DO vs. MD: What’s the Difference?

Medical students have two pathways to practicing medicine: becoming a doctor of medicine (MD) or doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO). Both MDs and DOs are highly trained physicians who can diagnose and treat patients. A DO has additional training in osteopathic manual medicine, a technique that involves manipulating bones, joints and muscles with the hands. 

This article explores the differences between a DO vs. MD and how each pathway impacts your choice of medical school, matching into residency programs, and licensure.

What Is a DO Doctor?

A DO is a licensed physician who can evaluate patients, order medical tests, diagnose ailments, prescribe treatment and perform surgery. About 11% of U.S. physicians are osteopathic doctors. 

Osteopathic medical schools take a holistic approach to medicine compared to MD programs. DOs view the different structures and functions of the body as interlinked. They train in osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT), a therapy that involves applying pressure to joints, muscles and tissue to encourage the body to heal itself. 

You can pursue any board-certified medical specialty with a DO degree, but 57% of osteopathic doctors work in primary care because of their patient-centered approach. 

What Is an MD?

About 89% of U.S. physicians are MDs. Like DOs, their day-to-day work includes the full scope of medical practice: examining patients, ordering imaging and labs, diagnosing injuries and illnesses, and creating plans of treatment. MDs provide conventional treatments, which may include medication and surgery. They cannot provide osteopathic manipulative treatment unless specially trained in this technique. 

MDs often tend to pursue non-primary care specialties such as anesthesiology, psychiatry, neurology, emergency medicine, obstetrics and cardiology.

What Is the Difference Between a DO and an MD?

DOs and MDs attend different types of medical schools. 

• MDs are graduates of allopathic medical schools, which account for most of the medical schools in the United States. These institutions grant a Doctor of Medicine degree and are accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education. 
• DOs are graduates of osteopathic medical schools. These institutions grant a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree and are accredited by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation. 

About 28% of U.S. medical students are enrolled in an osteopathic school.  

Allopathic vs. Osteopathic Medicine

Allopathic medicine is a conventional approach to patient care, focusing on treating or managing symptoms with medication, chemotherapy, radiation or surgery. There is also a preventative component to allopathic medicine. Based on scientific evidence, MDs may recommend lifestyle changes for wellness, antibiotics to prevent infection, or immunizations to prevent illnesses. 

Osteopathic medicine includes the same conventional treatments, but DOs complete additional training in hands-on manipulative therapy. This technique treats pain in the back, neck, shoulders and knees, and helps restore functionality and overall wellness. Osteopathic physicians focus on the interrelationship between structure and function in the body, while also considering environmental and behavioral factors that affect patient health.

MD vs. DO Training and Education

Both DOs and MDs must complete rigorous training programs and pass national board examinations to practice medicine.

Allopathic and osteopathic medical schools have similar admission criteria, typically requiring a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution and completion of the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) to apply. The programs include:

• Classroom and lab components covering topics such as anatomy, physiology, pharmacology and microbiology. You also learn to interact with patients and develop clinical skills.
• Clinical rotations to gain hands-on experience and learn about different specialties.

Most medical school programs are 4 years in length, although accelerated programs are available. After completing a medical residency, DOs and MDs can pursue board certification for a range of specialties.

DO and MD Residency Merge 

After completing medical school, DOs and MDs match into medical residency programs to gain experience in providing direct patient care. Prior to 2020, there were separate residency application processes for the two streams and a number of DO-only residencies. The MD and DO residency programs then merged into a single accreditation system, ensuring applicants are evaluated consistently regardless of their degree. All first-year residencies in the United States are now open to graduates of both MD and DO medical schools.

Although the programs follow an MD-based accreditation framework, some residencies offer additional training in osteopathic principles for interested DOs. No matter which type of medical school you graduate from, you have the chance to match into your desired residency based on factors such as letters of recommendation, exam scores, research experience, community service and personal interviews.

Licensing Exams for MDs and DOs

To become a doctor, you must pass a series of national standardized exams that test your medical knowledge and clinical skills.

• If you're following the MD pathway, you take the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE).
• If you're following the DO pathway, you take the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination of the United States (COMLEX-USA). DOs may take the USMLE if they wish.

The USMLE and COMLEX exams are taken over three stages as you progress through medical school and your residency programs. 

• The first exam is taken during medical school, before your clinical rotations.
• The second exam is taken before graduating from medical school. 
• The third exam is taken during the intern year of residency.

After completing all exam levels and your residency program, you can apply for state licensure to practice as a doctor.

Residency Requirements for MDs and DOs

Graduates of MD and DO programs prepare for their medical careers by completing residency programs. This post-graduate training takes place in a hospital or clinical setting, where you apply your medical knowledge and skills under supervision. You take on more responsibilities as you progress through the residency program. These residencies last 3 to 7 years, depending on specialization, and prepare you to become a fully licensed physician. 

Both MDs and DOs follow the same process to match into residency programs:

• Satisfying your medical school's graduation requirements, with the schools verifying that these are met. International medical graduates are verified by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates.
• Applying to postgraduate training programs.
• Enrolling in The National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) to find a residency match. Check out Trinity School of Medicine’s 2025 Match Day Results.
• Interviewing with residency programs.
• Ranking residency programs in order of preference.
• Receiving match results from the NRMP.

MD vs. DO Approaches to Medicine

The main difference between an MD and DO is the underlying philosophy. MDs take a conventional approach to medicine, focusing on diagnosing an injury or illness and determining treatment. They typically focus on a certain body part or system.

DO programs emphasize a holistic approach to medicine. Osteopathic doctors consider how different systems affect each other, looking beyond treating a symptom to determining its cause. They also consider how a patient's psychology, emotions, lifestyle and sleep patterns affect health and recovery.

This interconnectedness also plays a role in osteopathic manipulative treatment. DOs manipulate bones, joints, muscles and tissue with the hands as a noninvasive treatment option. This technique aims to remove misalignment or dysfunction to encourage healing and support conventional treatments.  

Choosing Between MD and DO

Both the MD and DO pathways provide rigorous training and clinical experience to prepare you for a career as a physician. Here are a few things to consider:

• You may wish to consider a DO program if you're interested in a holistic approach to medicine or learning OMT.
• Not all countries recognize a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine designation, so there may be limited opportunities to work abroad.
• While osteopathic medicine is often described as patient-centered, you can bring this approach to your care philosophy as an MD.

You can apply to both MD and DO programs and decide on a path based on the fit of the school and programs. Consider the institution's academic focus, faculty-to-student ratio and culture when picking potential schools. 

Continuing Your Journey With Trinity

Trinity School of Medicine offers an accredited MD program that enables our graduates to participate in the residency match processes in the United States and Canada, as well as apply for residencies and licensure in both countries. With small class sizes and a personalized approach, our medical school provides a supportive experience to help you succeed. Trinity combines a comprehensive academic program with clinical rotations in the United States. 

Recognizing that outstanding doctors come from a variety of backgrounds, our admissions process looks for well-rounded applicants with a passion for medicine. Take the first step toward a rewarding career as a doctor and learn more about applying to Trinity today.

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