how to write your name if you have a phd

How to Correctly Use the Titles Dr. & PhD With a Name

By maya austen / in health.

When someone has earned a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree they are subsequently referred to as "doctor" in formal speech; the same is true of a person who is a medical doctor, psychologist, dentist or veterinarian. In formal speech that person should be referred to as "doctor." However, the rules are different in written form when addressing someone ho is called "doctor" in formal speech. In written form the titles "Dr." and "PhD" are not interchangeable.

• When someone has earned a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree they are subsequently referred to as "doctor" in formal speech; the same is true of a person who is a medical doctor, psychologist, dentist or veterinarian.

Identify what type of doctor you are addressing. Doctors of medicine and psychology, doctors of dentistry, and doctors of veterinary medicine must be addressed differently in comparison to academic doctors who have earned a Doctor of Philosophy doctoral degree. Be advised that there are different types of doctoral degrees. A Doctor of Philosophy degree is just one kind of doctoral degree. There's also, for example, a Doctor of Education (EdD) doctoral degree and a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) doctoral degree. The titles associated with the various doctoral degrees are not interchangeable. Only a person who has earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree should be addressed as PhD.

Place the title of "Dr." before the name of a person who is a doctor of medicine or psychology, doctor of dentistry, or doctor of veterinary medicine. For example: Dr. George Ross. Always write the word "doctor" in its abbreviated form ("Dr.") when it goes before the person's name. Never write, for example, Doctor George Ross. Do not combine the title of "Dr." with any other title even if the person could appropriately be addressed by a different title. Never write, for example, "Dr. George Ross, PhD," even if the person is a medical doctor who has also earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree. Pick one title. Do not use the "Dr." title when referring to someone who is solely an academic doctor.

• Place the title of "Dr." before the name of a person who is a doctor of medicine or psychology, doctor of dentistry, or doctor of veterinary medicine.
• Never write, for example, "Dr. George Ross, PhD," even if the person is a medical doctor who has also earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree.

Put a comma followed by the title "PhD" after the name of a person who has earned a Doctor of Philosophy doctoral degree. For example: Stacey Childs, PhD. Do not combine the title of "PhD" with any other title even if the person could appropriately be addressed by a different title. For instance, even if the person being addressed is a doctor of medicine who has also earned a PhD, never write, for example, Dr. Stacey Childs, PhD. Pick one title. Do not use the "PhD" title when referring to someone who not earned a Doctor of Philosophy doctoral degree.

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Professional Title Etiquette: When to Use Your Dr. Title

Socially as well as professionally, medical doctors, dentists, and other professionals are addressed by, and introduced with, their titles. People who have earned a Ph.D. or any other academic, nonmedical doctoral degree have the choice of whether to use "Dr." both professionally and socially.  If, when meeting people with doctorates, you're unsure how to address them, "Dr." is always correct.  If they'd rather the title be dropped, they will let you know.

It's more common for women to use the title "Doctor" socially as well as professionally than in the past. When a married woman uses the title "Dr." (either medical or academic) socially, addressing social correspondence to the couple is a little trickier. If her husband is not a doctor, address letters to Dr. Sonia and Mr. Robert Harris. Her name comes first because her professional title "outranks" his social title. If her husband is also a doctor, the address is either The Drs. (Doctors) Harris or Drs. Sonia and Robert Harris (the order of the names doesn't matter).

The Reverend

In introductions and correspondence, many Protestant clergy are referred to as "The Reverend." While business correspondence is addressed to The Reverend James Norris, (D.D., if held), social correspondence is slightly different: The Reverend (Mr./Dr.) and Mrs. James Norris. In conversation, a clergyman or clergywoman is addressed as Dr./Mr./Mrs./Ms./Pastor/Rector/Reverend Norris.

Addressing a husband or wife who are both "Reverends" follows the same format as a husband and wife who are both doctors: The Reverends Norris or The Reverend Mrs./Ms. Patricia Norris and the Reverend Mr. James Norris. If either of the couple also has a doctorate degree, that person's name would go first: The Reverend Dr. James Norris and The Reverend Mrs./Ms. Patricia Norris.

Today "Esquire" is largely confined to business correspondence between attorneys and justices of the peace. An alternative is to write:

Mr. David Bowman

Attorney at Law

using two lines, no indent, and including the titles Mr. or Ms.

When "Esq." or "Esquire" is used, the name is never preceded by Mr., Ms., Mrs., or other titles such as Dr., and is written David Bowman, Esq. "Esquire" isn't used in introductions: "I'd like to introduce attorney David Bowman/Mr. David Bowman/David Bowman." It also isn't used for social correspondence, as when writing to a lawyer and his or her spouse or addressing a social invitation. Mr. and Mrs. David Bowman is the correct form.

Professional Designations

Professional designations such as CPA (Certified Public Accountant) or CLU (Certified Life Underwriter) are only used on business cards or business correspondence. They follow a person's name, and Mr. or Ms. isn't used: Martha Dawes, CPA; Phillip Olner, CLU. If a person has more than one designation, they're listed in the order received: Phillip Olner, CLU, CFP. Socially, use Mr., Ms., or Mrs. without the professional designation: Ms. Martha Dawes.

Other Titles

Every day we run into people who have an official title. The police officer at the desk is Sergeant Flynn; the head of the fire department is Chief Elmore; the club chef is Chef Rossi; the pilot on your plane is Captain Howe; and so forth. When on the job, such people are always addressed by their titles, just as they are when the matter at hand is related to their work. Socially, many don't use their titles, though they may. Sometimes a title sticks: A local judge, for example, who's been called by his title for a number of years, is usually addressed as "Judge" even after his retirement.

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How to Use Dr and PhD with a Name

In English, as in many other languages, professional titles have abbreviations. These are for writing convenience but people will sometimes annunciate them while speaking. Two of these, Dr and PhD, are very common references when talking about the specific name of a doctor.

Therefore, it means you’re referring to people and in this case, it’s a college-trained and licensed individual who practices things like medicine, psychology, science, mathematics or some other field of study. But, like with most other things in English grammar, there is a particular use of Dr and PhD.

To use “Dr” to indicate a doctor, most particularly in the fields of medicine and science, you will put it before a person’s name. You can indicate first and last name. But, if you want to be casual or informal, you can use Dr before only mentioning a first name.

Dr. Michael Yeadon

Dr. Sherri Tenpenny

Dr. Carrie is my physician.

There are some people who receive doctorate degrees, the highest education one can receive in any given subject. While they are doctors, they aren’t medical, scientific or psychological doctors. For instance, they could have a doctorate in things like politics, journalism, economics or some other such thing.

Dr. Shane Ammora, PhD

Mnemonic Device

Whenever you want to write or mention the name of someone who’s a doctor, you’ll either use Dr or PhD to indicate their title. But, Dr comes before and PhD will be after.

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How to Punctuate Names With a PhD

When writing about a person who holds a doctorate of philosophy degree, the designation "Ph.D." traditionally follows his name. This way, readers can easily understand his qualifications and authority. Punctuating this marking can seem a bit complex, especially since different people write it differently. Standard rules do apply to this issue, but the most important thing is consistency; however you punctuate it, do it the same way throughout your paper, article or document.

Type the person's full name--for example, "Jane Smith."

Type a comma, then type a space.

Type "Ph.D." Capitalize the "P" and the "D," but write the "h" in lowercase. Put a period after the "h" and after the "D," and do not type a space between the "h" and the "D."

Type another comma immediately after the second period in "Ph.D.," and then type a space. Now continue writing as you would normally, for example, "Jane Smith, Ph.D., earned an award for her research in psychology." Or, if the sentence ends with the "Ph.D." designation, then simply move on to the next sentence; you do not need to add another period. For example, "The institute gave the award to Jane Smith, Ph.D. Smith recently finished her research study in psychology."

• Ohio University Publications: Editorial Style Guide
• "Punctuate It Right!"; Harry Shaw; 1993

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How to Reference a Person With a PhD

How to sign your name when you have a bachelor of science in criminal ....

As you have probably noticed, many authors of books and articles are learned individuals who have received doctorates. Therefore, you may sometimes find that you need to cite authors who have the suffix "Ph.D." listed after their names. However, if you listed "Ph.D." after the name of every author who had one, your term paper would quickly devolve into alphabet soup. Both American Psychological Association (APA) and Modern Language Association (MLA) styles agree on this point: never include the suffix "Ph.D." after an author's name when you are citing sources.

Omit the suffix "Ph.D." from the author's name when citing sources in your reference list. For example, a book authored by Jordan Jones, Ph.D. would be listed as being authored by Jordan Jones. In MLA style this would appear as: Jones, Jordan. In APA style, this would appear as: Jones, J.

Omit as well any titles such as "Ph.D." from the names of translators, editors, or any other names that might appear in your reference list entries.

Omit titles such as "Ph.D." from your in-text citations as well. Use only the last names of authors, editors and other persons in parenthetical citations. In MLA style, an in-text citation for the work of Jordan Jones, Ph.D. should appear as follows: (Jones 86). In APA, the same citation should appear as follows: (Jones, 2009, p. 86).

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How Do You Address Someone With a PhD Degree?

In academia and professional settings, knowing how to properly address someone with a PhD is crucial. This guide will help you navigate the etiquette of using titles and addressing individuals who hold doctoral degrees.

Jun 26, 2024

Understanding the PhD Title

A PhD, or Doctor of Philosophy, is the highest academic degree awarded in many fields and signifies a doctorate level of education. While it doesn't necessarily mean the holder is a medical doctor, it does signify extensive expertise in their area of study.

When to Use "Dr." as a Title

In academic and professional contexts, it's generally appropriate to address someone with a PhD as "Dr." followed by their last name. This is especially true in:

• Formal correspondence
• Academic settings
• Professional conferences often focus on the proper way to address someone with a doctorate.
• When introducing speakers

However, some PhD holders prefer not to use the title outside of professional settings. It's always best to ask for their preference if you're unsure.

Addressing Someone with a PhD in Email

When writing an email to someone with a PhD, start with a formal salutation to ensure the proper way to address someone with a doctorate:

• "Dear Dr. [Last Name],"
• "Hello Dr. [Last Name],"

If you're replying to an email where they've signed with their first name, it's usually fine to address them similarly in your response.

Using the Title in Person

When meeting someone with a PhD for the first time, it's polite to use their title:

"It's nice to meet you, Dr. [Last Name]."

They may then invite you to use their first name, which you can do in subsequent interactions, recognizing their doctorate.

Envelope and Formal Letter Etiquette

When addressing formal letters or envelopes to someone with a PhD:

• Dr. [Full Name], PhD
• [Full Name], PhD

The second format is used when you want to include the specific degree but not use "Dr." as a title.

Proper Salutation in Various Contexts

Academic settings.

In universities or research institutions, always err on the side of formality:

• "Dear Dr. [Last Name]," for written communication
• "Dr. [Last Name]" for verbal address

Professional Conferences

At conferences, it's common to use titles such as

"Our next speaker is Dr. [Full Name], who will present on..."

Social Settings

In casual situations, follow the PhD holder's lead to determine the proper title to use. If they introduce themselves by their first name, it's usually fine to use it.

Common Questions About Addressing PhD Holders

Should i use "dr." or "phd" after the name.

Generally, use "Dr." before the name rather than "PhD" after it. For example:

• Correct: Dr. Jane Smith
• Less common: Jane Smith, who holds a doctorate (PhD)

Can I use "Mr." or "Ms." instead of "Dr."?

It's best to use "Dr." unless the person has indicated otherwise. Using "Mr." or "Ms." for someone with a PhD can be seen as diminishing their academic achievements.

How do I address someone with multiple doctoral degrees?

If someone holds both a PhD and an MD, for instance, you can use either "Dr." or their professional title, depending on the context.

Addressing someone with a PhD or a doctorate correctly shows respect for their academic achievements. While "Dr." is generally appropriate in formal and academic settings, it's always best to be attentive to individual preferences and context. When in doubt, it's perfectly acceptable to ask how the person prefers to be addressed.

Remember, the key is to be respectful and adaptable. With these guidelines, you'll be well-equipped to navigate the etiquette of addressing PhD holders in various situations.

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How to Use My Honorary Degree?

How to Use My Honorary Doctorate with My Name?

I hold a few degrees and am about to receive an honorary doctorate. How do I indicate the doctorate with my name? I currently have (Full Name), B.B.A., B.Th., and an M.R.E. The honorary doctorate will be in Theology . —————- – Marc Coffee

I have just been granted an honorary doctorate. Am I correctly addressed as ‘ Dr. (Name)’ now? —————- – Sandor Green

Dear Mr. Coffee & Mr. Green: An honorary degree is a great honor, but it is an honor . It is not exactly a  degree.

—- #1) Honorary-degree recipients may be addressed as Dr. (Name)  orally during the ceremony or in correspondence from by the granting university as a courtesy.

—- #2) But recipients are not addressed orally or in writing as Dr. (Name)  by other academic institutions – and not correctly addressed as  Dr. (Name)  in their professional/personal life. They continue to be addressed orally and in writing with the form of address to which they entitled prior to receiving the honor. E.g., Mr./Ms./Mrs.

Robert Hickey author of “Honor & Respect”

—- #3) They may use the pertinent post-nominal abbreviation for the honorary degree with their name if they use the words honoris causa with the post nominal for the degree – to note that the degree is honorary, not earned.

—- #4) On one’s resume/CV, honorary doctorates are listed with honors or awards, not as education with your earned academic degrees. In a complete introduction it would be stated that ‘Marc Coffey received an honorary Doctorate in Theology from (Name of Granting Institution)’

The best source on this topic is Academic Ceremonies: a handbook of traditions and protocol by April Harris. Google it.  You’ll find it.  It’s the bible on the use of academic degrees.

– Robert Hickey

Use of an Honorary Doctorate with the Honorable ?

We have a newly elected official who received an honorary doctorate. She wants to be addressed as ‘Dr. (Name)’ I’ve always followed the rule not to use a double honorific. But to this person, it’s important. (What can I tell you!) How to Use My Honorary Degree?

She is suggesting we use one of these. What do you think?

—- —- The Honorable Dr. Mary Jones —- —- —- or —- —- Dr. The Honorable Mary Jones?

– Anne Lesley How to Use My Honorary Degree?

Dear Ms. Lesley:

__ #1) In the USA ‘the Honorable (Full Name)’   is not used in combination with honorifics. We just one thing at a time. So she is: ————– The Honorable Mary Jones

__ #2) If she insists that she be addressed as ‘ Dr. (Name)’  – in a salutation or in conversation she’d be: ———- — — Dr. Smith

__ #3) Everyone is entitled to have their name be what they want it to be, But recipients of honorary doctorates are not entitled to be addressed as ‘ Dr. (Name)’  except at the granting university.

__ #4) In the USA – all honors and distinctions would be mentioned on a resume under honors. In an introduction it might be mentioned that she was a awarded an honorary doctorate. See the post at the top of this page on the use of honorary degrees for the details.

You can’t tell that to her of course, unless she asks your opinion. But she’s going to look either ignorant of the correct style (not good for a person holding a doctorate I’d say) – or pretentious – if others know she’s asking to be addressed as  ‘Dr. (Name)’ when the degree is an honorary one.

– Robert Hickey How to Use My Honorary Degree

Related Posts: — — — Author’s Name on a Book — — — Name Badge or Tag — — — Writing the Names of Deceased Persons — — — Names on an Award, Certificate, Diploma or Plaque — — — Naming a Road, Gallery or Building — — — Names on Place Cards — — — Use of Post-nominal Abbreviations — — — Use of Sr., Jr., II, III, IV, etc. Sequence Post-Nominals — — — Name on a Tombstone or Grave marker — — — Use of ‘The Late” with Names — — — Your Signature

When Should You Use the Forms on this Page?

You can use these forms of address for any mode of communication: addressing a letter, invitation, card or Email. (If there are differences between the official and social forms of address, I will have mentioned the different forms.)  The form noted in the salutation is the same form you say when you say their name in conversation or when you greet them. ___ What I don’t cover on this site are  many things I do cover in my book: all the rules of forms of address, about names, international titles, precedence, complimentary closes, details on invitations, place cards, all sorts of introductions , etc. I hope you’ll get a copy of the book if you’d like the further detail.

Not Finding Your Answer?

—- #1)    At right  on desktops , at the bottom of every page on tablets and phones , is a list of all the offices, officials & topics covered on the site.

—- #2)   If you don’t see the official you seek included or your question answered send me an e-mail . I am pretty fast at sending a reply: usually the next day or so  (unless I am traveling.)   Note: I don’t have mailing or Email addresses for any of the officials and I don’t keep track of offices that exist only in history books.

—- #3)   If I think your question is of interest to others, Sometimes I post the question  – but always change all the specifics.

— Robert Hickey 

Recommended Resources:    The Protocol School of Washington (PSOW)  and  Protocol and Diplomacy International – Protocol Officers Association (PDI-POA)     For more information see the Protocol Resources page.

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From admission to dissertation. Tips on making the PhD journey happy, productive and successful

How To Write PhD? Is it ph d or phd

How do you write phd correctly after a name is it ph d or phd, here are the steps to write phd correctly:.

• Firstly, “P” must be in a capital case.
• Secondly, “h” is in small case with no space after “P”
• Thirdly, use period/full-stop after “h”
• Fourthly, Write “D” in capital case.
• Fifthly, keep Period after “D”
• Finally, the correct way to write is Ph.D .
• Or, It can be also written as PhD in a sentence.
• As per APA style, write Ph. D
• As per Chicago style, write PhD
• As per MLA style, write it as Ph. D.

For example this is how to write PhD title after your name: Dr.John Mathew, Ph.D. You can write PhD after name on your business cards, resumes, CV’s or identity cards or on nameplates etc. Some have confusion with the use of comma and full stops while writing PhD title after name. Here is my indepth review how to write out properly PhD.

Writing a PhD title after name

Use capital “p” and “d” in the word ph.d..

You must write ‘P’ as capital and ‘D’ as capital letters. Though there is no strict rule on how to use capital and small letters, many of them do this way. Both letters which I have just mentioned must be written in Capital because those letters are the heart of the abbreviationPh.D. There is no other way of writing. Even if you search the whole world and ask many people and read many books, this is how PhD title is written.  Sometimes there are possibilities that both letters are written in small letters by mistake. You need to correct instantly if such is the case. Otherwise, it looks awkward when someone looks at it or reads it.  Usually, mistaken words are clearly observed than that of rightly written ones.

Use small letter ‘h’ in the word Ph.D.

The letter ‘h’ is what written small letter in this 3 letter word is.  We write it in a small letter after name because this letter ‘h’ is in the middle of the word Ph.D.  Here also don’t write mistake by using capital letters. This is the reason why many people write a PhD title after the name wrongly. They are confused about where to use capital letters and were not to use small letters. I suggest you practice all the letters in one or other way.

Why do we write a PhD title after the name?

We write a PhD title after the name to know that one has completed his doctoral studies and it is a sign of knowledge and status.  We write a Ph.D. even for other purposes. For example, if someone is working in a university, it is mandatory that his qualification must be known to all the students and as well as the staff. This is why we write the Ph.D. title after the name. Not only in the university but also to the competent authorities who come for an inspection to the university must know the status of the faculty profiles.  So the title Ph.D. is written after every faculty name as a title.

Should we use bold letters

I say a big no. You cannot write bold and fashioned way while writing PhD title after your name. As you write you must make it look similar along with the name without any difference. There is no way that you must write the Ph.D. title in bold fonts. This way, it looks very odd for those who look. Instead of reading your name, they will read Ph.D. firstly. So there is a chance of not remembering your name. So never use bold fonts while writing PhD title after your name.

Should we use Italic Letters

Again it is a big no. Do be too creative while writing a Ph.D. after your name. The use of italics is a big mistake. Do not use such writing in italics. Every time you use italic, again it looks very different from the original name adjacent to it.

Is Ph.D. a title after your name?

Do you think it is a PhD title or just a status?  It is both status and title.  Though in my personal opinion it is not a title, many call it as a title. But if you ask me I would tell it is a status word that is symbolically represented a matter of qualification. This is only my personal opinion about the title of Ph.D. So if at all you have some doubts about how this title arose as a part of history, you must read a vast number of history books about the Ph.D. title. It all requires for you to understand that a Ph.D. is not a title finally and just a resemblance of qualification.

Is it good to put PhD after title in your identity cards?

No, you must not use the title Ph.D. after your name in any type of identity card. These cards are existing irrespective of your qualification. This is meant to identify you as you are. There is no necessity what you have achieved. There is no need for knowing your qualifications. So in any type of identity card which is issued by the government like passport and voter card etc, you cannot use such title after your name. But there is one exception that the identity card at university or college or at job area must be given with Ph.D. title. If you ever need expert help with writing your Doctoral level papers, go to WriteMyPaperHub and send your request to  write my PhD thesis for me .

Should we use the subject name when using a Ph.D. with the name?

This thought is quite awkward. But I must still mention this. There are some who use the subject name after the Ph.D. title along with the name. Like for example Dr. Luke, Ph.D. in Linguistics. Using this way is quite reasonable if there are some important debates or international meetups. Otherwise, I don’t suggest such type of writing after your name.

What happens if you don’t use a Ph.D. after your name?

If you do not use the Ph.D. title after your name, people around you won’t know that you are a doctoral research fellow. So it is very important to let them know it. You can only use this if at all there are some students around you or any known people. If there are unknown people around you, then there is no way that it is mandatory to use a Ph.D. after your name. Anyhow, I say that there is no danger of not using Ph.D. after your name.

Should comma be addded before or after PhD

Yes, a comma is a mandatory thing to be added after Ph.D. This is a rule. Otherwise, it is mixed combined with your original name. It will become part of your name. So comma is good after your name. I have already given the example above on how to put a comma after your name. But let me give here one more example as a matter of understanding.  Dr.Mohima, Ph.D. If you see the name, for example, there is a comma used after the name to separate Ph.D. from it. So try to put a comma. But never use another punctuation mark as such full stop or colon after your name. I have seen people using other punctuation marks like semicolon after name and then they write the title Ph.D. Some don’t use at all. All such things are mistakes. Use the only comma after your name always.

Can we write Dr instead of Ph.D. after the name?

Writing a doctor instead of a Ph.D. means a different thing. So you cannot use such way. As this is not the right format. ‘Dr’ is used at the beginning of the name as another title. But after the name, it must be a Ph.D. and not ‘Dr’

Should we write a Ph.D. at all after one’s name that is too long?

Sometimes it so happens that your name is too long to write Ph.D. after it. During this trouble, you must cut out some part of the name and type PhD as a title after your name. There is no other way to do it.  Usually, longs name are common in some countries like Germany and India. But in the USA we have shorter names. Whatever may be the length, you must try to use the most used name and eliminate the rest of the name. This way you can use the title Ph.D. comfortable after your name. Always try to use the same name. Don’t change the name or cut your name in different ways on different days. These will again a problem to your recognition.

Should we write phd or ph d on business card, welcome banners during functions?

On welcome banners and business cards, it is very important to mention the title Ph.D. This will be more serious if you do not use the Ph.D. title after the name. There are many people watching that public banner. If you do not write the title after the name, you are disrespecting the guest totally. So be aware of using the title ofPh.D. whenever you have public functions or welcome banners or during some important meetings.  This is a sign that others should treat the guest better than the other out there.

Should the font size of Ph.D. be the same as someone’s name?

The name and the title Ph.D. must be in the same size. There must not be unusual differences. Font sizes matter a lot. Don’t use wrong font size or awkward fonts while using your title Ph.D. after your name. The best font could be like Ariel, Lato, Times New Roman, etc. These fonts will look better as a Ph.D. title after your name. Initially, there is some confusion about using the right font. But once you learn the size usage, you are comfortable using them rightly. Even when you write manually, you can easily write with similar size throughout. This requires a good amount of practice to write the Ph.D. title after your name with good font limitations.

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Syam Prasad Reddy T

Hello, My name is Syam, Asst. Professor of English and Mentor for Ph.D. students worldwide. I have worked years to give you these amazing tips to complete your Ph.D. successfully. Having put a lot of efforts means to make your Ph.D. journey easier. Thank you for visiting my Ph.D. blog.

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Should I put PhD after my name on my resume? And other academic resume tips!

Navigating the perplexities of resume building can be a daunting task, particularly when it comes to academic credentials and titles. 

Whether you’re proudly flaunting your PhD or still in the trenches of your master’s, this blog takes a deep dive into the art of effectively presenting your academic qualifications on your resume or CV.

The blog also offers insights on how to make your academic CV truly shine by leveraging professional platforms like LinkedIn, using the right keywords, and showcasing your achievements in a quantifiable way.

Ready to make your academic qualifications the star of your resume? Join us as we unravel these nuances of academic resume writing and more.

Should you put PhD credentials on my resume?

If you have earned a PhD, it is generally a good idea to include it on your resume.

I include my PhD after my name proudly in every resume that I have – academic and non-academic.

It has never hurt my application as far as I know and may actually help in more ways than one.

This credential can often set you apart from other candidates and demonstrate your expertise in a particular field.

Some people think that you should only include your PhD if it is relevant to the job you are applying for. For instance, if you are applying for a research position, it is definitely worth highlighting your PhD as it shows you have the requisite research skills and expertise.

If, on the other hand, you are applying for a job in a completely separate field, your PhD may not be as relevant. However, this is something that I do not listen to.

I believe that including your PhD on your resume can help you to stand out, but you should also be prepared to discuss how your academic training has prepared you for the specific job you are applying for if it is not specifically related to the job you are applying for.

If you want to know more about using your PhD titles you can check out my other article:

• How to use the PhD title and all the little doctorate “rules”

How to list your degree on a resume? Masters, PhDs etc

Answering the age-old question of how to list your degree on a resume – be it a master’s, PhD, or other professional credentials – is no mean feat.

Start by putting your name at the top of your resume, and next to it, add relevant degrees or certifications. Think ‘John Doe, MBA’ or ‘Jane Doe, PhD.’

This was the CV that I used for many years:

This format not only highlights your achievements but also gives recruiters a snapshot of your academic credentials.

The education section of your resume is your platform to shine.

Here, list your degrees in reverse chronological order, including the name of the institution and graduation date.

If you’re an MBA holder, a CPA, or flaunting other professional credentials, this is where you make it known. Similarly, if you’re in academia, your CV, should include exhaustive details of your research, teaching experience, and any committee participation.

But what if you’re in transition and haven’t finished your degree? Well, you can still list it with the anticipated graduation date. For example, ‘John Doe, MFA Candidate (expected completion: Jan 2025).’

Remember, your resume is a marketing document.

It should suit the position you apply for and attract potential employers. So, personalize it. Highlight skills and experience relevant to the open position. If you have a doctorate degree or years of experience, ensure these accomplishments take center stage.

There’s no one-size-fits-all template. You’ll have to tweak it depending on the job and the industry.

So, it can take a fair bit of time to complete, but remember, it’ll be worth it in the end!

What Is an Academic CV? Format, style etc?

An academic CV, unlike a typical resume, is a comprehensive record of an individual’s academic journey and scholarly achievements, encompassing several pages due to its depth of detail.

This document becomes a testament to your educational background, research work, teaching experience, and scholarly contributions.

When you’ve earned a degree, such as a PhD, your academic CV doesn’t merely list this achievement.

Instead, it dives deeper, providing insights into:

• your dissertation or thesis,
• detailing your advisors and
• illuminating any honors or awards you received during your studies.

The academic CV also has a dedicated space for highlighting your research experience. It provides a detailed account of your research activities, including the methodologies you’ve used, and your research findings.

Here’s mine:

Your publications in scholarly journals and presentations at academic conferences are compiled, along with the respective dates. Additionally, the document showcases your research skills and other relevant capabilities that you’ve amassed over time.

Teaching experience, another crucial component of an academic CV, is presented in detail. From listing the classes you’ve taught to delineating your key teaching responsibilities or accomplishments, your role as an educator is thoroughly recorded.

If you’ve had the opportunity to serve on any academic committees or participate in professional organizations, these details are given their deserved space in your academic CV. They help to showcase your active engagement in the academic community.

Despite the formal and structured style that an academic CV typically follows, there’s room for personalization. You can adapt your CV’s style to emphasize your strengths, match your professional persona, and resonate with your academic ethos. A well-curated academic CV is therefore not just a list but a carefully crafted presentation of your academic career.

Academic CV cheat sheet:

• Start with a strong opening statement: Begin with a concise paragraph that summarizes your academic and professional profile. This section should clearly articulate who you are, what you’re currently doing, and what you aim to do in the future.
• Detail your academic qualifications: Always place your academic credentials at the top of your CV. Include your degrees, the institutions you attended, and the dates of your attendance.
• Showcase your research experience: Provide detailed information about your research activities. This could include your thesis or dissertation topic, the methodologies you used, and your research findings.
• Highlight your publications: If you have published any research papers or articles, include them in a separate section. Start with the most recent publications and work your way back.
• Include teaching experience: If you have any teaching experience, make sure to include it. Detail the courses you’ve taught and the level of students you’ve worked with.
• Mention your presentations and conference attendances : Academic conferences are a significant part of academic life, so ensure to include any you’ve attended or presented at.
• Include your grants and awards : If you’ve received any grants, scholarships, or awards, they should be included in your CV.
• Include professional affiliations : List any professional organizations you are part of and any roles you have held within these organizations.
• Add references : It’s important to include references, preferably from professors or professionals who can speak to your qualifications and skills.

Making your CV shine

Here are some other top tips for making the best academic CV that can really polish a great CV:

Wrapping up

As we conclude our journey through the maze of academic resumes and CVs, remember that these documents are more than just pieces of paper – they can be powerful tools that can open doors to incredible opportunities.

Whether you are a PhD holder, a master’s candidate, or a professional with a string of credentials, showcasing your academic journey effectively can make a significant difference in your career path.

From grappling with the question of whether or not to include your PhD after your name on your resume, to elaborating on the intricate details of an academic CV, we hope this blog has shed light on ways to make your qualifications shine.

The key takeaway is that there is no one-size-fits-all solution.

Your resume or CV should be as unique as you are, presenting not just a list of qualifications and experiences, but telling a story of your academic journey, achievements, and aspirations.

It’s all about highlighting your strengths, and aligning them with the job or industry you’re targeting. And while the process might be time-consuming and even daunting at times, remember that it’s an investment in your future.

Dr Andrew Stapleton has a Masters and PhD in Chemistry from the UK and Australia. He has many years of research experience and has worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow and Associate at a number of Universities. Although having secured funding for his own research, he left academia to help others with his YouTube channel all about the inner workings of academia and how to make it work for you.

Thank you for visiting Academia Insider.

We are here to help you navigate Academia as painlessly as possible. We are supported by our readers and by visiting you are helping us earn a small amount through ads and affiliate revenue - Thank you!

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How to list your credentials and title when you publish

Updated resource (Sept. 12, 2019) APA “Misuse of the PhD(c) “

Here is a topic that is not often discussed, but remains a persistent issue for many!  “What is the proper way to list my credentials?  Which should come first, RN, PhD, MS?”  Most folks have very strong opinions about this and will most certainly object if you list their credentials in an order other than what they prefer.  They will typically give you very good reasons for why they feel one credential or another should be first.  Therefore, as an Editor, my guideline for this is that each person’s credentials should be listed exactly as they prefer them to be listed!

However, there is one “credential” that is frequently indicated that we will not use — the non-credential “PhD(c).”  I am not sure how this convention started, but it is one of my particular pet peeves.  And in many formal and informal polls of other editors, by far the majority agree — this is not an acceptable credential.  Yes, the little (c) does indicate that a person has passed

into “candidacy,” meaning that the person has completed all coursework requirements, and (in a U.S. system of doctoral education) the person now only has to complete the dissertation to be awarded the degree. This is also known as the “ABD” – “All But Dissertation!”  Perhaps the trend to use the little (c) was an attempt to overcome this negative connotation.

There are many problems with using any designation to indicate candidacy as a credential.  The foremost  is that simply put, it is not a credential. It is simply an institutional right of passage.  If a person surpasses the time limit to complete the dissertation, their journey in pursuit of an actual degree ends, and they are left with whatever other credentials they had when they entered the doctoral program.

Do not get me wrong here … we are delighted when an author has achieved this right of passage.  You should acknowledge this, but in an acknowledgement, not as a credential.   If you are a master’s or a doctoral student, or candidate, indicate your status in your acknowledgements and also include the name of the institution where you are enrolled.  But do not include any initials like “PhD(c).”  Another detail that I encourage you to consider — name your primary faculty advisor or advisors – the people who are giving you encouragement and guidance.

Do you have other opinions or questions about this issue?  Leave a comment here!  I am always delighted to hear from you!

Share this:

Recently someone challenged my position on the use of the PhD(c) designation, so I looked into the matter further. It is true that some Universities do sanction the use of this designation by those who have reached candidacy, but none that I found award this as a degree. A few do award a Candidate in Philosophy (C.Phil) designation, also referred to as an “intermediate degree” but this designation is only good for 7 years, which is the typical time period after which any “candidacy” expires. There is no indication that I can find that affirms the use of this designation as a title. If it is the practice of an institution to use the designation internally, then certainly a doctoral candidate is well advised to use it in that context. However, given that candidacy does expire, its use on a published work, which will survive the time frame of the designation, my policy not to use the designation in article published in ANS remains in place.

I agree that PhD(c) is not a credential and should not be used. I know someone who was a PhD(C) for 10 years, and only because her dean threatened her with firing did she finally write her dissertation and finish her PhD.

Also, candidacy typically expires after 7 to 10 years, at which time any designation involving this status would no longer be valid. Bottom line, there is no justification for using this, particularly in the context of publishing. Published works extend far into the future, and well beyond the time frame of candidacy!

I agree with Peggy. I am seeing this used quite a bit. In fact it is confusing to students. One person who uses PhDc even allows students to refer to her as Dr. I think this is devalues those who earned their PhD. But, most of all this is unethical.

I couldn’t agree more that this is a non-credential and its use needs to be halted immediately if not sooner. It makes us look foolish trying to inflate credentials to give the impression that one has achieved a status, ranking, or degree that has not yet been accomplished. We simply cannot legitimately fabricate credentials or titles at will or it all becomes meaningless. It is incumbent upon faculty to provide good direction to students in how to present themselves and their accomplishments. Perhaps it will stimulate more expedient completion of the degree and subsequent use of the legitimate title! Thank you for bringing much needed attention to this troublesome tradition in nursing.

Thank you so much for this feedback! I am not sure how to halt this practice, but I do hope that by brining attention to this matter more and more people will be discouraged from its use!

I concur. I’m a PhD student myself. I never really understood why people use the ABD designation anyway. I saw the PhD(c) for the first time today also, and stumbled across your page. I vociferously concur with your statements and reasons. I list my Masters in my credentials, but don’t list anything with my PhD degree because I haven’t earned it yet.

Thank you so much for your feedback, Johnathan! Please stay in touch with ANS – we may have some issue topics you might consider for publishing as your work develops!

I also agree with not using this designation. In the 8 years of part-time work it took me to complete my PhD, I never once thought of advertising or informing others where I was in that process through some kind of designation. This was way back in the 1980’s [last century!] so I don’t think anyone thought about doing this designation. 🙂

Are we talking about American or Europe? I am in my 50s and those who hold a Doctoral Degree are referred to as Dr. So and So. When they write their credentials after their name, it is usually listed as Joe Smith, PhD or Sue Smith, M.Ed, etc. Whatever the abbreviation for their degree is. I have NEVER heard of a PhD as someone who has NOT completed their Doctoral degree.

I disagree with the positions here. I will be the devil’s advocate, as is my wont. I feel that the PhD (c) designation clarifies the position and social standing of the individual. I am not advocating posturing for a fraudulent claim rather recognizing a social reality. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication to get to the point of a PhD (C) and this is no way deters from the value and prestige of those who have been accorded the prestigious honor. I therefore argue that the use appropriate with one caveat, the individual must actual be actively working upon and seeking the degree and be a registered student t a recognized institution. This abbreviation is particularly useful in a business environment where individuals are judged according t their academic progress as long as the truth is clearly indicated and no misrepresentation is intended I see no harm.

Please avoid ad hominem attacks and exhibit the same respect I have shown you

JW PhD (c) Expected graduation 2016 MA American Military University Summa cum laude MA University of Oklahoma magna cum laude BS University of Maryland University College magna cum laude AA Adirondack Community College

thanks for your perspective, and of course, it seems that you have occasions when you can use this to good advantage. But in the publishing realm, journal Editors (myself included) will not accept this designation as a degree. You can accomplish the same thing by indicating in your affiliations that you are a PhD Candidate at such-and-such an institution. This is actually a more complete acknowledgement of your position and social standing, in that it also designates the institution where the degree is being earned. Your published article will far outlive your designation as a candidate for a degree – candidacy is not permanent. I might also mention that the PhD is not a designation of an honor – it designates an earned degree. An honorary doctoral degree is always indicated by an abbreviation showing that it is honorary, not earned. Best wishes, Peggy

Phdc is acceptable for me . There is a diffrent between studying in Europe and USA . In Europe, U.K., New Zealand, I’m required to study two or three courses, but I don’t have any examination! I do present my thesis once a year to show the progress , nothing more and to get comments to improve my work or repeat a few parts.

I don’t see it non ethical at all. There should be a difference between a MA holder and a PhD holder. A PhDc is for sure studying more.

I think it’s either you have it or you don’t. If you are unable to finish the PhD course, you don’t have it yet. So writing PhD (c) would be inappropriate and can be misleading. The last part in any program (e.g., dissertation is there because it is part of the whole, thus it is a necessary part of having the degree. At the same time, it doesn’t give you more credibility if you write attach (c) after, it just mean you are not finish yet.

Well Stated! Thank you for adding to this dicussion!

I think PhD(c) seems extraordinarily misleading to those of use who haven’t the slightest what the (c) stands for (until reading it here). How would you like to have a surgical consult with an MD(c) and not have the slightest that the fellow went to school but somehow just decided to claim the credential; however, he never took or passed the board exams. Perhaps the person was not even suitable or capable of it! Whereas us plain folk wouldn’t know the difference in the credential, for the sake of impressing other scholars like themselves the person just went on and used it while in a professional capacity. It’s fraudulently misleading to do so! While a person may be a dissertation away from the PhD, perhaps they are just not capable. The PhD MEANS YOU ARE, not that you ALMOST ARE!!! This goes along with what Kathy mentioned, “back in the 1980’s [last century!] so I don’t think anyone thought about doing this designation,” whereas today people want to be whatever they want whenever they want whether it is earned or not, it’s just not soon enough or to their liking and they feel entitled. Tsk tsk.

thank you Melissa! Great points about this still-vexing issue!

I read all the comments with keen interest and noticed that there was real mention that, in essence, using the (c) in the PhD invites more curiosity in the person’s ability to (c)omplete the degree. Absent a drop of the “c” one would wonder if the candidate failed and should now use PhD(f)

I am going to add a new dimension… DNPc. Since there is no dissertation I am confused by this designation. Dr Chinn can you comment?

Any “c” as part of any degree designation is totally inappropriate. Especially when it is used in a document that is permanent- as in a published article. It is not a degree. And you are correct, I am not aware of a point in time when a DNP student becomes a “candidate.” Candidacy is determined by the graduate school of a University – the graduate school also awards the PhD degree. The DNP is a professional degree that does not have oversight by the graduate school – the oversight of the degree is only the resopnsibility of the School or College awarding the degree.

Dr. Chinn, I am happy to see the DNP addressed here as that is what brought me to the discussion. I agree that a PhD and a DNP are not equivalent in education or stature, but it is a terminal degree (much like a JD, or MD). While I am not sure about the concept of “candidacy” the DNP that I am working toward IS awarded by a graduate school. When I graduate I will be hooded, wear a tam, and have three stripes on the sleeves of my robe, like any other individual that has earned a doctorate degree. I will have earned the right to refer to myself as “Doctor”, and use the honorific “Dr.” in front of my name. Yes, the DNP is a clinical degree and, unless I am misunderstanding your use of the term “graduate school”, it does have oversight by the graduate school.

Hi Peggy, here is another perspective to Always keep in mind … since you are discussing PhD candidates. Up and down the West Coast, while visiting some “interesting” locations, I have came across multiple Individuals that are/were offering services as: Counselors, Life coaches, Yoga instructors, Feng-shui, Ayurveda practitioners, etc, etc. All claiming a PhD degree, but couldn’t provide an answer as to which higher institution they attended, others mentioned “schools” I’ve never heard of. It wasn’t until later, that I found out that they were purchasing “Degree’s” from a On-line company. I believe that there should be a Public Law against this type of deception, don’t you? DSM

Of course there should be such a law. The bottom line is that there are 2 things we all can do – be aware of practices of deception and check out all credentials, and second, be clear about our own credentials and how we represent them to others to assure them of our legitimate standards.

What is the proper way to list an honorary affiliation such as “visiting Research Fellow or honorary lecturer” in a publication??

Good question – these are not credentials, but they are, as you note, affiliations that tupically appear on the line following your name and credentials. So my “signature” for example, is Peggy L. Chinn, RN, PhD Professor Emerita, University of Connecticut Editor, Advances in Nursing Science

My name is followed by my credentials on the same line, my affiliation with the Unviersity of Connecticut on the second line, and my Editorship of ANS on the third line.

What is the proper way to list an honorary affiliation such as “visiting Research Fellow or honorary lecturer” in a publication??

Many apologies – your question got lost in a string of comments. But I found it -and here is my answer – just list it on a line below your name – much as you would indicate your employment or professional affiliation in your signature block. Example: Peggy L Chinn, RN, PhD Professor Emerita, University of Connecticut

I disagree. A DNPc has reached a point where they have completed their defense successfully and earned that title

To stand by your opinion on this, you need to provide a reasonable argument that completing the defense bestows a titile on the person. Is there a certificate of completion that is awarded by the institution? Is this title permanent? As far as I know, both of these questions yields a “No” response. One does not use the “c” title once the requirements for the degree are completed, at which time the institution awards the degree. Completing the defense is the same thing as passing a course that is required for the degree – it is indeed an accomplishment, and might even lead to more accomplishments! But it is not a degree, and it is not a title.

What about if you have multiple degrees and professional credentials? How do I list them and what do I omit when I submit for a journal publication?

PA, AT, MMS, MSEd

Yes, particularly if the degrees all represent a different focus. I do not recommend listing all the degrees in the same field such asBS, MS, PhD all in nursing; you can but it is typically only the highest degree that you list. If you have two graduate degrees in two different fileds, you can list them as follows: PhD (nursing), PhD (education) for example.

How would one enter their credentials if they have a PhD in Education with specialization in Nursing Education with a MHA, MSN, and BSN.

How you list your credentials (in which order, even which credentials to include) varies depending on where you are listing them, for what purpose. The important point is making sure that you indicate each credential correctly – the exact credential(s) you were awarded. A PhD is a research/theory degree/credential – meaning the degree focused on the theory and research methods that are central to the development of knowledge in the discipline. The area in which the PhD was earned (e.g. nursing, education, sociology, anthropology, etc.) is not indicated as part of the credential. An EdD is both a degree and an indicator that the doctorate is a professional degree focused on the application of knowledge in the discipline, and appropriate approaches to teaching the knowledge of the discipline. However, these conceptual distinctions are imprecise – the main point to know is the accurate representation of any credential that you earned.

Hi, there. I’m not sure this post will still receive responses. I’ve only recently stumbled across it, so I’m going to take a chance.

I am actively in pursuance of a dual master’s degree that will be completed within the year. I am also currently publishing chapters in two textbooks and freelancing/contracting on other projects. I was recently discussing my credentials with a colleague, and she suggested I find a way to include my dual master’s degrees in my upcoming publishings. I brought this suggestion to two of my professors and both felt that it was a good idea for my career outlook. Is there a way to appropriately and professionally include this information in a transparent way that clearly identifies these degrees are in progress and that I don’t currently hold these degrees?

I appreciate your responses. Thank you.

Excellent question,Kayla! Once the degrees are both complete you can list both of them with the discipline in parenthesis – like this: MS (Nursing), MS (Sociology) – for sure both need to be on your CV. And you can show both when this is relevant. But until they are completed, you can use the “author information” section for a published article, or for a presentation, to say that these are in process.

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The essential purposes of ANS are to advance the development of nursing knowledge and to promote the integration of nursing philosophies, theories and research with practice. We expect high scholarly merit and encourage innovative, cutting edge ideas that challenge prior assumptions and that present new, intellectually challenging perspectives. We seek works that speak to global sustainability and that take an intersectional approach, recognizing class, color, sexual and gender identity, and other dimensions of human experience related to health.

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From the Editor on Scholarship

• The “C’s” of Scholarship
• How to list your credentials
• Changes in scholarly publishing
• Self-plagiarism
• Evaluating your sources

From the Editor on Publishing

• Overcoming Roadblocks
• Finding a home for your manuscript
• Open Access: What it is and what it is not
• Standing Up for Science
• Updated ANS Author’s Guide: Anti-racist Guidelines

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The ANS Blog provides a forum for discussion of issues raised in the articles published in Advances in Nursing Science . We welcome all authors and readers to post your comments and ideas on the blog! If you would like to be an author on this blog, let us know!

The journal Editor is Peggy L. Chinn, RN, PhD, FAAN. Dr Chinn founded the journal in 1978.

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Should I Write Ph.D. or PhD? (Complete Guide)

As some of you are probably aware, the kind of English used on my side of the pond (England) is sometimes a bit different to the English used in the land of burgers and Trump.

Some words are spelt differently. But others just have a few bits of grammar difference.

Today, I want to look at the difference between Ph.D. and PhD. We’ll look at which one is correct, what it stands for, and why it’s a bit odd that it stands for that.

Should I Write Ph.D. Or PhD?

It is correct to write both Ph.D. and PhD. Which one is best to use depends on where you are in the world. In Great Britain, they tend to use Ph.D. In the United States of America, they prefer to use Ph.D.

What Does Ph.D. Or PhD Stand For?

Let’s try to understand what Ph.D. stands for.

It stands for two things. And it doesn’t stand for one or the other, it stands for both of them at the same time.

The first thing is “Doctor of Philosophy” and the second is “Philosophiae Doctor”. As the eagle-eyed among you may have noticed, “Philosophiae” is not English. It’s in Latin.

This goes back to the days when the only people who needed university were high thinkers and philosophers.

Why Americans And Brits Disagree On Ph.D. Or PhD

This could help us to understand why Brits prefer PhD but Americans prefer Ph.D.

Perhaps, according to the Brits, it stands for “Philosophiae Doctor”. But, according to the Americans, it stands for “Doctor or Philosophy”.

After all, the Brits do have a habit of trying to sound smarter. But, whichever one you use, people on both sides should know what you’re saying.

Why Ph.D. Or PhD Is A Bit Strange

Now, I want you all to understand how strange it is to call anyone with a PhD a “doctor of Philosophy”.

Let’s say someone gets a Ph.D. in history.

Well, first of all, is she really a doctor? If you break your leg, she’s not the first person you’ll go to for help.

But not only that, she studied history, not philosophy. So, she’s called a doctor of philosophy despite not being a doctor and not having studied history.

Yet, for some reason, we still call her a “Doctor of philosophy”.

Where Does The Word “Doctor” Come From?

When most of us hear the word “Doctor”, we think of someone who makes us better when we’re sick. And there may be a few of you who think of a skinny man who travels through time in a Police Box.

But originally, “Doctor” was Latin for teacher. Through time, you were able to get a “PhD” in more things than just philosophy.

And, if you wanted to become what we think of as a “Doctor”, you would need to have a “doctorate” in medicine.

Technically, “Doctor” would be the wrong word. But it’s become so common, it’s managed to “common” itself enough to become the right word.

How To Get A Ph.D. Or PhD

Now I’m afraid you can’t just walk into a university and walk out with a PhD. There are steps you need to take before you get there.

First of all, you will need to do a Bachelor’s degree. This is the degree you do when you first enter university. There are some jobs where a bachelors is enough.

Let’s be honest here, most of the time you spend doing a bachelor is just having fun.

If you want to, you can then progress onto doing a master’s degree. This is a bit more high level, and you tend to need to work for it.

Once you have your bachelors you may decide to go on to get a PhD. If you go for this, you will be officially able to call yourself an intellectual.

What Kind Of Word Is Ph.D. Or PhD?

There are three ideas for what kind of word Ph.D. is. I’ll tell you all of them and let you make up your own mind.

A PhD is something you have. You work towards it, and once you’ve handed in all of your papers, you get a PhD.

A PhD is also something you are. If you have a PhD, you might say “I’m a PhD.”

It can also be a title, similar to “Sir” or “OBE”.

If your name is James Smith, and you are PhD, your name and title could be, Mr James Smith PhD.

How To Address Someone With A Ph.D. Or PhD

Talking of this man called James Smith, there are several ways to address and introduce him.

• If you have a Ph.D., you are allowed to call yourself “Doctor” even if you don’t have a PhD in medicine. Therefore, if he wants, James could be called Dr Smith.
• Maybe he doesn’t want to be confused for a medical doctor but still wants to show off his Ph.D. In that case, we can call him James Smith PhD.
• But, like many with a Ph.D., he may not want to mention it unless it’s important. If he’s one of these people, we should just call him Mr Smith.

Ph.D. Or PhD Vs Doctorate

Asking “What’s the difference between a PhD and a doctorate?” is a bit like asking what the difference is between an apple and a fruit.

Just like an apple is a kind of fruit, a PhD is a kind of doctorate. However, it’s not the only doctorate there is.

Here are some forms of doctorate you may want to know.

Doctor of philosophy. But now also means Doctor of something there isn’t a doctorate for.

Doctorate in business.

Doctorate in engineering.

Doctorate in education

Doctor of medicine.

If you were wondering whether you should write “PhD” or “Ph.D.”, you can write either, both are grammatically correct, and both are very common terms that mean the same thing.

The only slight difference is that “PhD” is more common in England and “Ph.D.” is more common in America. This is perhaps because the British believe it stands for “philosophiae doctor” but Americans see it as “Doctor of Philosophy”.

But, no matter whether you use “PhD” or “Ph.D.”, to have one, you neither need to be a doctor nor study philosophy. All you need to do is stay in university for long enough to be able to get yourself a PhD. Then, you can become a PhD, and your title will be PhD.

You may also like: DSc Degree vs. PhD Degree – What’s the Difference? 9 Correct Ways to Write PhD Title on a Business Card

Martin holds a Master’s degree in Finance and International Business. He has six years of experience in professional communication with clients, executives, and colleagues. Furthermore, he has teaching experience from Aarhus University. Martin has been featured as an expert in communication and teaching on Forbes and Shopify. Read more about Martin here .

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In this collection, we’ll walk you through each chapter of your thesis. You’ll learn what goes where and how it fits together. 

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• School of Nursing >
• Admissions >
• Graduate Admissions >
• Post-MS PhD

Post-MS Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Nursing Program - Admissions

The University at Buffalo's Post-Master's Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Nursing program is designed to prepare experienced nurses for leadership roles in nursing science and academia. This program equips nurse scholars to advance knowledge development, theory generation, and hypothesis testing to improve nursing practice and health care outcomes. All PhD program tracks are offered online, providing the flexibility needed for working professionals.

Jump to section

About our admissions process.

• The School of Nursing reserves the right to change admission and program criteria to meet prevailing accreditation and registration requirements.
• Students who have been dismissed from other nursing programs are not eligible for admission. 
• An interview is required for all graduate programs as part of the review process. Qualified applicants will be notified of interview via email.

Admissions Information

Admissions requirements.

• Equivalent of a Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN) and Master of Science in nursing (MSN) degree.
• Active U.S. RN license or foreign nursing license.
• Overall MSN GPA of 3.25.

Application Materials

• Online application.
• Application fee: $75
• Official transcripts from all colleges attended.
• Resume/curriculum vitae.
• Personal statement .
• Two scholarly writing samples.
• Three references.

Transcript Information

All application materials are submitted online through the application portal, except for official transcripts. Please do not upload any screenshots of transcripts.

Select the correct institution

Ensure that your transcripts are sent to SUNY University at Buffalo,  not  to SUNY Buffalo State University.

Please have official transcripts mailed to:

UB School of Nursing Beck Hall-Graduate Admissions 3435 Main Street Buffalo, New York 14214

Electronic transcripts can be:

• Emailed to  [email protected].
• Uploaded via Parchment using the "University at Buffalo" option. 
• Uploaded via National Student Clearinghouse using code: 002837. 

International Applicants

Additional requirements for international applicants, all graduate nursing program applicants.

• SPEAK Test , TOEFL or IELTS scores  (minimum scores and more information);  UB TOEFL code: 2925.
• International Credentials/Transcripts/Proof of Degree/Translations. A WES document is strongly preferred. 
• Upon admission to the program, you will be required to submit official transcripts/degrees/translations in a sealed envelope to the International Admission Office.
• Immigration and financial documents.

DNP Program Applicants

• Students applying to the DNP program are not eligible to obtain an F1 student visa.  Visa requirements can be found here . 
• If you do not have a US RN license, you must contact the state board of nursing to apply. 

Application Deadlines

All documents must be received by the deadline.  

Additional Information

Graduate programs information sessions.

Tanner Gelatt Assistant Director of Graduate Recruitment 202 Beck Hall 716-829-3765 [email protected] Schedule a meeting with Tanner.

The University at Buffalo is committed to ensuring equal access to its programs and activities. View UB's Notice of Discrimination here.

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Pentester, a cybersecurity firm, has set up a tool to let you see if your data was part of the breach. Use a web browser to navigate to npd.pentester.com and enter your first and last name and birth year. You’ll see a list of breached accounts, including the last four digits of the leaked Social Security numbers.

What should I do if my Social Security number was included in the breach?

NPD is advising people who might have been affected to closely monitor their financial accounts. Most Americans don’t keep close tabs on their checking and saving balances and don’t examine every item on their credit card bills—and hackers count on that.

It’s also a good idea to set up credit monitoring to ensure no one is using your personal information—and contact one of the three U.S. credit reporting agencies ( Equifax , Experian , and TransUnion) to set up a fraud alert on your account, which will tell creditors to contact you before they open any new accounts or change your existing accounts. Once it’s set up with one agency, it will go into effect with the others. It remains active for one year and can be renewed.

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How to address a doctoral candidate who is ABD (All but Dissertation)? Is "Dr" appropriate?

How does one address a doctoral candidate who completed all his/here requirements except the dissertation? Would they be referred to as Doctor? Or is there another title?

In the past, I believe I've seen "ABD" added as a postnominal in a signature. For example, "John Doe, ABD". But I don't believe I recall reading how to address such an individual.

Related discussions (thanks Nate (or is it Doctor?)):

• When can you call yourself doctor?
• Proper way to address yourself
• all-but-dissertation

• 11 I would call them John, unless they request something else. I usually ask "Do you prefer Mr. Doe, John, 'Hey you', or some other form of address?" –  Not Quite An Outsider Commented Jul 10, 2014 at 4:12
• 5 @NotQuiteAnOutsider That's going to cause a little confusion. D'you mind if we call them Bruce just to keep it clear? –  David Richerby Commented Jul 10, 2014 at 9:19
• If you're from the other half of the planet, sure @David. Works for me. –  Not Quite An Outsider Commented Jul 10, 2014 at 19:02
• 2 You may call then Master John or Mistress Karen if they got their MS/MA/MPhil in the process of advancing to candidacy. –  RoboKaren Commented Aug 24, 2015 at 22:25
• It feels good to finally get to the point where you have completed all but dissertation. But you are correct it is not a degree and can bite you in the butt if you add ABD and it stays there for more than a year or two. –  user39173 Commented Aug 26, 2015 at 18:50

5 Answers 5

Address them the same way you would address any other person without a doctorate: e.g. in many English-speaking cultures, "Mr. Smith", "Ms. Jones", "Mx. Brown", or if you are on friendly terms, by their first name.

If they have successfully defended their dissertation but not actually received the degree, this is a bit of a gray area (see When can you call yourself doctor? ) but I think "Dr. Brown" is reasonable.

• Thanks again Nate. I never commented, but I hold PhDs in awe. I only managed to get through undergrad and grad coursework. So I'm happy to give them lots of credit. –  user18370 Commented Aug 24, 2015 at 22:39
• Ad the 2nd paragraph: You can't make a mistake by calling them "Dr" in that case; they should be a bit more careful :) –  yo' Commented Aug 27, 2015 at 15:02

"ABD" is just silly, IMO, and I'd avoid using it like the plague. To me, it carries nothing but negative connotation.

First, defending a dissertation is too big to be an "all but". It's the culmination of a serious academic experience. I've seen plenty of students get to that point only to have the degree disappear.

Next, the dissertation and the defense is a big step. Not being able to get your act together to write and defend when you're at the "all but" stage is a sign to academics that something is not quite right.

Finally, even if everything is going perfectly, and you've completed the research and writing it up will take the normal amount of time, then using an artificial title makes it look like you're anxious to have a title.

Long story short, when you start, use "Ph.D. student". When you've been advanced to candidacy, use "Ph.D. candidate", because that's what you are. I'll stick my neck out and say that when you've successfully defended and dealt with any corrections and revisions your committee wants handled, but you're just waiting for a ceremony, it might be OK to use Ph.D., but I'd leave it out, and on my CV I'd list Ph.D., with the date defended and the date the degree will be conferred.

• 7 I agree. ABD sounds as silly as a Bachelor All But Exams. –  Davidmh Commented Aug 31, 2015 at 15:08
• 2 What is the difference between PhD student and candidate? I've been using those synonymously. –  mathreadler Commented Aug 24, 2018 at 13:29
• 3 They are not synonomous @mathreadler. Advancement to candidacy, at least in most US programs, is a formal step that usually occurs after formal "proposal" of your thesis topic or passing of a qualifier exam. i.e., a first year PhD student that has zero idea of the exact topic of the dissertation is most often not considered a candidate. –  Scott Seidman Commented Aug 24, 2018 at 13:32
• 1 Ok. As far as I know there is no such step of changing name or title in many places in Europe. There may be an evaluation, say after a year after having started if the PhD student is judged reasonably able to finish given the progress during the first year. –  mathreadler Commented Aug 24, 2018 at 13:35
• @mathreadler: In many places/programs the PhD is split into an initial coursework phase and then a later phase where you have proposed and are working on your dissertation. This gives rise to a distinction between a PhD "student" (earlier phase) versus "candidate" (later phase). Note that some countries/institutions/programs do not have this split, and so in those places there is no distinction between these terms (i.e., they are synonymous). –  Ben Commented Oct 16, 2020 at 13:46

Such a person is entitled to be recognized as a "PhD Candidate" , which would follow the name and probably mention the department or emphasis ("PhD Candidate in Electrical Engineering" in my case). This might be used in a signature block or a biographical sketch.

There is no special honorific to use antecedent to the name, as Nate has already told you.

Before I post my comment I strongly caution one to review the institutional policy regarding this topic. In some program and student code of conduct policies credentialing and use of titles prior to the awarding of the full degree is grounds for dismissal from the program.

Having been ABD for longer than I should have been I can tell you it is not something I wanted to advertise. It was more like an albatross when I was required to report annually on my progress.

In an earlier post the term “candidate” was discussed. This would be appropriate when presented in a vitae or resume in the educational section for degree not yet completed along with the anticipated completion date.

XYZ University City, State Ph.D. Management (Candidate, 2016)

My advice is to finish the dissertation and earn the degree. The satisfaction of being called Dr. or adding the letters in your signature is far less important than the actual work.

• 3 I appreciate your answer. There is no such degree as "ABD," so there is never a reason to add it after a name. In the academic culture I spent my time in, it was seen as foolish. –  ewormuth Commented Aug 1, 2015 at 21:27
• 3 A student was dismissed from my own doctoral program after sending out resumes with "Ph.D." after his name, but before he had defended. This was done quietly but with great finality. –  Bob Brown Commented Aug 26, 2015 at 22:00
• 1 I mostly agree with this answer, but even writing "PhD (Candidate, Year)" as a postnominal seems extremely dubious to me. You should not be listing postnominal letters for a degree that has not been conferred, even if you parenthetically note that you are merely a candidate. I would tend to read that as a heavy negative --- i.e., the writer is trying to pass himself off with credit for a degree that is not finished. –  Ben Commented Oct 16, 2020 at 13:48

in "real life" you'd refer to that person with an honorarium of "ABD" as "hey, you over there!" "yeah...you with the funny hair."

i.e. almost really really is only valid in horse shoes and hand-grenades.

• 3 This seems adequately covered by the very first comment on the question. –  Ben Voigt Commented Dec 4, 2015 at 2:00

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