List of post-nominal letters

From Free net encyclopedia

Post-nominal letters are letters placed after the name of an individual to indicate that that individual holds a position, office, or honour.

An individual may use several different sets of post-nominal letters. Honours are listed first in descending order of precedence, followed by degrees and memberships of learned societies in ascending order.

Obsolete positions are not listed unless recipients, who continue to use the post-nominals even after the order becomes obsolete, are still living.

Contents

The United Kingdom

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Office Post-nominal
Baronet
Baronet Bt or Bart
Esquire [2]
Esquire Esq
Orders and Decorations
Victoria Cross VC
George Cross GC
Knight of the Order of the Garter KG
Lady of the Order of the Garter LG
Knight of the Order of the Thistle KT
Lady of the Order of the Thistle LT
Knight of the Order of Saint Patrick KP
Knight/Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath GCB
Order of Merit OM
Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India GCSI
Knight/Dame Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George GCMG
Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire GCIE
Knight/Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order GCVO
Knight/Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire GBE
Companion of Honour CH
Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath KCB
Dame Commander of the Order of the Bath DCB
Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India KCSI
Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George KCMG
Dame Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George DCMG
Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire KCIE
Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order KCVO
Dame Commander of the Royal Victorian Order DCVO
Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire KBE
Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire DBE
Companion of the Order of the Bath CB
Companion of the Order of the Star of India CSI
Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George CMG
Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire CIE
Commander of the Royal Victorian Order CVO
Commander of the Order of the British Empire CBE
Distinguished Service Order DSO
Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order LVO
Officer of the Order of the British Empire OBE
Imperial Service Order ISO
Member of the Royal Victorian Order MVO
Member of the Order of the British Empire MBE
Indian Order of Merit (Military) IOM
Royal Red Cross RRC
Distinguished Service Cross DSC
Military Cross MC
Distinguished Flying Cross DFC
Air Force Cross AFC
Associate, Royal Red Cross ARRC
Order of British India OBI
Distinguished Conduct Medal DCM
Conspicuous Gallantry Medal CGM
George Medal GM
Indian Distinguished Service Medal IDSM
Distinguished Service Medal DSM
Military Medal MM
Distinguished Flying Medal DFM
Air Force Medal AFM
Medal for Saving Life at Sea SGM
Indian Order of Merit (Civil) IOM
Colonial Police Medal for Gallantry CPM
Queen's Gallantry Medal QGM
British Empire Medal BEM
Queen's Police Medal QPM
Queen's Fire Medal QFSM
Colonial Police Medal for Merit CPM
Meritorious Service Medal MSM
Army Emergency Reserve Decoration ERD
Volunteer Officer's Decoration VD
Territorial Decoration TD
Efficiency Decoration ED
Decoration for Officers of the Royal Naval Reserve RD
Decoration for Officers of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve VRD
Air Efficiency Award AE
Canadian Forces Decoration CD
Foreign Orders and Decorations
Commonwealth Orders and Decorations Varies
Other Foreign Orders and Decorations Varies
Appointments to the Queen
Privy Counsellor [1] PC
Aide de Camp to Her Majesty ADC
Honorary Physician to The Queen QHP
Honorary Surgeon to The Queen QHS
Honorary Dental Surgeon to The Queen QHDS
Honorary Nursing Sister to The Queen QHNS
Honorary Chaplain to The Queen QHC
Legal Positions, Etc.
Queen's Counsel QC
Justice of the Peace JP
Deputy Lieutenant DL
University Degrees [3]
Doctorate DD, PhD, MD, EngD etc.
Master's Degree MA, MSc, MEng, etc.
Bachelor's Degree BA, BSc, BMus, BEng etc.
Religious Orders [4]
Society of Jesus SJ
Medical Qualifications
Medicine MB/BM ChB/BS/BCh/BChir
Surgery MS, MCh, etc.
Physicians MRCP, FRCP, etc.
Surgeons MRCS, FRCS, etc.
Pharmacists PharmD
Certified Pharmacy Technician CPhT
Teaching Qualifications
Postgraduate Certificate in Education PGCE
Certificate in Education Cert. Ed.
Bachelor of Education BEd
Engineering Qualifications
Chartered Engineer CEng
Incorporated Engineer IEng
Engineering Technician Eng.Tech
Nursing Qualifications
Registered General Nurse (Post 1984) RGN
State Registered Nurse (Pre 1984) SRN
Registered Mental Nurse RMN
Registered Sick Children's Nurse RSCN
State Enrolled Nurse (Pre 1984) SEN
State Enrolled Nurse (Mental Illness) (Pre 1984) SEN(M)
Enrolled Nurse (Post 1984) EN
Enrolled Nurse (Mental Illness)(Post 1984) EN(M)
Registered Nurse Mental Handicapped RNMH
Registered Nurse (Most Recent Connotation Replacing all of above) RN
Fellowship of Learned Societies [4]
Fellow of the Royal Society FRS
Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society FRAeS
Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts FRSA
Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh FRSE
Fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society FRAS
Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society FRGS
Fellow of the Royal Institution of Great Britain FRI
Fellow of the Royal Statistical Society FRSS
Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada FRSC
Royal Academicians [4]
President of the Royal Academy PRA
Past President of the Royal Academy PPRA
Royal Academician RA
Associate of the Royal Academy ARA
Fellowship or Membership of Professional Institutions
Fellow of the Educational Institute of Scotland FEIS
Chartered Chemist CChem
Chartered Information Technology Professional CITP
Fellow of The Nautical Institute FNI
Chartered Mathematician CMath
Chartered Scientist CSci
Fellow of the British Computer Society FBCS
Fellow of the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications FIMA
Fellow of the Institute of Physics FInstP
Fellow of the Institution of Electrical Engineers FIEE
Incorporated Engineer IEng
Member of the British Computer Society MBCS (BCS)
Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers MIEEE
Member of the Institution of Electrical Engineers MIEE
Member of the Institution of Railway Signal Engineers MIRSE
Member of the Institution of Incorporated Engineers MIIE
Member of the Institution of Engineering and Technology MIET Professional Engineer
Technician Member of the Institution of Engineering and Technology TMIET Professional Tecnhician
Member of the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications MIMA
City & Guilds of London Institute
Licentiate of the City & Guilds of London Institute LCGI
Graduate of the City & Guilds of London Institute GCGI
Associate of the City & Guilds of London Institute-awarded to undergraduates who receive a BEng or MEng degree from a programme within the City and Guilds College-Imperial College London. ACGI
Member of the City & Guilds of London Institute MCGI
Fellow of the City & Guilds of London Institute FCGI
Honoris Causa Fellow of the City & Guilds of London Institute HonFCGI
Writers to the Signet
Writer to the Signet WS
British Red Cross Society Awards & Honours
Badge of Honour (No Category - abbreviation of categories below - Common Usage) BH
Badge of Honour for Devoted Service - Uncommon Usage BH(D)
Badge of Honour for Distinguished Service - Uncommon Usage BH(DS)
Badge of Honour for Outstanding Service - Uncommon Usage BH(OS)
Voluntary Medical Service Medal VMSM
Legislators
Member of Parliament [5] MP
Member of the Scottish Parliament MSP
Member of the National Assembly for Wales AM
Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly ('Member of the Legislative Assembly') MLA
Member of the European Parliament MEP
Armed Forces [6]
Royal Navy [7] RN
Royal Naval Reserve [7] RNR
Army [8] RE, RAPC, etc.
Royal Air Force [9] RAF
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve [9] RAFVR
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (Training Branch) RAFVR(T)
Royal Marines RM
Royal Marines Reserve RMR

</table>

Notes:

[1] The letters "PC" are used only by peers. For other Privy Counsellors, "Rt. Hon." before the name suffices. The distinction is caused because peers may already hold the title "Rt. Hon." while not being a Privy Counsellor, while the same cannot be said of commoners.

[2] Esquire (or Esq. as a suffix) is now commonly used in the UK in place of the prefix Mr. in formal address, according to the "Dictionary of Genealogy" it has no real meaning. In the US it is considered in many places only to be used for lawyers.

[3] The exact post-nominal for university degrees varies based on the faculty in which the degree was obtained.

[4] There are too many religious orders, learned societies, royal academies, and professional institutions to be listed. One example is provided in each case; the format shown should be followed for other organizations, except that the initials of the organization should be substituted.

[5] "Member of Parliament" is used in the UK and other Commonwealth nations to describe members of the lower house of Parliament only. In the UK, members of the House of Commons are described Members of Parliament, but members of the House of Lords are not.

[6] In the Armed Forces, two or more branches may have officers with the same or similar titles, such as "Captain," which is a position in the Royal Navy, Army, Royal Air Force, and Royal Marines. To differentiate between the branches, post-nominals such as "RN" are used. However, such post-nominals are not used for the higher positions, since the higher officers are differently-titled in each branch.

[7] "RN" or "RNR" is used for officers with the rank of Captain or below.

[8] In the Army, the initials of the regiment or corps of the officer are used as post-nominals.

[9] "RAF" or "RAFVR" technically should be used for officers with the rank of Air Chief Marshal and below, though, in practice, it is used for officers with the rank of Wing Commander and below.

[10] When listing the honours and awards enjoyed by any person it is customary to include the Order of St John, but this is a Royal Order and not a State Order, and so confers no precedence. The statutes of the order state (statute 32(2)) The letters specified … may be used … but admission or promotion to any Grade of the Order … shall not confer any rank, style, title, dignity, appellation or social precedence whatsoever.

[11] Most institutions awarding Fellowships also award memberships. For example, whilst FRAeS is the highest award of the Royal Aeronautical Society, CRAeS (Companion) is an equivalent status but not also including professional qualifications, MRAeS is a professionally qualified member, and AMRAeS is an associate member - reflecting a lower level of professional qualification. This pattern is common, but not universal and specific postnominals can vary between societies.

The Grades of the Order of St John are:

Grade IBailiffs or Dames Grand Cross(GCStJ)
Grade IIKnights or Dames of Justice or Grace(KStJ or DStJ)
Grade III (a)Chaplains(ChStJ)
Grade III (b)Commanders (Brothers or Sisters)(CStJ)
Grade IVOfficers (Brothers or Sisters)(OStJ)
Grade VServing Brothers or Serving Sisters(SBStJ) or (SSStJ)
Grade VIEsquires(EsqStJ)

</table>

Australia

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Office Post-nominal
Orders and Decorations
Victoria Cross [1] VC
Cross of Valour CV
Order of Merit OM
Knight of the Order of Australia [2] AK
Dame of the Order of Australia [2] AD
Knight/Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order GCVO
Companion of the Order of Australia AC
Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order KCVO
Dame Commander of the Royal Victorian Order DCVO
Officer of the Order of Australia AO
Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire DBE
Commander of the Royal Victorian Order CVO
Star of Gallantry SG
Star of Courage SC
Distinguished Service Cross DSC
Military Cross MC
Distinguished Flying Cross DFC
Member of the Order of Australia AM
Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order LVO
Member of the Royal Victorian Order MVO
Conspicuous Service Cross CSC
Nursing Service Cross NSC
Medal for Gallantry MG
Bravery Medal BM
Distinguished Service Medal DSM
Public Service Medal PSM
Australian Police Medal APM
Australian Fire Service Medal AFSM
Ambulance Services Medal ASM
Emergency Services Medal ESM
Medal of the Order of Australia OAM
Conspicuous Service Medal CSM
Australian Antarctic Medal AAM
Royal Victorian Medal RVM
Foreign Orders and Decorations
Commonwealth Orders and Decorations Varies
Other Foreign Orders and Decorations Varies
Degrees, Orders, Societies, Academicians etc.
See Section on the United Kingdom above
Legislators
Member of Parliament MP
Member of the Legislative Assembly MLA
Member of the Legislative Council MLC
Member of the House of Assembly (Tasmania) MHA

</table>

Notes:

[1] Awarding of the Imperial Victoria Cross to Australian citizens ended when the Australian Victoria Cross was created as part of the Australian Honours System in 1991. The Australian Victoria Cross has yet to be awarded. Of the 96 Australians awarded the Victoria Cross there are two living: Edward Kenna and Keith Payne.

[2] The Knight & Dame level of the Order of Australia was abolished in 1986. Those who were awarded this rank are still permitted to use the title and the postnominal letters.

Canada

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Office Post-nominal
Higher National Decorations
Victoria Cross [1] VC
Cross of Valour CV
Appointments to the Queen
Privy Counsellor [2] PC
National Orders
Companion of the Order of Canada CC
Officer of the Order of Canada OC
Member of the Order of Canada CM
Commander of the Order of Military Merit CMM
Commander of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces COM
Commander of the Royal Victorian Order CVO
Officer of the Order of Military Merit OMM
Officer of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces OOM
Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order LVO
Member of the Order of Military Merit MMM
Member of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces MOM
Member of the Royal Victorian Order MVO
Provincial Orders
Grand Officier de l'Ordre national du Québec GOQ
Officier de l'Ordre national du Québec OQ
Chevalier de l'Ordre national du Québec CQ
Saskatchewan Order of Merit SOM
Order of Ontario O.Ont
Order of British Columbia OBC
Alberta Order of Excellence AOE
Order of Prince Edward Island O.PEI
Order of Manitoba OM
Order of New Brunswick ONB
Order of Nova Scotia ONS
Order of Newfoundland and Labrador ONL
National Decorations
Star of Military Valour SMV
Star of Courage SC
Meritorious Service Cross MSC
Medal of Military Valour MMV
Medal of Bravery MB
Meritorious Service Medal MSM
Royal Victorian Medal RVM
Canadian Forces Decoration CD
Heredity Titles
Member of the United Empire Loyalists [3] UE
Provincial Decorations
Ontario Medal for Good Citizenship OMC
Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal SVM
Foreign Orders and Decorations
Commonwealth Orders and Decorations Varies
Other Foreign Orders and Decorations Varies
Degrees, Orders, Societies, Academicians etc.
Fellow of The Royal Canadian Academy of Arts FRCA
Fellow of The Royal Canadian Geographical Society FRCGS
Fellow of The Chemical Institute of Canada FCIC
Fellow of The Royal Heraldry Society of CanadaFRHSC
Fellow of The Canadian Aeronautics and Space InstituteFCASI
Also, see Section on the United Kingdom above
Legal Positions
Queen's Counsel QC
Legislators
Member of Parliament [4] MP
Member of the House of Assembly [5] MHA
Member of the National Assembly [5] MNA
Member of the Legislative Assembly [5] MLA
Member of Provincial Parliament [5] MPP
Fellowship or Membership of Professional Institutions
Professional Engineer P.Eng., Eng., Ing.

</table>

[1] Currently there are no living Canadians permitted to utilize the postnominal letters "V.C.". Since its creation in 1993 the Canadian Victoria Cross has yet to be issued and Canada's last living recipient of the Imperial Victoria Cross, Smokey Smith, died in 2005.

[2] French Canadian Privy Councilor's utilize the postnominal letters "C.P." rather than the anglophone "P.C.". There are several other cases of this in Canada such as French Canadian Fellows of the Royal Society of Canada use the letters "MSRC" instead of "FRSC". In practice, these postnominals are not usually translated from one language to another. A Privy Councilor is also entitled to be styled "The Honourable" or "L'honourable" for life. The postnominal letters are nessessary to denote that someone is a privy councilor because in Canada holding a certain office can also allow the use of "The Honourable" title.

[3] UE is the only Hereditary title in Canada. It is based on Lord Dorchester's Order in Council in 1789 which was meant to differentiate loyalists from later settlers. Entitled to use these letters are descendants of :

  • Either male or female, as of 19 April 1775, a resident of the American colonies, and joined the Royal Standard prior to the Treaty of Separation of 1783, or otherwise demonstrated loyalty to the Crown, and settled in territory remaining under the rule of the Crown; or
  • a soldier who served in an American Loyalist Regiment and was disbanded in Canada; or
  • a member of the Six Nations of either the Grand River or the Bay of Quinte Reserve who is descended from one whose migration was similar to that of other Loyalists.

Although there are thousands of individuals entitled to use these letters, the practice is mostly limited to geneologists and canadian monarchists.

[4] "Member of Parliament" is used in Canada and other Commonwealth nations to describe members of the lower house of Parliament only. In Canada, members of the House of Commons are described Members of Parliament, but members of the Senate are not.

[5] In Canada, members of legislative assemblies are called MLAs in all provinces and territories except:

  • Ontario, where they have been called Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs) since 1938,
  • Quebec, where they are called Members of the National Assembly (MNAs), and
  • Newfoundland and Labrador, where they are called Members of the House of Assembly (MHAs).

New Zealand

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</table> [1] The New Zealand Order of Merit was created in 1996 to replace the Orders of the Bath, St Michael and St George, the British Empire, and the Companions of Honour, as well as the distinction of Knight Bachelor, for New Zealand recipients. The two highest levels were originally Knight/Dame Grand Companion and Knight/Dame Companion and entailed elevation to knighthood. In 2000 the Queen, on the advice of Prime Minister Helen Clark, changed the titles of these levels to Principal Companion and Distinguished Companion respectively, and removed the privileges of knighthood. Those New Zealanders who were appointed to the first or second level before the change (and thus created a knight or dame) are still permitted to style themselves "Sir" or "Dame" and use the former post-nominal letters. [2] Only those orders and decorations which are unique to New Zealand are listed, although a number of 'British' honours are still part of the New Zealand Honours System, notably those which are in the personal gift of the Sovereign, i.e. the Order of the Garter, Order of the Thistle, Royal Victorian Order, and the Order of Merit. In addition there are many living New Zealanders who hold appointments in the orders which the New Zealand Order of Merit replaced. For a full list of honours see listing of the correct order of wear for orders, decorations and medals in New Zealand.

Papua New Guinea

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Office Post-nominal
Decorations for Bravery
Victoria Cross (New Zealand version) VC
New Zealand Cross NZC
National Decorations
Member of the Order of New Zealand ONZ
Principal Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit PCNZM
Knight/Dame Grand Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit [1] GNZM
Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit DCNZM
Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit [1] KNZM
Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit [1] DNZM
Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit CNZM
New Zealand Gallantry Star NZGS
New Zealand Bravery Star NZBS
Companion of the Queen's Service Order QSO
Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit ONZM
Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit MNZM
New Zealand Gallantry Decoration NZGD
New Zealand Bravery Decoration NZBD
New Zealand Gallantry Medal NZGM
New Zealand Bravery Medal NZBM
Queen's Service Medal QSM
</table> [1] Papua New Guinea created their own honours system in 2004 with the first investitures being performed by The Princess Royal in September 2005. Papua New Guinea still recognises the Imperial Honours System. [1]

Antigua and Barbuda

Office Post-nominal
Papua New Guinea Honours System
Cross of Valour CV
Grand Companion of the Order of Logohu GCL
Companion of the Order of the Star of Melanesia CSM
Commander of the Order of Logohu CL
Officer of the Order of Logohu OL
Member of the Order of Logohu ML
National Medal of the Order of Logohu LM
Cross of Medical Service Medal CMS
Distinguished Military Service Medal DMS
Distinguished Police Service Medal DPS
Distinguished Correctional Service Medal DCS
Emergency Service Medal ESM
Public Service Medal PSM
Meritorious Community Service Medal MCS
Commendation Medal for Valuable Service SMM
Office Post-nominal
The Most Exalted Order of the National Hero
Knight of the Order of the National Hero KNH
Dame of the Order of the National Hero DNH
The Most Distinguished Order of the Nation
Knight Grand Collar KGN
Dame Grand Collar DGN
Knight Grand Cross KGCN
Dame Grand Cross DCGN
Knight Commander KCN
Dame Commander DCN
Commander CN
Officer ON
Member MN
The Most Illustrious Order of Merit
Grand Cross GCM
Grand Officer GOM
Commander CM
Officer OM
Member MM
The Most Precious Order of Princely Heritage
Grand Cross GCH
Grand Officer GOH
Commander CH
Officer OH
Member MH

</table>

[1] The Honours System of Antigua and Barbuda was created in 1998

Trinidad & Tobago

See also National Awards of Trinidad and Tobago

</table> [1] Although issued in three classes (Gold, Silver and Bronze) all three medals carry the same post-nominal letters.

Hong Kong

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Office Post-nominal
Honours System
Trinity Cross TC
Chaconia Medal CM [1]
Humming Bird Medal HBM [1]
Public Service Medal of Merit MOM [1]
Office Post-nominal
General Awards
Grand Bauhinia Medal GBM
Gold Bauhinia Star GBS
Silver Bauhinia Star SSB
Bronze Bauhinia Star BBS
Medal of Honour MH
General Awards
Medal for Bravery (Gold) MBG
Medal for Bravery (Silver) MBS
Medal for Bravery (Bronze) MBB
Official Titles
Justice of the Peace JP
Senior Counsel [2] SC

</table>

[1] Those individuals who received British Honours prior to the handover may continue to wear the order and/or use the related post-nominal letters, however, these are not officially recognized by the Government of Hong Kong.

[2] Senior Counsel is a replacement for the Queen's Counsel. Those individuals who had achieved the status of QC may continue to employ the letters in additions to JP.

See also