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Doctor qualifications and abbreviations
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Our list of medical qualifications and abbreviations will help you to understand what the letters after a doctor's name actually stand for.
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Abbreviation | Qualification or full description |
BCh | Bachelor of Surgery |
BChir | Bachelor of Surgery |
BM | Bachelor of Medicine |
BMedSci | Bachelor of Medical Sciences |
BPharm | Bachelor of Pharmacy |
BS | Bachelor of Surgery |
BSc | Bachelor of Science |
ChB | Bachelor of Surgery |
CPH | Certificate in Public Health |
DA | Diploma in Anaesthetics |
DCh | Doctor of Surgery |
DCH | Diploma in Child Health |
DCP | Diploma in Clinical Pathology |
DCPath | Diploma College of Pathologists |
DDS | Doctor of Dental Surgery |
DFM | Diploma in Forensic Medicine |
DGM | Diploma in Geriatric Medicine |
DGO | Diploma in Gynaecology and Obstetrics |
Dip GU Med | Diploma in Genitourinary Medicine |
DMR | Diploma in Medical Radiology |
DO | Diploma in Ophthalmology |
DObst | Diploma in Obstetrics |
DPath | Diploma in Pathology |
DPhil | Doctor of Philosophy |
DPhysMed | Diploma in Physical Medicine |
DPH | Diploma in Public Health |
DPM | Diploma in Psychological Medicine |
DR | Diploma in Radiology |
DRCOG | Diploma Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists |
DRCPath | Diploma Royal College of Pathologists |
DS | Doctor of Surgery |
FFA | Fellow Faculty of Anaesthetists |
FFCM | Fellow Faculty of Community Medicine |
FFFP | Fellow of the Faculty of Family Planning |
FFPath | Fellow Faculty of Pathology |
FFPHM | Fellow Faculty of Public Health Medicine |
FFR | Fellow Faculty of Radiologists |
FRCA | Fellow Royal College of Anaesthetists |
FRCGP | Fellow Royal College of General Practitioners |
FRCOG | Fellow Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists |
FRCOphth | Fellow College of Ophthalmology |
FRCPath | Fellow Royal College of Pathologists |
FRCPS | Fellow Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons |
FRCPsych | Fellow Royal College of Psychiatrists |
FRCR | Fellow Royal College of Radiologists |
FRCS | Fellow Royal College of Surgeons |
FRCSI | Fellow Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland |
FRS | Fellow of the Royal Society |
FRSH | Fellow Royal Society of Health |
GP | General Practitioner |
LMS | Licentiate of Medicine & Surgery |
LRCP | Licentiate Royal College of Physicians |
LRCPI | Licentiate Royal College of Physicians of Ireland |
LRCPS | Licentiate Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons |
LRCS | Licentiate Royal College of Surgeons |
LRCSI | Licentiate Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland |
MA | Master of Arts |
MBAcA | Member British Acupuncture Association |
MBBCh | Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery |
MBBS | Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery |
MBChB | Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery |
MCh, MChir | Master of Surgery |
MChOrth | Master of Orthopaedic Surgery |
MClinPscychol | Master of Clinical Psychology |
MD | Doctor of Medicine |
MFFP | Member Faculty of Family Planning |
MFOM | Member Faculty of Occupational Medicine |
MFPHM | Member Faculty of Public Health Medicine |
MMed | Master of Medicine |
MMedSc | Master of Medical Science |
MPhil | Master of Philosophy |
MRCGP | Member Royal College of General Practitioners |
MRCOG | Member Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists |
MRCP | Member Royal College of Physicians |
MRCPath | Member Royal College of Pathologists |
MRCPI | Member Royal College of Physicians of Ireland |
MRCPsych | Member Royal College of Psychiatrists |
MRCS | Member Royal College of Surgeons |
MS | Master of Surgery |
MSc | Master of Science |
PRHO | Pre-Registration House Officer (now replaced by Foundation Year 1) |
PhD | Doctor of Philosophy |
SHO | Senior House Officer |
SpR | Specialist Registrar |