Which is a correct example of a professional credentials format for a counselor?

• A. Jim Jones, MA, LPC.
• B. Jim Jones, Master of Arts, Licensed Professional Counselor.
• C. Jim Jones, BS, LPC.
• D. Jones, Jim, MA, LPC.

Answer: (A)

Professional credentials are listed after the person’s name, using an abbreviated degree followed by the licensure credential. The correct format, Jim Jones, MA, LPC, shows the name first, then the degree abbreviated (MA), and then the licensure (LPC). This is the standard way counselors present their qualifications in professional contexts such as business cards, directories, and résumés.

Using the degree in full (Master of Arts) or a different degree (BS) disrupts the conventional, concise credentialing convention. Reversing the name order (Jones, Jim, MA, LPC) also looks more like a directory entry than a credentials line.