What does HIPAA stand for? Career acronyms explained

HIPAA stands for Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (of 1996). Its Privacy Rule is the part about how a person’s protected health information may be used and shared.

In a sentence: Before her first shift, Dana read a one-page handout that began, “HIPAA stands for Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.”

PHI stands for protected health information: the health information about a person that the HIPAA Privacy Rule protects.

In a sentence: Lena saw PHI on a training slide and wrote “protected health information” beside it.

An SDS, or safety data sheet, is a document from a chemical’s maker that passes on hazard information about the chemical. OSHA says safety data sheets follow a set 16-section format.

In a sentence: Ruth looked at the SDS for the cleaning product and found the section list printed at the top.

PPE stands for personal protective equipment: equipment worn to minimize exposure to hazards that cause serious workplace injuries and illnesses. OSHA’s examples include gloves, safety glasses and shoes, earplugs or muffs, hard hats, respirators, and coveralls, vests and full body suits.

In a sentence: Tomas read that gloves and safety glasses are both PPE.

AED stands for automated external defibrillator. The NHLBI page describes AEDs as special defibrillators that untrained bystanders can use; they can shock a heart that has a dangerous rhythm such as ventricular fibrillation.

Study meaning only. A class is where AED use is taught.

In a sentence: Noor read the three words behind AED and wrote them on a card.

OSHA stands for Occupational Safety and Health Administration. It is part of the United States Department of Labor, and its mission is safe and healthful working conditions for workers.

In a sentence: Keisha saw OSHA on a safety poster and looked up what the letters stand for.

DOL is short for the United States Department of Labor, the department OSHA belongs to.

In a sentence: Paul noticed “Department of Labor” at the bottom of the OSHA page.

EPA stands for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The BLS technician pages name it as the agency that requires technicians who buy or work with refrigerants to be certified in refrigerant handling.

In a sentence: Priya read EPA on a cooling-systems page and checked that the E stands for Environmental.

ADA stands for Americans with Disabilities Act, a civil rights law about stopping unfair treatment of people with disabilities in daily life.

In a sentence: Elias saw ADA on a workplace poster and looked up the three words.

EEOC stands for the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the agency that enforces laws against employment discrimination.

In a sentence: Maria wrote EEOC on a flashcard with its four-word name on the back.

FMLA stands for Family and Medical Leave Act, a law that lets eligible employees of covered employers take unpaid, job-protected leave for certain reasons.

This is the meaning of the letters only. Who is eligible depends on the details on the agency’s page.

In a sentence: Sam saw FMLA in a handbook’s table of contents and looked up the name.

HVAC stands for heating, ventilation and air conditioning. The BLS writes the longer HVACR, which adds refrigeration, and says HVAC technicians install, maintain and repair heating, cooling and refrigeration systems.

In a sentence: Jamal read that the R in HVACR stands for refrigeration.

EMT stands for emergency medical technician. The BLS says EMTs assess injuries and illnesses and provide emergency medical care, and can take patients to healthcare facilities by ambulance.

In a sentence: Beth wrote EMT on her list and added “emergency medical technician.”

OJT stands for on-the-job training. The BLS defines it as additional training needed after starting work to reach competency in the skills needed in that occupation.

In a sentence: Ana saw OJT in a program outline and read it as on-the-job training.

CTE stands for career and technical education, which ACTE describes as education that prepares youth and adults for careers.

In a sentence: Omar saw CTE on a school page and wrote down career and technical education.