licenciada

Licenciada is the feminine form of the professional title licenciado in Spanish. It refers to a person who has earned a licenciatura, or, in some contexts, to a professional who is authorized to practice in a given field. The term is used as a courtesy title before a woman's name and may appear on credentials, official documents, and business cards. In many Spanish-speaking countries, a phrase such as licenciada en Derecho denotes a woman who has completed a university degree in that field and may be eligible to pursue related professional licenses.

Etymology and usage: The term derives from licencia (license, permission) with the participial suffix -ado, indicating someone who has been granted a license or degree. Historically, licenciado was used in Spain to designate university graduates, especially in the arts and sciences, and this usage persists alongside the development of modern degree nomenclatures. With the Bologna Process, many countries shifted to bachelor’s and master’s degrees, but the title remains in formal contexts in various regions.

Regional variation: In Spain and Latin America, licenciada is commonly used to address or refer to female graduates, particularly in legal, educational, and administrative professions. For example, a female lawyer might be addressed as Licenciada [Surname] or as Licenciada en Derecho. The exact professional implications of the title, and whether it permits independent practice, depend on the country, the profession, and any required licensing or registration, such as becoming an abogado or the local equivalent.

See also: Licenciado; Licenciatura; Abogado. The masculine form is licenciado; the feminine form is licenciada.