List of post-nominal letters (United Kingdom)

Baronet or Esquire

Orders and decorations

When listing the honours and awards enjoyed by any person it is not customary to include the Order of St John, as this is a Royal Order of Chivalry 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.

The Grades of the Order of St John are:

Appointments

University degrees and academic qualifications

Main article: British degree abbreviations

These are usually given in ascending order, and may be followed by an abbreviation denoting the awarding Institute. "Hons" or "(Hons)" may be added after bachelor's or integrated master's degrees awarded with honours.

Religious institutes and medical qualifications

Religious institutes

Some examples are given here. See the list of Catholic religious institutes for a fuller listing of current Catholic orders (note that this article gives American-style post-nominals with stops; when used in the UK the stops should be omitted).

Medical qualifications

According to Debrett's, these are placed directly after orders, decorations and medals (i.e. replacing university degrees). Unlike other degrees, medical qualifications are listed in descending order, doctorates first.

Fellowship or membership of learned societies, academies or professional institutions

These are generally placed in the order learned societies first, then Royal academicians, then professional institutions. There are two schools of thought as to how these should be ordered within each category: A & C Black's Titles and Forms of Address states that "As a general rule, letters should be shown in the order of the foundation of the societies, etc." Contrary to this, Debrett's consider that within learned societies: "There is no recognised order for placing these letters. In practice, where one society is indisputably of greater importance than another the letters are usually placed in that order." Similarly, for professional institutions: "[T]here is no recognised order for placing qualifications awarded by different bodies, a recipient usually places these letters on headed paper, business cards, etc, in order of importance to his particular profession." There is no clear distinction between a learned society and a professional institute. With regard to Royal Academicians, Debrett's says: "Although Royal Academicians come second in this list, it is not suggested that they yield in precedence to fellows of learned societies. In practice, the two lists do not coincide."

Black's notes that where a professional body or society has multiple grades of membership, only the highest is used except in professional correspondence, and that fellowships "election to which is a distinction" (e.g. FRS, RSA, RA, FBA) should be used on all correspondence, whereas initials only indicating support for a society are limited to correspondence on matters of interest to that society. Initials can also be used in professional contexts to indicate expertise.

In this table, all societies, institutions, etc. are listed alphabetically by substantive name,I.e. by what they are a society or institute of or for, e.g. Aeronautical for the Royal Aeronautical Society. Bodies without a substantive name, such as the Royal Society, are listed at the top, ordered by their full names. rather than attempting to establish an order of precedence.

Some post-nominals (and associated professional titles) are protected as "Professions Regulated by Professional Bodies Incorporated by Royal Charter" under the European professional qualification directives. These are indicated with an asterisk (e.g. CEng*).

Memberships and fellowships of the various medical Royal Colleges are listed post-nominally as medical qualifications (see the previous section) rather than with professional bodies and learned societies.

Chartered and other professional statuses

Some bodies award Chartered and other professional statuses with separate designatory letters from those indicating membership. These letters are placed before the designatory letters for fellowship or membership of the awarding body, e.g. CPhys MInstP. Where chartered status is a membership level within an institute, this is shown under that institute's entry above, e.g. Chartered Architectural Technologists, MCIAT, or Chartered Tax Advisor, CTA.

Membership of the armed forces and civilian services

In the armed forces, two or more branches may have officers with the same or similar titles, such as "Captain", which is a rank in the Royal Navy, Army 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.

This is the last set of post-nominals given by the Ministry of Justice and Debrett's; it is not included by Black's.

Professional qualifications

Other awards

Awards other than Crown Honours are not normally listed except in the context of events related to the awarding body

Youth organisations

Notes

References

References

1. (2009-03-14). "Honours and Decorations". Ministry of Justice (UK).
2. "Forms of address: Hierarchies: Letters after the name". [[Debrett's]].
3. (10 October 2014). "Titles and Forms of Address: A Guide to Correct Use". [[A & C Black]], an imprint of [[Bloomsbury Publishing]].
4. The Colonial Police Medal for Gallantry has not been awarded since 1974.
5. "The queen's most excellent majesty in council".
6. "Whitaker's Almanack". Bloomsbury Publishing.
7. "Legal". Debrett's.
8. (2012). "Oxford University Standard for Citation of Legal Authorities". OUP.
9. (20 February 2024). "The Frameworks for Higher Education Qualifications of UK Degree-Awarding Bodies". [[Quality Assurance Agency]].
10. "Example in the University of Aberdeen staff directory".
11. (2018-02-22). "Calendar Style Guide 2018". [[University of Oxford]].
12. ["Hylas. A Lament"]({{google books).
13. "Elaine Farrell". Queen's University Belfast.
14. "Dr Andrew Futter". [[University of Leicester]], Department of Politics and International Relations.
15. Dickson, Neil. (2020). "Degrees of Degrees". Transactions of the Burgon Society.
16. "Jonathan Mitchell".
17. (20 June 2013). ["Independent Schools Yearbook 2012-2013"]({{google books). A&C Black.
18. ["Independent Schools Yearbook 2012-2013"]({{google books). A&C Black.
19. "Lance Pettitt".
20. "Richard Nairn". [[The Royal Society]].
21. ["Independent Schools Yearbook 2012-2013"]({{google books). A&C Black.
22. "Dr Mark Nicholson". University of York, Department of Computer Science.
23. (8 March 2013). "Former students receive University 'Associateship'". University of Hertfordshire.
24. "Professional Recognition Awards (9200)". City & Guilds.
25. "Medical Qualifications". Debrett's.
26. "Membership Benefits {{!}} RCSEd".
27. (3 February 2014). "Fellowships of Learned Societies". Debrett's.
28. "Professional Fellowships". Debrett's.
29. "Fellowships of Learned Societies". Debrett's.
30. (17 December 2015). "The European Union (Recognition of Professional Qualifications) Regulations 2015".
31. (2015-08-17). "Membership". Royal Irish Academy.
32. "HRSA: Elected Honorary member of the Royal Scottish Academy Of Arts.". University of St Andrews.
33. "AAT Professional Membership". Association of Accounting Technicians.
34. "Achieve AAT Bookkeeper status (AATQB)". Association of Accounting Technicians.
35. "IOA Membership". Institute of Acoustics (United Kingdom).
36. "Charter and Bye-Laws". Privy Council.
37. "Membership Levels". IAM.
38. "Become a Member". Royal Aeronautical Society.
39. "IAgrE Home". Institution of Agricultural Engineers.
40. "ALA | Agricultural Law Association".
41. "How to join". Central Association of Agricultural Valuers.
42. "How Do I Join?". Institution of Analysts and Programmers.
43. (4 January 2009). "Example of Usage: Turner, G.A. (MS 29)". Royal Anthropological Institute.
44. "Fellows Directory". Society of Antiquaries of London.
45. "Why become a fellow?". Society of Antiquaries of Scotland.
46. "Why Join Us?". Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.
47. "Individual Membership". Chartered Institute for Archaeologists.
48. "Architects Registration Board". Architects Registration Board.
49. "BYELAWS OF THE ROYAL INCORPORATION OF ARCHITECTS IN SCOTLAND INTERIM BYELAWS FOR COUNCIL/ MEMBERSHIP APPROVAL 6 JUNE 2018". Royal Institute of Architects in Scotland.
50. "Recommended descriptors". Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists.
51. "College Honours".
52. "FRCA {{!}} Encyclopedia.com".
53. "Bye-laws and Charter". Royal Society of Arts.
54. "Fellowship". Royal Scottish Society of Arts.
55. "Registration Scheme". Archives and Records Association.
56. "Charter, Byelaws and Standing Orders". Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
57. The Oxford Dictionary of Abbreviations, 2nd edition, Market House Books Ltd and Oxford University Press, 1998, ed. Judy Pearsall, Sara Tulloch et al., p. 175
58. Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage 2011, Debrett's Peerage Ltd, p. 26
59. The International Who's Who of Women 2002, 3rd edition, ed. Elizabeth Sleeman, Europa Publications, p. xi
60. Who's Who in Malaysia and Singapore, John Victor Morais, 1973, p. 423
61. "Individual Membership". theIAM.
62. "Membership". Royal Astronomical Society.
63. "Membership levels".
64. "Society of Bereavement Practitioners". Society of Bereavement Practitioners.
65. (2025-11-26). "Post-nominals released for SBCE Members and Fellows".
66. "Honorary Fellows".
67. "Honorary Members".
68. "Membership Benefits". Royal Society of Biology.
69. "How to join and why to join". Institute of Biomedical Science.
70. "Charter & Bylaws". Privy Council.
71. "Grades". Chartered Institute of Building.
72. "FAQs". Chartered Association of Building Engineers.
73. "Find Your Grade". Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers.
74. "Criteria". [[Faculty of Building]].
75. "Membership Application Form". The Burgon Society.
76. "Membership". Business Continuity Institute.
77. "Applying for membership". Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales.
78. "Become a fellow (FCA)". Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales.
79. "CA Two letters that mean a lot". Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland.
80. "ACCA Membership and Fellowship". Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.
81. "Membership of the Institute of Chartered Foresters". Institute of Chartered Foresters.
82. "Chartered Membership". Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators.
83. "Join us". Royal Society of Chemistry.
84. "Membership – General Information". Royal College of Chiropractors.
85. "Pain Faculty Application form". Royal College of Chiropractors.
86. "Animal Faculty Application form". Royal College of Chiropractors.
87. "Pregnancy & Paediatrics Faculty Application form". Royal College of Chiropractors.
88. "Sport & Exercise Faculty Application form". Royal College of Chiropractors.
89. "Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation Faculty Application form". Royal College of Chiropractors.
90. "The Churchill Fellowship".
91. "Membership". British Society of Cinematographers.
92. "Why join the ICPEM?". Institute for Civil Protection & Emergency Management.
93. "Become a Member". Institute of Clinical Research.
94. "BCS Certifications". British Computer Society.
95. "Member Grades". Institute of Consulting.
96. "Membership | ICiPS | Institute for Continuous Improvement in Public Services".
97. "Society of Crematorium Organists".
98. "Home".
99. (10 August 2018). "Highlights from the first CREST Fellowship Awards evening, Tanner Warehouse, London, November 2017".
100. (12 December 2017). "CREST bestows first lifetime Fellowships in recognition of outstanding achievements".
101. "Cybernetics Society".
102. "Memorandum and Articles of Association". British Dietetic Association.
103. "Membership Grades and Criteria". Institute of Directors.
104. "Qualifications". Society of Dyers and Colourists.
105. "Benefits of Membership". Institution of Engineers in Scotland.
106. "Join us". Emergency Planning Society.
107. "Benefits of Membership". Institution of Engineers in Scotland.
108. "Royal Charter". Privy Council.
109. "Membership Grades for Experts". The Academy of Experts.
110. "Assessment". The Academy of Experts.
111. "List of FWCF, AWCF and Master Farrier".
112. (30 January 2014). "Professional Recognition". Institute of Food Science & Technology.
113. "Member Benefits for joining the CSoFS".
114. "Archived copy".
115. "Individual Membership". Institute of Gas Engineers and Managers.
116. "Grades of Membership". Geological Society of London.
117. "Examinations".
118. (25 November 2015). "Become a Fellow of the HA".
119. "Membership grades". Chartered Institute of Housing.
120. "New post-nominals released for CIISec Accredited Members".
121. "The Chartered Institute of Journalists". Chartered Institute of Journalists.
122. "Become a member". Institute of Leadership and Management.
123. "Membership Grades". Chartered Institute of Linguists.
124. "Designatory Letters". Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.
125. "Chartered bodies". Privy Council.
126. "Membership grades". Chartered Management Institute.
127. "Certificate". Chartered Management Institute.
128. "Royal Charter and Bylaws". Privy Council.
129. "IIMS, The International Institute of Marine Surveying".
130. "Membership Grades". Institute of Mathematics and its Applications.
131. "Membership". The Marine Biological Association.
132. "Join InstMC". Institute of Measurement and Control.
133. "About Us". Institute of Measurement and Control.
134. "Promotion, enhanced status and free listings".
135. "Membership Grades of the BNA".
136. (August 2018). "Membership Requirements".
137. "Membership Types".
138. "Register".
139. "Accreditation Grades".
140. "Accreditation".
141. "Routes to Registration". Permanent Way Institution.
142. "PWI Membership subscriptions". Permanent Way Institution.
143. "Professional Membership". Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.
144. "Academic Membership". Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.
145. "Questions about your membership? FAQs". Royal Pharmaceutical Society.
146. "Faculty membership and post-nominals". Royal Pharmaceutical Society.
147. "Distinctions". Royal Photographic Society.
148. "From Student to Fellow". Institute of Physics.
149. (16 November 2011). "Royal Charter and Bylaws". [[Privy Council of the United Kingdom]].
150. "Summary of changes to the membership structure". Institute of Physics.
151. "Why Join Us ?". Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine.
152. "Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering".
153. "Upgrade your membership". Institute of Risk Management.
154. (10 December 2018). "About SaRS".
155. "Fellows of the International Security Management Institute". International Security Management Institute.
156. "The Society for Nautical Research".
157. "Membership". Institute of Specialist Surveyors and Engineers.
158. "Member Benefits". Faculty of Sports and Exercise Medicine.
159. Institute for Systems Engineering. (16 July 2025). "Post Nominal Letters". Dot-The-Eye Ltd..
160. "Students and Qualifications". Chartered Institute of Taxation.
161. "Regulations - The Chartered College of Teaching". The Chartered College of Teaching.
162. "TI Professional Qualifications". The Textile Institute.
163. "CITMA Regulation A - Designation letters". Chartered Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys.
164. Park, Catherine. "Individual Membership Categories".
165. Davies, Iwan. "Fellow".
166. Park, Catherine. "Qualified Member (MITI)".
167. Park, Catherine. "Associate (AITI)".
168. UKREMT post nominals http://ukremt.org/#/registration/4593430312; Retrieved July 2017
169. "Membership – The British Watch and Clock Makers' Guild".
170. "Become a Member".
171. "Membership Grades {{!}} Women's Engineering Society".
172. "Royal Society of Biology and British Society of Animal Science Register of Accredited Animal Scientists and Animal Technologists Rules, Regulations and Protocols". British Society of Animal Science.
173. "IAM - Institute of Asset Management".
174. "Chartered". [[Royal Society of Biology]].
175. "Chartered Status". [[Royal Society of Chemistry]].
176. "A new standard for IT technicians". British Computer Society.
177. "Use of post nominals". Icon.
178. "Chartered Cyber Security Professional".
179. "Newly Registered Engineers". [[Engineering Council]].
180. "International Register of Professional Engineers". [[Engineering Council]].
181. "Chartered Environmentalist". [[Society for the Environment]].
182. (14 March 2017). "Memorandum and Articles of Association".
183. "Register of Food Safety Professionals". Institute of Food Science & Technology.
184. "Application Criteria". Royal Geographical Society.
185. "Chartership & Professional". [[Geological Society of London]].
186. (7 August 2019). "First Chartered Transport Planning Professionals Awarded". Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation.
187. "Chartered membership".
188. "Chartered Linguist scheme". Chartered Institute of Linguists.
189. "Apply for Professional Registration". Institute of Marine Engineering Science and Technology.
190. HCMM. "The Registration Authority".
191. "Chartered Marketer Status".
192. "Becoming Chartered". Institute of Mathematics and its Applications.
193. (June 2010). "Register of CMets". Royal Meteorological Society.
194. "Guidance Notes for Applicants Registered Meteorologist (RMet)". Royal Meteorological Society.
195. (20 February 2016). "APM Qualifications and training". Association for Project Management.
196. "Schedule: Bylaws of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations". [[Chartered Institute of Public Relations]].
197. "Chartered Quality Professional – Member (CQP MCQI) | CQI | IRCA".
198. "Scientists & Science Technicians". [[Science Council]].
199. "About".
200. "Join the RSS". Royal Statistical Society.
201. "Chartered Teacher Programme - The Chartered College of Teaching". The Chartered College of Teaching.
202. "RTTP Benefits". Alliance of Technology Transfer Professionals.
203. "CITMA Full Royal Charter and Bye-Laws". [[Chartered Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys]].
204. "CITMA Regulation A - Designation letters". Chartered Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys.
205. "Something exciting is launching in 2016!". [[Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music]].
206. "Conservation Register".
207. "The Register of Architects Accredited in Building Conservation (AABC) | AABC". Aabc-register.co.uk.
208. [http://ukremt.org/#/registration/4593430312; Retrieved July 2017]
209. "BSc (Hons) Paramedic Science".
210. "Home".
211. "Wilderness Medical Society".
212. "Wilderness Medical Society".
213. "The Postgraduate Diploma Academic Practice (PGDAP) and the Master of Arts Academic Practice (MA AP)". University of Liverpool.
214. (13 July 2023). "National Professional Qualification for Senior Leadership (NPQSL) - GOV.UK".
215. (20 September 2023). "Leading teaching national professional qualification - GOV.UK".
216. "Qualifications and other initials".
217. "RHS Master of Horticulture – Fact Sheet".
218. "Membership". Institute of Management Specialists.
219. (7 July 2017). "Youth Parliament". [[Alok Sharma]], MP for [[Reading West (UK Parliament constituency).
220. "Find Your MSYP". Scottish Youth Parliament.