U.S. COAST GUARD PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT AND NURSE PRACTITIONER BADGE

The Physician Assistant and Nurse Practitioner Badge is worn by Regular and Reserve commissioned Coast Guard officers and members of the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps serving with the Coast Guard. To wear the badge, personnel must be designated as Physician Assistant (PA) or Nurse Practitioner (NP) by the Office of Health Services (CG-112), which requires proof they have completed an approved PA or NP training program. Additionally, they must all pass a certification (or recertification) examination and receive verification of training and certification from the Quality and Performance Improvement Division (CG-1122).

A silver caduceus in the middle of the badge is a symbol of superior medical care; the caduceus has been associated with medicine and doctors for centuries and is frequently incorporated in the heraldry of military medical units. The caduceus is surmounted over the Coast Guard shield, which features 13 stars (called “mullets” in heraldry) and 13 stripes.