What are your thoughts about putting credentials next to your name on Linkedin?

[soliloquy]

Having just completed my doctorate, some well-meaning friends and colleagues insist I update my LinkedIn profile.  I am an executive at a non-profit and a consultant with another organization.

Question 1: Should individuals include their highest educational degree (e.g., PhD, Master's) next to their name on LinkedIn?

Question 2: How do you view the inclusion of professional certifications (e.g., CPA, PMP) next to names on LinkedIn?

Question 3: How should the name be styled? Title (e.g., Dr.) or post-nominal degree (e.g., MD, PhD, DBA, DPA, EdD)?

I have seen a lot of debate about this online. There is also a rather robust debate about the etymology of the term Doctor, who used it first, and who should use it today. Some people seem to think that only medical doctors should use the title. Others think that anyone with a doctorate should use the title.

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I should add that I realize that in the medical profession, where it is common for professionals other than medical doctors to hold doctorates, this is becoming an increasingly heated topic. https://www.insidehighered.com/news/gove...led-doctor

Although I do not work in the medical field, I'm certainly interested in this debate.

[Vle045]

I don’t think you should add it to your name on LinkedIn but put it in that section right below your name. It’s equally visible.

[doyouhowdo1]

Don't put it. I mean whats the point of putting those Title next to your name. If anyone want to know about your education backgorund, they can always look at your education section.

[Jonathan Whatley]

I've seen reasonably argued grassroots, user-generated social media campaigns asserting that people should be proud to put their degrees or designations out there prominently online.

There was a particular emphasis – but not exclusive – on the benefit to representation of doing so when the individual with the degree or designation is a member of a group historically underrepresented in higher education and professions, including women, people of color, and disabled people.

Having just completed my doctorate, some well-meaning friends and colleagues insist I update my LinkedIn profile.  I am an executive at a non-profit and a consultant with another organization.

Question 1: Should individuals include their highest educational degree (e.g., PhD, Master's) next to their name on LinkedIn?

Question 2: How do you view the inclusion of professional certifications (e.g., CPA, PMP) next to names on LinkedIn?

The answer that feels right for you will probably be a good answer!

Including multiple degrees at different levels is typically overkill unless the additional degrees add something and it's common to see people use them together (e.g., MD MPH).

Beyond a certain number of letters it's typically overkill.

Practices vary depending on your profession. For example, listing many postnominals is common among nurses (but not physicians, in the US) and financial advisors (but not attorneys).

Practices might vary depending on your local community and networks.

Question 3: How should the name be styled? Title (e.g., Dr.) or post-nominal degree (e.g., MD, PhD, DBA, DPA, EdD)?

I have seen a lot of debate about this online. There is also a rather robust debate about the etymology of the term Doctor, who used it first, and who should use it today. Some people seem to think that only medical doctors should use the title. Others think that anyone with a doctorate should use the title.

---

I should add that I realize that in the medical profession, where it is common for professionals other than medical doctors to hold doctorates, this is becoming an increasingly heated topic. https://www.insidehighered.com/news/gove...led-doctor

Although I do not work in the medical field, I'm certainly interested in this debate.

On social media, adding "Dr." before your name if you aren't a medical doctor seems like it will rarely be a good idea.

You can impart more information and avoid ambiguity using approximately as many letters by just using the postnominal.

"Dr." before the name could feel okay if the context feels like a conversational or academic use of "Dr." and if the context makes apparent it's not medical. If Mary holds a PhD, "Dr. Mary's College Writing Tips" is a more effective title for her YouTube channel than either "Mary's College Writing Tips" or "Mary, PhD's College Writing Tips."

[eLearner]

The debate about the Doctor title is one that I think has been settled clinically, it's just the people who don't want the restriction refuse to accept it. In mixed clinical settings where MDs are working, if Doctors of other disciplines introduce themselves to patients in this way "Hi, I'm <insert name>, I'm a Doctor of <insert discipline>" then that solves a lot. The problem is, ego stops people from doing that. They just want to be known as "Doctor" without having to explain anything, unconcerned with the confusion it may cause patients.

However, if Doctors of other disciplines besides MDs are working independently, then it's perfectly fine for them to call themselves Doctor without explanation.

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On social media, adding "Dr." before your name if you aren't a medical doctor seems like it will rarely be a good idea.

That's only because of the ignorance of the peanut galleries on social media. Social media has revealed just how little (or nothing) people know about very basic things.

[bluebooger]

"Hi, I'm <insert name>, I'm a Doctor of <insert discipline>" then that solves a lot.

you over estimate the intelligence of the average patient

[eLearner]

"Hi, I'm <insert name>, I'm a Doctor of <insert discipline>" then that solves a lot.

you over estimate the intelligence of the average patient

You underestimate. My personal experiences taught me that patients are a lot more knowledgeable than they're given credit, it's just that too many providers are too full of themselves to listen. It's the healthcare providers that surprised me (and scared me) with their lack of intelligence. The above is something my local hospital does. They did it after some other hospitals were sued a few times by DNPs who got fired for refusing to stop introducing themselves simply as "Doctor" to patients. The idea is to eliminate the liability through transparency. But in reality, it's just a way to appease brats who are more concerned with their titles than they are concerned with doing what's best for patients.

[Jonathan Whatley]

However, if Doctors of other disciplines besides MDs are working independently, then it's perfectly fine for them to call themselves Doctor without explanation.

For a Doctor of Dental Surgery clearly practicing as a dentist: Yes. Uncontroversial, long history.

The Doctor of Pharmacy has been the standard entry-level degree for pharmacists in the US for a generation. For a licensed pharmacist with a Doctor of Pharmacy working at a pharmacy: Are we sure? For a licensed pharmacist with a Doctor of Pharmacy in a hospital medical unit to consult: Are we sure?

[ss20ts]

In Europe, medical doctors aren't addressed as Dr. They're addressed as Mr., Mrs., etc. I always find this fascinating.

[rachel83az]

In Germany, it's a bit more complicated... But medical doctors are usually "Herr Doktor Schmidt" or Frau Doktor Schmidt" (Mister Doctor Smith or M®s. Doctor Smith).

IIRC, someone who has a double doctorate can be "Doktor Frau/Herr Doktor" or something. I forget the exact title, but it's an option on some German forms.