Provider Degrees and Credentials
We understand the importance of accurately representing our health care providers’ qualifications on our website. However, we have noticed that the extensive list of degrees and credentials can sometimes be overwhelming for our patients, particularly those with limited health literacy.
Because a long list of credentials can overpower a name, individuals may choose not to list all earned credentials or honors. For those individuals, they should make sure that they display the credentials that pertain to the job they perform.
National Certification Corporation, Credentials can get complicated, are you displaying your achievements the correct way?
To improve the experience of care and outcomes for our patients, we believe it is essential to promote effective communication within our health care organization. Here are a few reasons why we propose to only include the degrees and/or credentials that are relevant to the services provided by our health care providers:
- Simplicity: A long list of degrees and credentials can be confusing for patients, especially those unfamiliar with medical terminology. By simplifying this information, we can make it easier for patients to understand the expertise of their health care provider.
- Relevance: Including only the degrees and credentials relevant to the services provided ensures that patients receive the most pertinent information. This approach helps patients make informed decisions about their care.
- Accessibility: Health literacy is a significant concern in health care. By streamlining the information we provide, we can make our content more accessible to all patients, regardless of their health literacy levels.
- Focus on Care: By reducing the emphasis on degrees and credentials, we can shift the focus towards the quality of care and services we provide.
We believe that this approach will not only enhance our patients’ understanding but also foster a more patient-centered environment.
With this in mind, the UAMS Office of Communications & Marketing has established the following requirements to ensure consistency and accuracy in the display of provider credentials. These requirements are guided by our commitment to patient-friendly communication.
Include only the provider’s regulatory designation in the provider’s display name — the degrees and/or credentials that authorize the provider to perform their specific clinical role. Do not include any degrees or credentials that do not pertain to the job they perform as a UAMS Health provider. Do not include any credentials for which they are not licensed in Arkansas.
In order to maintain consistency, the options available in the Clinical Degrees and Credentials field is primarily limited to those that are represented in the UAMS Provider Enrollment Participation Portal (note that the UAMS Provider Enrollment Participation Portal is only accessible on the UAMS network or by connecting through virtual private network).
Others degrees and credentials may be added to the list of options if it is proven that they authorize the provider to perform their specific clinical role at UAMS Health. Reach out to UAMS Web Services with information regarding any additional necessary degrees and/or credentials.
List of Degrees and Credentials
Regulatory Credentials from the UAMS Provider Enrollment Participation Portal
- Au.D. — Doctor of Audiology
- CNM — Certified Nurse Midwife
- CNP — Certified Nurse Practitioner
- CNS — Clinical Nurse Specialist
- CRNA — Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
- DC — Doctor of Chiropractor
- D.D.S. — Doctor of Dental Surgery
- D.M.D. — Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry or Doctor of Dental Medicine
- D.O. — Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
- DPM — Doctor of Podiatric Medicine
- ECDS — Early Childhood Developmental Specialist
- LAC — Licensed Associate Counselor
- LCSW — Licensed Clinical Social Worker
- LMSW — Licensed Master Social Worker
- LPC — Licensed Professional Counselor
- LPE-I — Licensed Psychological Examiner-Independent
- LPN — Licensed Practical Nurse
- M.D. — Doctor of Medicine
- O.D. — Doctor of Optometry
- OT — Licensed Occupational Therapist
- OTA — Licensed Occupational Therapy Assistant
- PA — Physician Assistant
- Ph.D. — Doctor of Philosophy
- Psy.D. — Doctor of Psychology
- PT — Physical Therapist
- PTA — Physical Therapy Assistant
- QBHP — Qualified Behavioral Health Provider
- RD — Registered Dietitian
- RDA — Registered Dental Assistant
- RN — Registered Nurse
- SLP — Speech-Language Pathologist
Additional Regulatory Credentials
- AT — Licensed Athletic Trainer
- CGC — Certified Genetic Counselor
- CSCS — Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist
- DPT — Doctor of Physical Therapy
- LPE — Licensed Psychological Examiner
- LRCP — Licensed Respiratory Care Practitioner
- LSW — Licensed Social Worker
- MA — Medical Assistant
- Pharm.D. — Doctor of Pharmacy
- PLMSW — Provisional Licensed Master Social Worker
- PLSW — Provisional Licensed Social Worker
- RDH — Registered Dental Hygienist
- SCCC — Strength and Conditioning Coach Certified
Justifications for Inclusion
AT — Licensed Athletic Trainer
This credential is not included in the UAMS Provider Enrollment Participation Portal.
However, the Licensed Athletic Trainer credential represents licensure by the Arkansas State Board of Athletic Training. The credential is represented by the “AT” acronym rather than “LAT” in both the Arkansas State Board of Athletic Training roster and the list of board members.
CGC — Certified Genetic Counselor
This credential is not included in the UAMS Provider Enrollment Participation Portal.
However, the Certified Genetic Counselor credential meets the qualifications for licensure by the Arkansas State Medical Board as a licensed genetic counselor.
The Arkansas State Medical Board shall license as a licensed genetic counselor an applicant who: … Provides evidence of: … [meeting] the examination requirements for certification and has current certification as a genetic counselor by the American Board of Genetic Counseling or the American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics.
Arkansas Genetic Counselor Licensure Act, § 17-95-1106
The Certified Genetic Counselor credential represents certification as a genetic counselor by the American Board of Genetic Counseling.
The American Board of Medical Genetics (now known as the American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics) restructured circa 1993 in order to qualify for membership in the American Board of Medical Specialties since membership necessitated that the American Board of Medical Genetics could no longer certify individuals without medical degrees or doctoral degrees. This gave rise to the establishment of the American Board of Genetic Counseling and its Certified Genetic Counselor credential.
The Certified Genetic Counselor appears to be the credential we see for licensed genetic counselors without a doctoral degree. We will likely use “M.D.”, “D.O”. or “Ph.D.” for the credentials of any licensed genetic counselors with a certification from the American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics.
The Certified Genetic Counselor Directory can be used to verify a provider’s Certified Genetic Counselor credential.
CSCS — Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist
This credential is not included in the UAMS Provider Enrollment Participation Portal.
Arkansas does not currently have specific licensing or certification requirements for strength and conditioning coaches. However, NCAA Division I does require that strength and conditioning coaches are certified and maintain current certification through a nationally accredited strength and conditioning certification program.
11.1.5 Strength and Conditioning Coach Certification. A strength and conditioning coach shall be certified and maintain current certification through a nationally accredited strength and conditioning certification program. (Adopted: 4/24/14 effective 8/1/15)
NCAA Division I Manual, 11.1.5
The Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist certification program of the National Strength and Conditioning Association is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies. Therefore, “CSCS” meets the threshold for inclusion in the list of degrees and credentials in a provider’s display name.
DPT — Doctor of Physical Therapy
This credential is not included in the UAMS Provider Enrollment Participation Portal.
However, presuming the Doctor of Physical Therapy was earned from a school of physical therapy accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (or another national accreditation agency approved by the Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy), that Doctor of Physical Therapy credential meets the qualifications for licensure by the Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy as a licensed physical therapist.
The Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy shall license as a physical therapist each applicant who … [has] graduated from a school of physical therapy accredited by a national accreditation agency approved by the board….
Arkansas Code § 17-93-303
The Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy’s Application Instructions for Licensure by Examination indicates that the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) is one (or possibly the only) national accreditation agency approved by the board.
Applicants who are not graduates of a [Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education]-accredited program must submit an original evaluation done specifically for Arkansas by a Board approved agency.
Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy’s Application Instructions for Licensure by Examination
According to the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education’s May 2022 Master List of Accredited Education Programs for the Physical Therapist, there are accredited programs at all levels of education. Just in Arkansas, there are bachelor’s degree programs (at ASU and UCA), master’s degree programs (at ASU and UCA) and doctoral degree programs (at ASU, Harding, UAMS and UCA). One could qualify for Arkansas licensure as a physical therapist with just a bachelor’s degree, not just a master’s degree or a Doctor of Physical Therapy.
Someone might earn their Doctor of Physical Therapy by getting a bachelor’s degree in something other than physical therapy. In that case, the Doctor of Physical Therapy is the one credential that qualifies them for licensure as a physical therapist in Arkansas.
Someone might earn their Doctor of Physical Therapy after getting a bachelor’s degree and/or a master’s degree in physical therapy. In that case, more than one degree qualifies them for licensure, but the Doctor of Physical Therapy happens to be the latest and greatest degree that qualifies them for licensure as a physical therapist in Arkansas.
The only reference specific to “Doctor of Physical Therapy”, “DPT” or “D.P.T.” found relating to licensure as a physical therapist in Arkansas is in Arkansas Code § 17-93-301.
Unless physical therapy services are provided by or under the direction of a person licensed by the Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy under this chapter, it is unlawful for a person to: … Use: (i) The words “physical therapy”, “physical therapist”, “physiotherapist”, “registered physical therapist”, or “doctor of physical therapy”; (ii) The initials “P.T.”, “D.P.T.”, “L.P.T.”, or “R.P.T.”
Arkansas Code § 17-93-301
The inclusion of both “P.T.” and “D.P.T.” in the list of initials in the Arkansas Code seems to imply that the “DPT” credential would be used for a licensed physical therapist who has graduated with a Doctor of Physical Therapy, with all other licensed physical therapists would use the “PT” credential (or perhaps LPT or RPT).
LPE — Licensed Psychological Examiner
This credential is not included in the UAMS Provider Enrollment Participation Portal.
However, the Licensed Psychological Examiner credential represents licensure by the Arkansas Psychology Board. The content on the board’s website indicates the appropriate initials representing the licensure is “LPE.”
The ability to become a Licensed Psychological Examiner ended on Dec. 31, 2013. If a provider was fully licensed as a Licensed Psychological Examiner before Dec. 31, 2013, their license will be renewed.
The Arkansas Psychology Board has an online tool that can be used to verify a provider’s licensure.
LRCP — Licensed Respiratory Care Practitioner
This credential is not included in the UAMS Provider Enrollment Participation Portal.
However, the Licensed Respiratory Care Practitioner credential represents licensure by the Arkansas State Medical Board.
6.2 NATIONAL CREDENTIALS DEFINED. The National Board of Respiratory Care issues the credentials of C.R.T.T. (Certified Respiratory Therapy Technician) and R.R.T (Registered Respiratory Therapist). Persons holding these credentials meet the qualifications for licensure in the state of Arkansas until otherwise determined by the Board.
6.3 STATE CREDENTIALS DEFINED. Persons who have met the qualifications and obtained a license in the state of Arkansas shall be designated by the credentials of L.R.C.P. (Licensed Respiratory Care Practitioner).
Arkansas Medical Board Medical Practices Acts, Rules and Regulations; Regulations of the Arkansas State Medical Board; Regulation No. 10; Definitions
The Certified Respiratory Therapy Technician and Registered Respiratory Therapist certifications (respresented by the “CRTT” and “RRT” initials, respectively) should be added to the provider’s Professional Certifications section instead.
The Arkansas Medical Board website can be used to verify a provider’s licensure.
LSW — Licensed Social Worker
This credential is not included in the UAMS Provider Enrollment Participation Portal.
However, the Licensed Social Worker credential represents licensure by the Arkansas Social Work Licensing Board.
The “Licensure Level Key” section on the Arkansas Social Work Licensing Board roster search indicates the appropriate initials representing the licensure is “LSW.”
The Arkansas Social Work Licensing Board roster search can be used to verify a provider’s licensure.
MA — Medical Assistant
This credential is not included in the UAMS Provider Enrollment Participation Portal.
However, UAMS Health Epic includes “MA” in the “CLINICIAN TITLE,” “DOCTOR’S DEGREE,” “DOCTOR’S CREDENTIALS,” “LICENSE FOR DISPLAY,” and “LICENSURE OT” fields. The value of one of those fields is then included in the “PAT ID” field which is what is shown to patients on documentation.
Certification for medical assisting is not currently mandated by the state of Arkansas. However, many employers prefer candidates who are certified. Additionally, there does not appear to be a licensing board for medical assistants in Arkansas.
There are four different types of certifications you can earn as a medical assistant. The two certifications that are most popular among employers of medical assistants are Certified Medical Assistant and Registered Medical Assistant. Other options include National Certified Medical Assistant and Certified Clinical Medical Assistant. Each of these certifications is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies.
Pharm.D. — Doctor of Pharmacy
This credential is not included in the UAMS Provider Enrollment Participation Portal.
However, the being licensed as a pharmacist by the Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy requires the person to have graduated with a Doctor of Pharmacy.
§ 17-92-101. Definitions
- “Licensed pharmacist” means a person holding a license under the provisions of this chapter.
- A “licensed pharmacist” shall be considered an individual healthcare provider
§ 17-92-306. Examinations
- Upon application and at such time and place and in such manner as it may determine, the Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy shall examine or provide for examination every person who shall desire to practice pharmacy as described in §§ 17-92-101 and 17-92-402 in the State of Arkansas.
§ 17-92-305. Application – Qualification of applicants
- Each applicant for examination as a pharmacist: … Have: Graduated and received the first professional undergraduate degree from a pharmacy degree program which has been approved by the Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy.
§ 17-92-307. Internship required
- Every applicant for licensure must have experience and internship in a retail pharmacy under a licensed pharmacist, approved by the Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy, before and after graduation and examination as the board shall deem necessary to maintain and preserve the reciprocal agreements with other states and territories.
§ 02-01-0004. Requirements for Internship Training
- An applicant for an intern license … shall have the following qualifications: Be enrolled as a student in a college of pharmacy accredited by [American Council on Pharmaceutical Education] and approved by the Board ….
§ 02-01-0007. Accredited Pharmacy Degree Program
- An accredited pharmacy degree program shall be any program which meets at least the minimum standards established for a recognized Doctor of Pharmacy program by the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education.
§ 17-92-301. License Required
Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy Laws, Rules and Regulations, Pharmacy Practice Act
- No person other than a licensed pharmacist shall use the term “doctor of pharmacy” or “Pharm.D”.
PLMSW — Provisional Licensed Master Social Worker
This credential is not included in the UAMS Provider Enrollment Participation Portal.
However, the Provisional Licensed Master Social Worker credential represents licensure by the Arkansas Social Work Licensing Board.
The “Licensure Level Key” section on the Arkansas Social Work Licensing Board roster search indicates the appropriate initials representing the licensure is “PLMSW.”
The Arkansas Social Work Licensing Board roster search can be used to verify a provider’s licensure.
PLSW — Provisional Licensed Social Worker
This credential is not included in the UAMS Provider Enrollment Participation Portal.
However, the Provisional Licensed Social Worker credential represents licensure by the Arkansas Social Work Licensing Board.
The “Licensure Level Key” section on the Arkansas Social Work Licensing Board roster search indicates the appropriate initials representing the licensure is “PLSW.”
The Arkansas Social Work Licensing Board roster search can be used to verify a provider’s licensure.
RDH — Registered Dental Hygienist
This credential is not included in the UAMS Provider Enrollment Participation Portal.
However, the Registered Dental Hygienist credential identifies a dental hygienist as one that is licensed by the Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners. The list of board members indicates the appropriate initials representing the licensure is “RDH.”
SCCC — Strength and Conditioning Coach Certified
This credential is not included in the UAMS Provider Enrollment Participation Portal.
Arkansas does not currently have specific licensing or certification requirements for strength and conditioning coaches. However, NCAA Division I does require that strength and conditioning coaches are certified and maintain current certification through a nationally accredited strength and conditioning certification program.
11.1.5 Strength and Conditioning Coach Certification. A strength and conditioning coach shall be certified and maintain current certification through a nationally accredited strength and conditioning certification program. (Adopted: 4/24/14 effective 8/1/15)
NCAA Division I Manual, 11.1.5
The Strength and Conditioning Coach Certified certification program of the Collegiate Strength & Conditioning Association is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies. Therefore, “SCCC” meets the threshold for inclusion in the list of degrees and credentials in a provider’s display name.
Additional Ad Hoc Credentials (Temporarily Included)
- ATC — Certified Athletic Trainer (Board of Certification)
- OCS — Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy (American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties)
- FAAOMPT — Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists, a membership category of that professional organization
- M.S. — Master of Science, a postgraduate academic degree
- CSCCa — Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association, a non-profit, professional, educational organization for strength and conditioning coaches of collegiate and professional-level athletic teams