Understanding Those Letters that Come After People’s Names

There are lots of college and graduate degrees and even more initials for them. Below is a list of some of the most common ones. The reason this is important is to get an idea of what credentials the professional you are looking into or working with has (or does not have). If you are interested in what their credentials and work experience are, ask them about it. If you do not like their answer, consider seeking out another professional.

However, in my personal opinion, all that really matters is that they have a Bachelor’s degree or higher and that you feel comfortable working with them. My personal preference is to work with people who already have their Master’s degree under the assumption that they have some work experience.

Bachelor’s Level
– Bachelor of Arts: BA or AB
– Bachelor of Science: BS
– Bachelor of Social Work: BSW
This means they completed undergrad. They may or may not have any experience. You are probably unlikely to have a therapist how only has this degree.

Master’s Level
– Master’s of Social Work: MSW or MA / AM depending on the school
This means they completed their Master’s program. They may also be able to list themselves as LSW or LCSW, but choose not to do so in order to confuse non-social workers.
– Licensed Social Worker: LSW
This means they have passed the licensing exam after graduation. They are likely still being supervised by someone with more experience.
– Licensed Clinical Social Worker: LCSW
The means they have undergone two years of clinical supervision and have passed another licensing exam.

Other relevant Master’s degrees:
– Master’s of Counseling Psychology (or some other form of psychology)

Doctoral Level
– People in a PhD or PsyD program are called “doctoral students.” They might also have the title of “extern” and generally have more experience providing counseling than someone in a Master’s program. Someone who is in a doctoral program will have already earned their Master’s degree and thus might have some of the initials listed above (MSW, MA, LSW, etc) after their name. If you are working with a doctoral student, their externship may only last for a year, which means that at the end of their school year, you will likely need to see someone new.
– Doctorate: PhD
This degree is generally more research focused than a PsyD.
Your therapist might have either degree.
– Doctorate of Psychology: PsyD
This degree is generally more practice focused than a PhD. Your therapist might have either degree.
– Doctorate of Social Work: DSW
– Medical Doctor: MD
This is the degree your psychiatrist has and is what allows them to prescribe medication.

Please note:

Social workers offer therapy and/or case management services. You will likely encounter them a lot if you are going to social service organizations.

Psychologists offer therapy. They cannot prescribe medication, but often work with psychiatrists who can. You will most often find them in private offices or hospitals.

Psychiatrists can prescribe medication. If they wish, they can also offer therapy. Like psychologists, you will most often find them in private offices or hospitals.