DO vs MD Degree
What is the Difference Between These Medical Degrees?
When pursuing a career in medicine, prospective doctors in the U.S. can earn either
a DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) degree or a MD (Doctor of Medicine) degree.
While MD programs are more widely known, DO programs are growing rapidly—nearly 30%
of U.S. medical students are enrolled in osteopathic colleges, according to AACOM.
Similarities Between DO and MD Degrees
Educational Prerequisites
Both DO and MD candidates typically must:
Medical School Training
Both DO and MD schools offer:
- A competitive admissions process.
- Four years of didactic and clinical medical education, followed by residencies.
- Similar coursework including anatomy, physiology, pathology, pharmacology and more.
- Opportunities to complete dual degree programs (e.g., MD/PhD or DO/MPH)
Licensing and Practice
After graduation, both DOs and MDs:
- Must complete residency training.
- Can prescribe medication.
- Can practice in all 50 states.
- Can pursue all medical specialties.
Key Differences Between DO and MD Degrees
1. Medical 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.
- MDs follow an allopathic model, focusing primarily on disease-specific diagnosis and
treatment.
2. OMM Training
3. Board Examinations
- DOs take the COMLEX (Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination of the United States).
- MDs take the USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Examination).
- 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.
4. Residency and Accreditation
- 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.
- DOs and MDs can apply to the same residency programs.
5. Career Trends
- DOs and MDs pursue specialties in all areas.
- DOs tend to enter family medicine and primary care at a higher rate than MDs.
6. Salary
- Salaries depend on factors like specialty, geographic location, and experience—not
the degree type.
- Visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the latest salary data.
Choosing Between DO and MD Programs
The right path depends on your goals and values:
- Choose DO if you’re interested in holistic care and OMM training. 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.
- Choose MD if you're drawn to traditional allopathic medicine.
- 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.
Learn More About the DO Degree Program
