You’ve read an article online and the author makes some claims that you wonder about.
Something doesn’t sound quite right.
What Exactly Does “Dr.” Mean?
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The use of the title “Dr.” means that the person has completed an advanced degree program.
While it often refers to an M.D.
or a Ph.D., it can legitimately be used by many others.
Doctoral Degrees
Here are some of the U.S. and Canadian doctoral degrees:
M.D.
Psychiatrists are usually M.D.s, although some are D.O.s.
Ph.D.:Doctor of Philosophy.
This is the traditional academic doctorate.
A Ph.D. is qualified to teach at a college or university.
Psychologists often have this degree.
:Doctor of Psychology.
This is a clinical psychology degree that places more emphasis on practice than research.
programs developed to train practitioners who would keep up with research but might never do much research themselves.
:Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine.
Osteopathic physicians generally get the same residency training as M.D.
Their medical schools include additional training in physical manipulation techniques somewhat similar to chiropractic.
:Doctor of Dental Surgery.A dentist.
:Doctor of Social Work.
An advanced social work degree often held by educators in social work.
:Doctor of Education.
Many schools of education confer this degree.
A recipient can be a psychologist, an educational administrator or someone in another education-related field.
DC:Doctor of Chiropractic.
:Doctor of Ministry.A minister, possibly a doctoral-level pastoral counselor, but not always.
:Doctor of Jurisprudence.
Some mental health professionals also have law degrees.
What If It’s Just “Doctor”?
One prominent example is the popular “Doctor Laura” on the radio.
She is not a psychologist nor a psychiatrist.
Her doctorate, in fact, is in physiology and she is licensed as an M.F.C.C.
Be careful out there!
Relevant degrees include:
M.S.W.
:Master in Social Work.
This is the traditional degree for social workers.
:A person has passed the licensing exam that comes after the degree.
It allows for more independent practice.
:Master in Education.
Many states also license counselors asL.P.C.,Licensed Professional Counselor.
:Master of Scienceor Master of Arts.
These are the traditional degrees given by colleges of arts and sciences.
A psychologist generally needs a doctorate to be licensed.
Some Canadian provinces licensed psychologists with a master’s degree.
A few U.S. states are also beginning to do this.
This is a degree that involves more training than a master’s degree and less than a doctorate.
Some school psychologists have this degree, as do some counselors.
:Master of Divinity.
Another degree that ministers can get, some of whom are pastoral counselors.
Certifications
Other initials stand for certifications in certain areas.
A certification is similar to a license, but with a more limited scope of practice.
Some common certifications are:
CSAC:Certified Substance Abuse Counselor.
This is someone with extra training in substance abuse.
They generally have at least a bachelor’s degree, the basic four-year college degree.
In most states, they cannot practice independently.
CAC:Certified Alcoholism Counselor.
Similar to a CSAC, but with an emphasis on alcohol.
Board Certifications
Physicians generally pass specialty boards to become board-certified in certain specialties.
A.B.P.P:American Board of Professional Psychology.
Psychologists can also become board-certified, but this is an extra credential that many psychologists do not get.
The American Board of Professional Psychology allows psychologists who pass their test to use these initials.
:is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians
B.C.F.E.
:American Board of Forensic Examiners.
