to put BA after my name would make me look ridiculous.

Response by Sgt Brian Hoffman made Jan 17 at 2016 1:56 AM

Sgt Brian Hoffman — Sun, 17 Jan 2016 01:56:12 -0500

In addition to Kevin's sentiments, you'll find cultural norms often vary from one industry to the next. For instance, in many sectors, putting "MBA" in your signature block is frowned upon and thought of as self-aggrandizing. In other sectors, being able to legitimately put "MBA" in your signature block is the most valuable thing about going to business school in the first place. Situation dictates. When I worked in the intelligence and special operations community, there's no way I would have put MBA in my signature block - perhaps because it would have been viewed as irrelevant and self-indulgent. However, as a business consultant, I am often given credibility arguably before I yet deserve because the degree is in the sig block.

Response by 2LT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 21 at 2017 7:18 PM

2LT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 21 Apr 2017 19:18:57 -0400

It should be noted that any time you are communicating in your military capacity you should use your rank and NO post-nominals. No sort of post-nominal abbreviation ... professional, academic, religious .. is ever used with a rank. Example of a CPT in the Army: Captain John Smith, USA. Even if he has a doctorate, you leave it out if rank is being used.

HOWEVER, if you are retired working in a civilian job, then you should use the form that supports that job and should not be using military rank and retired – it is a misrepresentation. You are an employee of the new employer and representing the new employer in your new official position – not the military. Those present because they are on active duty are Rank (Name); Those present, because they are working in a civilian role, are Mr./Ms. (Name). In this case you should not use your military rank and instead use the most applicable post-nominal to your specific job. In a social situation you can use your retired rank. Note that rank comes before the name, so as a retiree yours should be SGT Lawrence Prentice, USA, Ret. Also, (RET) is an incorrect usage, it's either USA, Retired, or USA, Ret.

Also, email signature blocks are different from written ones. Here is the proper formula for a DoD email signature block:
1) The NAME IS CAPITALIZED, followed by rank, then service on the first line.
2) The duty title is on the second line.
3) Other information such as in address, phone, cell, classified e-mail address, etc. Many people include a full mailing address as that would typically appear on official letterhead.
So a formula would be:
NAME, Rank, Branch of Service
Duty line / Name of office
Mailing Address
Phone Number(s)
Which look like this:
DEBORAH LASSITER, Lt Col, USAF
Title of Position
Name of Office
Pentagon, Room, Washington, D.C. Zip Code
Phone: [login to see]
Cell: [login to see]
or
TIMOTHY W. THOMPSON, LTC, USA
Title of Position
Name of Office
Address, Washington, D.C. Zip Code
Phone: [login to see]
So based on that a retired address block might look like:
DANIEL C. WALLACE, MSgt. USAF, Ret.
Mailing Address
Phone: [login to see]
But once again you wouldn't use this form of address block for a civilian job.

I got all of this info from http://www.formsofaddress.info/post_nominals.html#174 and there's a ton more on there for anyone interested. It's actually a very very complicated question when you dig way into it.

Post-Nominal Abbreviations

Honor and Respect: Names, Titles, and Forms of Address

Response by LTC Ivan Raiklin, Esq. made Apr 24 at 2017 3:59 PM

LTC Ivan Raiklin, Esq. — Mon, 24 Apr 2017 15:59:57 -0400

I believe that "Esquire" would be appropriate, however, anything else should be placed in a resume under the education section.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 24 at 2017 7:12 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Apr 2017 19:12:06 -0400

If you're proud of it, which you should be, put it on there. It's an accomplishment, which in turn makes you accomplished.

Response by MCPO Brian Legg made Apr 25 at 2017 10:36 AM

MCPO Brian Legg — Tue, 25 Apr 2017 10:36:55 -0400

Great question.
I hesitate to add to all the great answers already listed, but in my humble opinion, education credentials are appropriate when used in address to positions which require the credentials. For instance, when I go to the doctors' office, I would like to see my doctor with the title M.D. after their name in either posted or written correspondence; however, when I am corresponding with that same person outside of the medical complex I do not expect to see those credentials listed.

Typically in higher education the terminal degree is listed (PhD, EdD, DMin, MFA, etc.). A secondary degree may be listed if it is not trumped by the progressive terminal degree. For instance, a Dmin would not also include a MDiv, but a PhD may also list an MBA if in a different context and is working in both domains.

Thanks,
Brian