How to Use Post Nominals for a Masters Degree?            
What Are the Post Nominals for my Degree?            
What Order for Post Nominals?            
How to Include "Fellow" Among Post Nominals?            
How to Punctuate Mulitple Post-Nominals?            
How Many Post-Nominals Should I Use?            
How to Use M.D. on my Checks?            
May I use Dr. After My Name As a Post Nominal?            
What is the Post Nominal for an Attorney? Esq.? J.D.?            
How to Use I, II, III, etc            

How to Punctuate Multiple Post Nominals?
     I've come across your interesting "Forms of Address" web site and it shed light on some questions I've been wondering about post nominals. However, I'm unsure of the punctuation to be used in multiple post nominals. Could you please explain how I would use punctuation when citing a MBA and a Master of Project Management (MPM)?
              -- Neil in Brisbane

Dear Neil:
    Do you mean punctuation between serial post nominals?
            Neil Henderson, PhD, MBA, BA
    Use of periods within post nominals is a matter of style, so just be consistent.
            Neil Henderson, Ph.D., M.P.M., B.A.
            Neil Henderson, PhD, MPM, BA
    There are rules for ordering post nominals .... 'high' to 'low' within a category ... and if they are equal, I'd do them in alphabetical order.
              -- Robert Hickey

Thanks for the reply; I was interested in the punctuation between serial post nominals and you've answered my question perfectly! Also helpful is your recommendation for ordering them alphabetically. I will observe this structure when using post nominals in the future.
              -- Neil in Brisbane

How Do Abbreviate and Order Academic Post Nominals?
    Good morning Mr. Hickey!  I have searched and searched without success as to how to abbreviate: (1) Doctorate in Education Administration which I have just recently completed and have been awarded this Post Graduate Degree and (2) What is the order of the abbreviations (post nominal’s) for: Doctorate, R.N., BSN, MSN, and CNS (Clinical Nurse Specialist – which is a Certificate of Authority to Practice as a Clinical Nurse Specialist and Advanced Certificate afforded by my completion of a graduate degree in Nsy (MSN) and completion of a written and oral exam.  I greatly appreciate your assistance in this matter. Very Respectfully,
         -- JEB, NC, USN, Kensington, Maryland

Dear JEB:
    I don't know the preferred post-nominal abbreviation for a Doctorate in Educational Administration. I could guess ... but suggest you call a secretary in the Dean of the Department of Education's office at the University and ask. The most critical eyes on whether a particular post nominal is the best/preferred one .... won't be those of us who don't have that degree ... but those that do.
    Rank your academic degrees in precedence order ... e.g., Masters before Bachelors.  Often people just list the highest degree within a discipline since the highest 'trumps' the lower ones  ... but if they have an RN and a MBA might list both since they are in different fields. Then list certificates after that. If you have more than one within any category .... and can't decide which ranks higher ... then default to alphabetical.
    One more thing .... not knowing exactly where you work  ..... those NOT in academia tend to include fewer academic post nominals ... e.g., they might just list the RN and the Doctorate in Education.
    And ... those in academia tend to include more in an academic journal on their by-line for an professional article, you might see every degree listed .... and yet that same person might use fewer on their business card.
                   -- Robert Hickey

May I use Dr. as a Post-Nominal Abbreviation?
    I have a Doctor of Laws from a law school. Is it proper for me to use "Dr."  after my name in additon to J.D.? Is the order J.D., Dr.? Or should I use Esq., Dr.?   Thank you for your assistance.
         -- Kevin Greenhutt
            Greenhutt, Macy, Cline, & Heffner

Dear Mr. Greenhutt:
     The rule is to use either an honorific before the name or a post-nominal abbreviation after the name .... But not both.
     More often the question comes from M.D.'s who all use "Dr." so they are
         Kevin Greenhutt, M.D. ..... officially on a letter to his office
         Dr. Kevin Greenhutt .... socially on a letter to his home
    In no circumstance would Dr. appear after your name.
    Usually I observe that attorneys in academia specify J.D. ... Kevin Greenhutt, J.D. ... so they are are using a form parallel to their academic colleagues who are specific as to their degrees ... Ph.D., D.M., D.Div. etc.
    Most practicing attorneys use Esq.
         Kevin Greenhutt, Esq.
    But definitely not both J.D. and Esq.
    FYI, your question is answered in my book on page 161.
                   -- Robert Hickey

How Do I Write My Name as an Attorney?
    I am not sure if I should show my name on publications as Kenneth L. Millard, Jr. followed by "Esq., Dr." or "Dr., Esq." or just "Esq."  Any help would be appreciated.
         -- Kenneth L. Millard, Jr.

Dear Mr. Millard:
    The most traditional form for a practicing attorney would be ... e.g., on letterhead:
          Kenneth L. Millard, Jr., Esq.
     If you are the author of a article that's published in a academic journal, then using your specific academic degree is pertinent and traditional:
          Kenneth L. Millard, Jr., J.D.
     I have not encountered any practicing attorneys who request to be addressed as:
          Dr. Kenneth L. Millard, Jr. or in conversation as Dr. Millard
     Dr. would definitely not be used after the name in any circumstance.
                   -- Robert Hickey

How Many Post Nominals for Which Degrees to Use?
     I have a Doctor of Medicine degree, Master of Science in Technical Management, Master of Science in Chemistry, and BS in Biochemistry.  I have only ever used MY NAME, MD.  I see other physicians using THEIR NAME, MD, MS to identify the fact that they have a master’s degree.  Which is correct?
          -- KTW

Dear KTW:
    Most professionals use just the highest and most pertinent post nominals. Medical professionals in practice often use just MD, and after that their professional affiliations for their specialty.
     Those in academia are likely to use the post nominals for every degree they hold. In that world all of them are pertinent since they are the currency of their arena.
     So I'd say there is no correct or incorrect way, but rather you deciding what is the clearest way to explain to a person reading your name ... what credentials you have ... that are useful to them.
            -- Robert Hickey

Do I Use My Medical Degree's Initials on My Checks?
Dear Mr. Hickey:
How should my name appear on my checks "Dr. Cynthia Brodart" or "Cynthia Brodart, M.D." ?
         --- Cynthia Brodart

Dear Dr. Brodart:
     On your checks use "Cynthia Brodart, M.D."
     One never gives oneself an honorific, so don't list yourself as "Dr. Cynthia Brodart".  Others address me as "Mr. Hickey" but I don't introduce myself by "Hello, I am Mr. Hickey."
    That said, sometimes medical doctors do identify themselves as "Dr. (surname)" in medical situations so the patient is certain that he or she is a physician and not a technician in a white coat. It comforting to us patients sitting in a backless gown to know you are the physician when you enter the exam room!
            -- Robert Hickey

When to Use Post Nominals for a Master's Degree?
     Are people who have earned Masters degrees in post-graduate school 'entitled' to put that designation behind their names?  I am used to seeing PhD, but when I see MBA it makes me wonder?
     -- Marcia Milburn, Beltsville, Maryland

Dear Ms. Milburn:
    Holders of a master degree working in academia or research use their post-nominal abbreviations for their  degrees because the degrees are part of the fabric of the institution’s hierarchy.
    Holders of a master degree that is essential to their professional practice do too.    
    Some examples include:
    * On an academic paper, an author would put the post nominals for his or her degree after their name, e.g. B.A., B.S., or M.A.
    * An administrator at a scientific research facility with a Masters might include those post nominals on his or her card: degrees are pertinent at the institution.
    * A psychotherapist will include the post nominals for their degree (e.g., MSW for Master of Social Work) since it defines their credentials to be a counselor, their eligibility for insurance reimbursement, and clarifies their training from those with a "Master of Counseling" or a "Doctorate in Psychology."
    Other than those circumstances, noting one’s masters (or bachelors) is infrequent. A degree that does not certify you to a specific profession is rarely used.
     Contrast that to including the post nominal JD (a degree) ... or CPA (a professional certification) – which both are used all the time and denote one’s qualifications to do a certain task.
                     -- Robert Hickey

How to Order Post-Nominal Abbreviations?
      I've recently switched careers into nursing and have noticed that the order for post nominals, which I had previously thought went in the order of [degree] [licensure] [certification], is frequently violated.  The licensure, RN, is placed either before or after the degree, or multiple degrees of the same type are listed.  What exactly is the proper way for a nurse to list their degree(s), licensure (RN), and professional certification(s)?
     -- Kyle in Chicago

Dear Kyle:
     The sequence I use is much like yours ....
           [academic degrees] [professional certifications] [memberships/associations]
     To determine the sequence of post nominals within a category you'd order them in some logical way ... most important to least important OR alphabetical if you thought they were equal. Alpha is how the British list honors ... and they include many, many, more honors that we do in the US.
    -- Robert Hickey

How to Include "Fellow" with Post-Nominal Abbreviations?
    We’d like to present a retired corporate officer some corporate business cards. The person has a Ph.D., is a Fellow of a prestigious professional organization e.g., ABC Fellow, and has retired as Managing Director, International Division.
What is the most appropriate designation on his business card now that he has no formal corporate responsibilities?
            Dr. James Doe, ABC Fellow
                      Managing Director, International Division, Ret.
            James Doe, Ph.D., ABC Fellow
                      Managing Director, International Division, Ret.
            Dr. James Doe, Ph.D., ABC Fellow
                      Managing Director, International Division, Ret.
     Dr. and Ph.D. sound redundant. Is it appropriate to use both? What is the best format in this case?
          -- Ike E.

Dear Ike E.:
    Yes ... Dr. and Ph.D. are redundant ... Ph.D. is used professionally in writing ... Dr. in conversation and socially ... so use James Doe, Ph.D.  on the card.
    I have a chapter in my book just on abbreviations and post-nominals. What most frequently appears as a post-nominal abbreviation (in the US) is an advanced academic degree ... M.B.A., M.D., D.D. ... or a professional certification ... A.I.A., A.S.I.D., C.P.A.  Those are initials, not words. I am not familiar with seeing a word like "fellow" included in a post-nominal abbreviation. I would think that the word fellow would be more appropriately included in an introduction or in a bio rather than as a post nominal.
    But, there are many traditions. Call the organization in question and find out how they see other members using the designation.  Usually I call the public relations department where editors will be knowledgeable -- OR a secretary in the president's office will know. It will be in James Doe's interactions with the other fellows he'll encounter that will provide the most critical eyes as to whether it's "right" or not.
    Either Ret. or Retired is fine: Your form for Managing Director, International Division, Ret. seems good.
             -- Robert Hickey