If you’ve ever been treated by a doctor who spent extra time asking about your lifestyle, stress levels, and overall wellbeing—not just the symptoms in front of them—you may have seen a DO. Short for Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, DOs represent a distinct path into American medicine that often gets misunderstood.

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Fully licensed physicians: All 50 US states · Practice areas: All medical specialties · Training equivalence: Equivalent to MD · Key approach: Whole-person, patient-centered · Additional training: Osteopathic manipulative treatment

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • DOs are fully trained and licensed physicians Cleveland Clinic
  • Both DO and MD degrees are equivalent in practice rights UCLA Med School
  • DOs complete an additional 200 hours of OMM training UMHS
2What’s unclear
  • Relative residency competitiveness by specialty for DOs
  • Precise current (2026) percentages of DOs versus MDs in the workforce
3Timeline signal
  • Modern equivalence in training and practice established in recent decades UMHS
4What’s next
  • DOs continue growing in rural and underserved communities Burrell.edu

The following table summarizes key distinguishing factors between allopathic and osteopathic physicians.

Label Value
Degree Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
Licensing All 50 states
Practice Full scope like MDs
Unique skill Osteopathic manipulative treatment

What is a DO?

A DO—Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine—is a fully trained and licensed physician who has graduated from an accredited osteopathic medical school in the United States. The “DO” designation represents a separate but equivalent pathway to practicing medicine compared to the more common MD (Doctor of Medicine). According to the Cleveland Clinic, both MDs and DOs have similar schooling, prescribe medication, and practice medicine across the U.S. with full licensing rights in all 50 states.

Training and licensing

Both DO and MD medical school training lasts four years, followed by three to seven years of residency, according to UMHS. The main training difference is that DOs complete additional 200 hours of hands-on osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM). This specialized training focuses on the musculoskeletal system and teaches future physicians to use their hands to diagnose, treat, and prevent illness through techniques like stretching, gentle pressure, and resistance, according to the American Medical Association.

DOs take the COMLEX exam for licensure, while MDs take the USMLE, though both can take the other’s examinations if needed, according to UMHS. Both types of physicians are licensed by the same state boards with identical requirements, as noted by UCLA Med School. To practice, both must complete accredited residency programs—where MDs and DOs often train side by side in the same programs.

“In general, DOs practice a more holistic, whole-person type of care,” explains Dr. Vyas from the Cleveland Clinic.

Whole-person approach

The osteopathic philosophy centers on the idea that structure determines function and that all body systems are interconnected, according to BYU PPA. This means DOs view the body as an integrated whole rather than focusing narrowly on specific symptoms or diseases. The primary distinction? While both fields provide comprehensive care, osteopathic medicine emphasizes the interconnectedness of the body’s systems, seeking to treat the whole person rather than just symptoms, according to KansasCOM.

While MDs follow an allopathic model focusing on disease-specific diagnosis and treatment, DOs take a holistic approach to diagnose and treat the patient, not just the disease, according to PCOM.

Key distinction

The core difference lies in training philosophy: DOs bring an additional 200+ hours of manipulation training and a whole-person care philosophy to their practice, while MDs follow a disease-targeted, symptom-focused approach.

Bottom line: DOs are equivalent to MDs in licensing and scope—the distinction is philosophical, not clinical.

DO vs MD: What’s the Difference?

The core difference between DO and MD physicians comes down to training philosophy rather than clinical ability. MDs focus on symptoms and targeted treatment, while DOs view the body as an integrated whole with a holistic and preventive approach, according to KansasCOM. Both are fully qualified to practice in every medical and surgical specialty, prescribe medications, and provide comprehensive patient care.

Philosophy and training

Allopathic medicine (the MD path) is built on a disease-targeted model: identify the illness, treat it directly, often with medication or surgery. Osteopathic medicine (the DO path) takes a broader view, emphasizing preventive medicine, holistic care, and the body’s innate ability to heal itself. Osteopathic physicians represent 5% of U.S. physicians but provide 9% of primary care, especially in rural areas, according to research published in PMC NCBI.

DO students complete 200-500 hours of OMT training in addition to standard medical training, according to Kaptest. This additional hands-on expertise allows DOs to incorporate manual medicine into their practice when appropriate—a tool most MDs don’t have in their toolkit. Osteopathic schools better support primary care production through curriculum and faculty emphasis, according to PMC NCBI research, with family medicine typically the dominant department at osteopathic institutions.

“If a student is somebody who really enjoys that patient-centered approach and really is of the mindset that medicine is a mind-body-spirit relationship, a DO program will serve them well,” says John D. Schriner, PhD, Associate Dean at Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Practice rights

In terms of legal authority, DOs and MDs are indistinguishable. Both are licensed by the same state medical boards with identical requirements, as UCLA Med School confirms. Today, MDs and DOs practice the same jobs, take the same specialty board exams, and work together in residencies, according to UMHS. DO match rates into residency are very similar to MDs, with only a 1% difference, though DOs are more likely to enter primary care fields.

The pattern holds across specialties: whether entering family medicine or competitive surgical fields, DOs meet the same competency standards as their MD counterparts.

Is a DO Equal to an MD?

Yes, in every meaningful sense: DO and MD degrees are equivalent in the United States. Both can become licensed physicians or surgeons, prescribe medications, perform procedures, and practice in any medical specialty from cardiology to psychiatry to emergency medicine. The licensing requirements from state medical boards are identical for both degree types, according to UCLA Med School.

Licensing and scope

When comparing scope of practice, the answer is straightforward: DOs have full, unrestricted practice rights across all 50 states, identical to their MD counterparts. Both degree holders can pursue any specialty, subspecialty, or type of medical practice they choose. Neither degree places limits on what kind of medicine a physician can practice—the differences lie purely in training philosophy, not legal authority.

Residency matching

DO match rates into residency are very similar to MDs, with only a 1% difference, according to UMHS data. DOs are more likely to enter primary care specialties, but they can and do match into competitive specialties like surgery, dermatology, and orthopedic surgery. In residency programs across the country, MDs and DOs train side by side, meeting the same competency standards and taking the same specialty board examinations.

The implication for patients is clear: board scores, residency reputation, and individual physician skill matter far more than the DO/MD distinction.

The upshot

Patients choosing between a DO or MD shouldn’t weigh degree type as a marker of competency—the DO/MD distinction is philosophical, not a quality hierarchy.

Pros and Cons of DO vs MD

Weighing DO versus MD comes down to understanding what each path offers and what trade-offs exist. Neither is objectively “better”—the right choice depends on patient preferences, physician philosophy, and care priorities.

Advantages of DO

Upsides

  • Whole-person care: DOs are trained to treat the whole person, not just symptoms—considering lifestyle, mental health, and preventive strategies alongside medical interventions
  • Additional tools: OMM training gives DOs hands-on techniques to address musculoskeletal issues, chronic pain, and structural problems without relying solely on medication
  • Primary care emphasis: Osteopathic schools produce physicians disproportionately likely to enter family medicine, pediatrics, and internal medicine—fields facing the greatest shortage
  • Rural service: DOs often serve in rural and underserved communities where primary care access is most limited
  • Patient-centered approach: DOs are trained in the mindset that medicine is a mind-body-spirit relationship, enabling stronger physician-patient partnerships

Downsides

  • Perception gaps: Some patients remain unfamiliar with DO credentials, potentially causing confusion or doubt about qualifications
  • OMM applicability: Not all DOs incorporate OMT into their daily practice; many pursue conventional paths where this training sees limited use
  • Specialty distribution: DOs are statistically more likely to enter primary care, which may mean fewer DO-trained specialists in certain regions
  • School selection: Only half of osteopathic medical schools are university-affiliated, mostly since the 1980s, according to PMC NCBI—meaning program resources and research opportunities vary more widely than at traditional MD institutions

The trade-off for patients is philosophical alignment versus specialist availability: osteopathic care offers holistic strengths but may require more effort to find specialists in certain regions.

Why See an Osteopathic Doctor?

Patients choose DOs for reasons that often center on care philosophy rather than medical capability. If you value a physician who considers your lifestyle, stress levels, and long-term wellness alongside your immediate symptoms, an osteopathic approach may align with your preferences.

Holistic treatment

The primary distinction between osteopathic and allopathic care is the emphasis on treating the whole person rather than just symptoms. Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) includes stretching, gentle pressure, and resistance techniques that can address structural imbalances, support pain management, and enhance the body’s natural healing response, according to the American Medical Association. This doesn’t replace conventional medicine—it complements it with an additional set of tools.

Osteopathic medicine emphasizes preventive medicine, holistic approach, and family medicine, according to PMC NCBI. DOs are more likely to receive encouragement from faculty to enter primary care, which shapes the practice patterns of many osteopathic physicians who complete their training. This cultural emphasis tends to produce physicians with strong communication skills and a focus on building long-term patient relationships.

When to choose

Consider seeking a DO if you prefer a physician who takes extended time to understand your full health picture, if you’re interested in exploring non-pharmaceutical approaches to pain management, or if you value continuity with a primary care provider who takes a long-term view of your wellness. The whole-person philosophy means your DO is likely to ask about sleep, nutrition, stress, and exercise—not just the complaint that brought you in.

Why this matters

Research from PMC NCBI shows that while DOs represent only 5% of U.S. physicians, they deliver 9% of primary care—meaning patients in rural and underserved areas are disproportionately likely to encounter osteopathic physicians who have made serving those communities a career priority.

The takeaway: choosing a DO means prioritizing a physician who invests in understanding your full health context, not just the immediate presenting problem.

The comparison table below summarizes the key factors to consider when choosing between osteopathic and allopathic physicians.

Factor MD (Allopathic) DO (Osteopathic)
Training length 4 years medical school + 3-7 years residency 4 years medical school + 3-7 years residency
Unique training None beyond standard curriculum 200+ additional hours in OMM/OMT
Licensing exam USMLE (primarily) COMLEX (primarily)
Philosophy Disease-targeted, symptom-focused Holistic, preventive, whole-person
Practice rights Full scope, all 50 states Full scope, all 50 states
Research focus Biomedical research emphasis Health services and primary care research
Primary care share Standard distribution Disproportionately higher (9% of primary care from 5% of physicians)

The data reveals a self-reinforcing cycle: osteopathic schools emphasize primary care, produce physicians with primary care orientation, and those physicians serve communities with the greatest primary care needs.

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Additional sources

webmd.com, youtube.com

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Frequently asked questions

What training does a DO complete?

A DO completes four years of osteopathic medical school followed by three to seven years of residency training, just like an MD. The key difference is that osteopathic medical students receive an additional 200-500 hours of training in osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM/OMT), which focuses on diagnosing and treating conditions using hands-on techniques applied to the musculoskeletal system.

Can DOs perform surgery?

Yes, DOs can perform surgery. Both DOs and MDs have full surgical privileges and can pursue any surgical specialty. In residency programs across the country, MDs and DOs train together in surgical programs, meet the same competency standards, and take the same specialty board examinations.

How do DO residencies compare to MD?

DO match rates into residency are very similar to MDs, with only a 1% difference, according to UMHS. Both DOs and MDs compete for positions in the same residency programs in most specialties, and they receive the same training once matched. DOs are statistically more likely to enter primary care, but they can and do match into any specialty including competitive surgical fields.

What conditions do DOs treat?

DOs treat the full range of medical conditions just like MDs—from common illnesses to complex diseases requiring specialized care. In addition, DOs who incorporate OMT into their practice can use hands-on techniques to address musculoskeletal pain, structural imbalances, and certain movement disorders that may not respond well to medication alone.

Are DO schools as prestigious?

Prestige in medical education is often measured by research output and institutional affiliation. Only half of osteopathic medical schools are university-affiliated, mostly since the 1980s, which means program resources vary more widely than among traditional MD schools. However, clinical outcomes and board passage rates for DOs are equivalent to MDs, and osteopathic graduates match into residency programs at comparable rates.

Do DOs earn the same as MDs?

In most cases, yes. Salary in medicine depends primarily on specialty, geographic location, and practice setting rather than degree type. A family medicine physician who is a DO earns approximately the same as an MD in the same practice. The slight statistical difference in average earnings between DOs and MDs reflects the higher proportion of DOs in lower-paying primary care specialties rather than any penalty from the DO degree itself.

Where can I find a DO near me?

You can find a licensed DO using the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) physician finder or by searching for osteopathic physicians through your insurance provider’s directory. Many DOs practice in primary care settings, but specialists in every field are available. DOs often serve in rural and underserved communities, so if you’re in an area with limited medical access, an osteopathic physician may be particularly accessible.

The distinction between DO and MD matters most as a marker of care philosophy rather than clinical quality. For patients seeking a physician who considers their whole health picture and values preventive strategies alongside treatment, a DO may be the right choice. Whether you see a DO or MD, you’re seeing a fully licensed physician with equivalent training, authority, and capability—the difference is in how they approach your care.