147.74  Professional titles or abbreviations--false use prohibited.

1.  Any person who falsely claims by the use of any professional title or abbreviation, either in writing, cards, signs, circulars, or advertisements, to be a practitioner of a system of the healing arts other than the one under which the person holds a license or who fails to use the following designations shall be guilty of a simple misdemeanor.

2.  A physician or surgeon may use the prefix "Dr." or "Doctor", and shall add after the person's name the letters, "M. D."

3.  An osteopath or osteopathic physician and surgeon may use the prefix "Dr." or "Doctor", and shall add after the person's name the letters, "D. O.", or the words "osteopath" or "osteopathic physician and surgeon".

4.  A chiropractor may use the prefix "Doctor", but shall add after the person's name the letters, "D. C." or the word, "chiropractor".

5.  A dentist may use the prefix "Doctor", but shall add after the person's name the letters "D. D. S." or the word "dentist" or "dental surgeon".

6.  A podiatric physician may use the prefix "Dr." but shall add after the person's name the word "podiatric physician".

7.  A graduate of a school accredited on the board of optometric examiners may use the prefix "Doctor", but shall add after the person's name the letters "O. D."

8.  A physical therapist registered or licensed under chapter 148A may use the words "physical therapist" after the person's name or signify the same by the use of the letters "P. T." after the person's name.

9.  A physical therapist assistant licensed under chapter 148A may use the words "physical therapist assistant" after the person's name or signify the same by use of the letters "P. T. A." after the person's name.

10.  A psychologist who possesses a doctoral degree and who claims to be a certified practicing psychologist may use the prefix "Doctor" but shall add after the person's name the word "psychologist".

11.  A speech pathologist with an earned doctoral degree in speech pathology obtained beyond a bachelor's degree from an accredited school, college, or university, may use the suffix designating the degree, or the prefix "Doctor" or "Dr." and add after the person's name the words "speech pathologist". An audiologist with an earned doctoral degree in audiology obtained beyond a bachelor's degree from an accredited school, college, or university, may use the suffix designating the degree, or the prefix "Doctor" or "Dr." and add after the person's name the word "audiologist".

12.  A bachelor social worker licensed under chapter 154C may use the words "licensed bachelor social worker" or the letters "L. B. S. W." after the person's name. A master social worker licensed under chapter 154C may use the words "licensed master social worker" or the letters "L. M. S. W." after the person's name. An independent social worker licensed under chapter 154C may use the words "licensed independent social worker", or the letters "L. I. S. W." after the person's name.

13.  A marital and family therapist licensed under chapter 154D and this chapter may use the words "licensed marital and family therapist" after the person's name or signify the same by the use of the letters "L. M. F. T." after the person's name. A marital and family therapist licensed under chapter 154D and this chapter who possesses a doctoral degree may use the prefix "Doctor" or "Dr." in conjunction with the person's name, but shall add after the person's name the words "licensed marital and family therapist".

14.  A mental health counselor licensed under chapter 154D and this chapter may use the words "licensed mental health counselor" after the person's name. A mental health counselor licensed under chapter 154D and this chapter who possesses a doctoral degree may use the prefix "Doctor" or "Dr." in conjunction with the person's name, but shall add after the person's name the words "licensed mental health counselor".

15.  A pharmacist who possesses a doctoral degree recognized by the American council of pharmaceutical education from a college of pharmacy approved by the board of pharmacy examiners or a doctor of philosophy degree in an area related to pharmacy may use the prefix "Doctor" or "Dr." but shall add after the person's name the word "pharmacist" or "Pharm. D."

16.  A physician assistant registered or licensed under chapter 148C may use the words "physician assistant" after the person's name or signify the same by the use of the letters "P. A." after the person's name.

17.  A massage therapist licensed under chapter 152C may use the words "licensed massage therapist" or the initials "L. M. T." after the person's name.

18.  An acupuncturist registered under chapter 148E may use the words "registered acupuncturist" after the person's name.

19.  A respiratory care practitioner licensed under chapter 152B and this chapter may use the title "respiratory care practitioner" or the letters "R. C. P." after the person's name.

20.  An athletic trainer licensed under chapter 152D and this chapter may use the title "licensed athletic trainer" after the person's name.

21.  No other practitioner licensed to practice a profession under any of the provisions of this subtitle shall be entitled to use the prefix "Dr." or "Doctor".

Section History: Early form

  [C31, 35, § 2510-d1; C39, § 2510.1; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, § 147.74; 81 Acts, ch 66, § 1]

Section History: Recent form

  84 Acts, ch 1075, § 11; 87 Acts, ch 215, § 40; 88 Acts, ch 1225, § 10; 90 Acts, ch 1168, § 27; 91 Acts, ch 228, § 1; 91 Acts, ch 229, § 4; 92 Acts, ch 1137, § 7; 92 Acts, ch 1183, § 4; 93 Acts, ch 86, § 13; 95 Acts, ch 108, §4; 96 Acts, ch 1035, § 4; 96 Acts, ch 1036, § 21; 98 Acts, ch 1053, §19; 99 Acts, ch 101, §1


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