Editing Suffix (name) (section)

== Post-nominal letters ==
{{main|Post-nominal letters}}
{{Contradicts other|date=March 2014|1=Post-nominal letters}}

=== Academic ===
Academic suffixes indicate the degree earned at a [[college]] or [[university]]. These include [[bachelor's degree]]s (AB, BA, BS, BE, BFA, BTech, LLB, BSc, etc.), [[master's degree]]s ([[Master of Arts|MA]], MS, MFA, LLM, [[Landscape architecture|MLA]], MBA, MSc, MEng etc.), professional [[doctorate]]s ([[Juris Doctor|JD]], [[Doctor of Medicine|MD]], [[Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine|DO]], [[PharmD]], [[DMin]], etc.), and academic [[doctorate]]s (PhD, EdD, DPhil, DBA, LLD, EngD, etc.)

In the case of doctorates, normally either the prefix (e.g. "Dr" or "Atty") or the [[suffix]] (see examples above) is used, but not both. In the United States, the suffix is the preferred format (thus allowing differentiation between types of doctorate) in written documentation.
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Degree
!Type
!Suffix
|-
|Bachelor's
|Bachelor of Arts
|A.B. or B.A.
|-
|
|Bachelor of Education
|B.Ed <ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-23 |title=Bachelor's Degree {{!}} Definition, History, Education, & Years {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/bachelors-degree |access-date=2024-03-28 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|
|Bachelor of Fine Arts 
|B.F.A.
|-
|
|Bachelor of Science
|B.S., B.Sc. , or B.E.
|-
|
|Bachelor of Technology
|B.Tech. or B.T
|-
|
|Bachelor of Laws
|L.L.B. or J.D.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What is the difference between the LL.B. degree and the J.D.degree? - Ask a Librarian! |url=https://asklib.law.harvard.edu/faq/115308#:~:text=%E2%80%A6the%20LL.,States,%20the%20Bachelor%20of%20Laws. |access-date=2024-03-28 |website=asklib.law.harvard.edu}}</ref>
|-
|Master's
|Master of Arts
|M.A.
|-
|
|Master of Business Administration
|M.B.A.
|-
|
|Master of Fine Arts
|M.F.A.
|-
|
|Master of Liberal Arts
|M.L.A.
|-
|
|Master of Science
|M.S. or M.Sc.
|-
|
|Master of Social Work
|M.S.W.
|-
|
|Master of Laws
|M.L. or LL.M.
|}

=== Honorary ===
Such titles may be given by:

* a [[monarch]] (for example, KBE, a suffix granted to Knights Commander of the [[Order of the British Empire]]);
* a [[university]] (as in a [[LLD]] (Doctor of Laws) given in recognition of a person's life achievements rather than their academic standing);
* a [[Church body|church]] or seminary, who may offer an honorary [[Doctor of Divinity]] (DD) to outstanding ministers or teachers.

==== Esquire ====
The style ''[[Esq.]]'' or ''[[Esquire]]'' was once used to distinguish a man who was an apprentice to a knight and is used for a man of socially high ranking. In the United States, ''Esq.'' is used as a professional styling for a licensed attorney. In the United Kingdom, it is largely obsolete but occasionally used by untitled males in social and business contexts.<ref>{{cite web|title=Titles – Forms of Address: Untitled Men|url=http://www.debretts.com/forms-address/titles/untitled-men|publisher=[[Debrett's|debretts.com]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160528223726/http://www.debretts.com/forms-address/titles/untitled-men|archive-date=28 May 2016}}</ref>

=== Professional ===
{{Globalize|date=July 2011|discuss=Talk:Suffix (name)#Globalize |section}}

Professional titles include [[Esq.]], often used for an [[Lawyer|attorney]] (but not necessarily) in the United States who has passed a state bar examination, and CSA (casting) and ASCAP, which indicate membership in professional societies. The suffix CA is used for individuals who have completed the requirements to become a [[Chartered Accountant]]. The suffix CPA is also used for individuals who have completed the requirements to become a [[Certified Public Accountant]]. Similarly, [[Chartered Financial Analyst]]s use the suffix CFA. Sommeliers (restaurant wine professionals) who have passed the [[Master Sommelier]] exam use the MS suffix. Engineers that are certified as a [[Professional Engineer]] in his or her state will use the suffix PE (PEng in Canada), Certified Professional Geologists use PG, Certified Professional Logisticians use CPL, and [[Chartered Engineer]]s use CEng. Likewise, [[Registered Architect]]s sometimes use the suffix RA, or more often a suffix such as AIA or RIBA that refers to their professional society. Examination Office personnel within the United Kingdom who are registered with the Examination Officers' Association use MEOA. In the United States, professional archaeologists registered with the [[Register of Professional Archaeologists]] use the suffix RPA.

[[Project manager]]s that have obtained certification as [[Project Management Professional]]s from the [[Project Management Institute]] may use the suffix PMP after their name. Similarly, individuals who hold certifications in the field of [[information security]]—e.g.&nbsp;[[ISACA|CISA]], [[CISSP]], and/or [[ISACA|CISM]]—may use them as suffixes.

The suffix PT is used by Physical Therapists to denote their state certification, but not to be confused with DPT (Doctor of Physical Therapy) which is a qualifying degree. British physiotherapists prefer to use MCSP or SRP to denote membership to professional bodies. RN is used by qualified nurses as a suffix.

Officers and enlisted in the [[United States Military]] will add an abbreviation of the service frequently to disambiguate seniority, and reserve status. For example, Captain Smith, USN (O-6), outranks Captain Jones, USMC (O-3).

Red Seal certified trades people in Canada can use the Red Seal Endorsement (RSE) acronym.

=== Religious orders ===
Members of [[religious institute]]s commonly use their institute's initials as a suffix. For example, a [[Franciscan]] [[friar]] uses the post-nominal initials [[Order of Friars Minor|OFM]], derived from the order's name in [[Latin language|Latin]], {{lang|la|Ordo Fratrum Minorum}} (Order of Friars Minor). Equally, a [[Viatorian]] [[priesthood (Catholic Church)|priest]] uses the suffix "CSV" from the name of his religious institute, {{lang|la|Clerici Santi Viatori}} ([[Clerics of Saint Viator]]). These initials are not considered by members of religious institutes as an equivalent to academic or honorary post-nominial initials, but rather as a sign of membership in a particular religious lineage.

=== Ordering ===
{{See also|Orders, decorations, and medals of the Commonwealth realms}}

In some [[English-speaking world|English-speaking countries]], the arrangement of post-nominal letters is governed by rules of precedence, and this list is sometimes called the "Order of Wear" (for the wearing of medals).