What does BA, BSc, MA, MSc, PhD, DPsych, PGDip mean after a therapist’s name?

These letters refer to the therapist’s professional qualifications.

  • BA – Bachelor of Arts (BA or AB) is a bachelor’s degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the arts and sciences. A Bachelor of Arts is generally completed in three or four years, depending on the country and institution.
  • BSc – A Bachelor of Science (BS, BSc, SB, or ScB) is a bachelor’s degree awarded for programs that generally last three to five years.
  • MA – A Master of Arts (MA or AM) is a master’s degree in the field of humanities and social sciences awarded by universities in many countries.
  • MSc – A Master of Science (MS, M.S., MSc, M.Sc., SM, S.M., ScM or Sc.M.) is a master’s degree in the field of science awarded by universities in many countries or a person holding such a degree.
  • PhD – A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD, Ph.D., DPhil) is the highest university degree that is conferred after a course of study by universities in most countries. PhDs are awarded for programs across the whole breadth of academic fields. As an earned research degree, those studying for a PhD are usually required to produce original research that expands the boundaries of knowledge, normally in the form of a thesis or dissertation, and defend their work against experts in the field.
  • PsyD – Like a PhD in Psychology, the Doctor of Psychology degree (PsyD) prepares trainees to practice psychology in a wide range of clinical settings. A PsyD, however, focuses more on clinical practice and less on research.
  • PGDip – A postgraduate diploma (PgD, PgDip, PGDip, PG Dip., PGD, Dipl. PG, PDE) is a postgraduate qualification awarded after a university degree, which supplements the original degree and awards them with a graduate diploma.