Question regarding alphabet soup in titles:

Factual Questions
1

I need to get business cards made, and my boss gave me the example card to follow. His card reads: [name], Ph.D., P.Eng. / Director.

Obviously, his qualifications are immediately recognizeable and pretty much universal internationally.

Mine are not quite so simple.

I have a diploma in Mechanical Engineering Technology, with a specialization in mechanical design. Subsequent to that, I attained professional ratings from ASTTBC (explained later) as a Certified Technician, and Applied Science Technologist (C.Tech and A.Sc.T. respectively). The A.Sc.T. rating effectively supercedes C.Tech., so including both is technically redundant, but I have to admit it looks better including both…

ASTTBC is the Applied Science Technicians and Technologists of British Columbia. ASTTBC certification merely proves that I uphold a certain level of standards as set by this provincial organization. There are similar organizations in other provinces, and other countries, but I don’t know the extent to which the professional ratings are standardized.

Since I work for an international company, I’m not sure if I should put this on my card, since the ratings may not be relevant (i.e. not understood by an international client).

I need to choose between:

Name line:

  1. [name]
  2. [name], Dip. Tech., A.Sc.T.
  3. [name], Dip. Tech., C.Tech., A.Sc.T.

Title line:

  1. Engineering Technologist
  2. Mechanical Engineering Technologist (Design)
  3. Something else entirely?..

Just to confuse matters, although my training has primarily been in mechanical design, my current position entails a great deal of electrical / electronics work, and software development. I am wondering if indicating the mechanical specialty is not indicated…

What is the rule of thumb on this sort of thing?

-FK

2

I think you’re pretty hosed by not having an actual, recognizable degree to put after your name, as the rule of thumb is that if you’ve got 2 lines to tell people what you do, it has to be something they recognize, and it has to be something short.

Am I correct in assuming that anybody who recognizes A.Sc.T. is going to know that it supercedes the C.Tech.? If so, you don’t need the C.Tech.

For your second line, I hate the term technologist. Makes is sound like you do regression therapy on HVAC systems.

I would recommend something like Engineer/Technician, or Mechanical Engineering Designer.