What is the proper order to list credentials on a resume or letterhead or business card?

One response to “What is the proper order to list credentials on a resume or letterhead or business card?”

1. 
   csanda

   December 11, 2010 at 10:47 pm | Permalink

   Depends upon which country you are from. There are different cultural norms.

   For example, you do not put any degrees except those that are critical to the professional job being done in the US (e.g. DDS, MD, JD, Phd, CFP, CFA, CPA, but not undergraduate degrees or lesser certifications. In other countries, it is the cultural norm to hang degrees and certificates on the name card like a banana republic general’s medals. For example, the British sometimes (but not always) put their bachelors degree on their card.

   That being said, you put your most senior degree first. Senior tends to be the latest one, but not necessarily. For example, if you got your BA with honors, CPA, then your MD and then your MBA – you would put Joe Blow, MD, CPA in the US. Americans omit the bachelor and MBA, in this case, because it is not relevant when doing correspondence. They aren’t hiring you, they just need to know if you can do the job. That is, you expect your Doctor to have an MD, your dentist to have DDS and your accountant to have a CPA, but you don’t give a rat’s behind if they got top marks when they were 18 years old. In other places, they’re proud of their achievements and you would put Joe Blow, MD, MBA, CPA, BA (Hons).

   I can see from your question profile that you are American. This means leave everthing off your name card and your letterhead. You only need them on your resume.

   I hope that helps.

   Sincerely,

   csanda, CFA, CPA