What is the difference between osteopathic medicine and md

What kind of doctor is a D.O.? Does a D.O. have the same training as an M.D.?

Answer From Brent A. Bauer, M.D.

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What kind of doctor is a D.O.? Does a D.O. have the same training as an M.D.?
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How are DO and MD degrees alike?
What is the difference between DO and MD degrees?
DO vs MD school - which is better?
Interested in Learning More About our DO Programs?

A doctor of osteopathic medicine (D.O.) is a fully trained and licensed doctor who has attended and graduated from a U.S. osteopathic medical school. A doctor of medicine (M.D.) has attended and graduated from a conventional medical school.

The major difference between osteopathic and allopathic doctors is that some osteopathic doctors provide manual medicine therapies, such as spinal manipulation or massage therapy, as part of their treatment.

After medical school, both M.D.s and D.O.s must complete residency training in their chosen specialties. They must also pass the same licensing examination before they can treat people and prescribe medications.

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Feb. 09, 2021

About D.O.s. American Osteopathic Association. https://www.osteopathic.org/osteopathic-health/about-dos/Pages/default.aspx. Accessed Dec. 18, 2015.
Shannon SC. The status and future of osteopathic medical education in the United States. Academic Medicine. 2009;84:707.
Terminology for reporting on osteopathic medicine. American Osteopathic Association. http://www.osteopathic.org/inside-aoa/news-and-publications/media-center/Pages/osteopathic-style-guide.aspx. Accessed Dec. 18, 2015.
The difference between U.S.-trained osteopathic physicians and osteopaths trained abroad. American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine. http://www.aacom.org/become-a-doctor/about-om/US-vs-abroad. Accessed Dec. 18, 2015.

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How are DO and MD degrees alike?

There are many similarities between DO and MD degrees:

DO and MD undergraduate prerequisites

As an undergraduate, prospective DO and MD students should:

complete a bachelor’s degree with a strong emphasis on coursework including chemistry, biology and physics.
take the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test), and;
prepare for the rigors of medical school with work/volunteer experience and applicable extracurricular activities.

DO and MD medical school

Most osteopathic (DO) and allopathic (MD) programs feature:

Stringent standards for admissions.
A competitive admissions process.
Four years of didactic and clinical training, followed by residencies.
Similar coursework including anatomy, physiology, pathology, pharmacology and more.
Opportunities to complete dual degree programs.

DO and MD licensing and requirements

The licensing requirements for DOs and MDs are the same.

Both can prescribe medication.
Both can practice in all 50 states.
Both can pursue all medical specialties.

What is the difference between DO and MD degrees?

While the degrees have much in common, there are several differences between DO and MD degrees:

DO philosophy

Doctors of osteopathic medicine (DOs) take a holistic approach to patient care in which the goal is to diagnose and treat the patient, not just the disease. This approach encompasses assessing lifestyle and being cognizant of how an injury or illness in one part of the body may cause symptoms in another.

OMM training

DO students complete additional training in osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM). DOs use OMM to assess the neuromusculoskeletal system and determine if osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) would benefit the patient. OMT can be used to address musculoskeletal pain, neural responses, circulation, respiration and immune response.

DO vs MD residencies

DOs and MDs complete residencies following medical school training. As of July 2020, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and American Osteopathic Association (AOA) transitioned to a single accreditation system. Residencies with an osteopathic focus still exist, but are open to DOs and MDs.

Though there is a single accreditation system, DOs and MDs continue to take separate board exams—COMLEX (Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination of the United States) for DOs and USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Examination) for MDs. Many DO students elect to take the USMLE in pursuing residencies. The need for this changed in late 2018 when the American Medical Association approved a resolution promoting the equal acceptance of both types of exams by residency program directors.

DO vs MD career paths

DOs and MDs pursue specialties in all areas, but DOs tend to enter family medicine and primary care at a higher rate than MDs.

DO vs MD salaries

Salaries for DOs and MDs are determined by a variety of factors including location, experience and specialty. For more information, visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics website.

DO vs MD school - which is better?

The osteopathic medicine approach—looking beyond the symptoms to treat the whole person—is a key factor for some students in deciding whether or not to pursue a DO vs. MD program. For others, factors such as cost, location, faculty, student life and class size may be more important. Visit our student stories page to learn why some of our osteopathic medical students chose PCOM.

Interested in Learning More About our DO Programs?

PCOM has been educating physicians in osteopathic medicine for more than a century. We are committed to fostering the growth of the osteopathic profession by training future healthcare leaders in osteopathic medical concepts and practice. Find out how you can join us on the forefront of healthcare.