What Is The Difference Between A DO And A MD?

Everything You Wanted To Know About Becoming A DO Or A MD

If you want to go into a medical profession – be it doctor, dentist, vet, or something else, then try to get your head around the qualifications you will need.

It can be hard to keep track, everyone knows they need an undergraduate degree. But do you need Pre Med? A master’s degree? What type of professional school do you need to go to? What is the difference between qualifying as an MD and a DO?

Today, we are going to answer that last question for you, in the hope that it will make the process less complicated for you.

Page Contents

1 What Is An MD?
2 What Is An OD?
3 What Is The Difference Between An OD And MD?
4 What Qualifications Do I Need To Become An MD?
5 Do I Need A Masters Degree To Get Into Med School?
6 Do I Need To Do A Pre Med Post-Bacc Course To Get Into Med School?
7 Do I Need To Do The Pre Med Track At Undergraduate Level To Get Into Med School?
8 What Is The Pre Med Track?

What Is An MD?

MD stands for doctor of medicine.

They are also known as allopathic doctors. An MD is anyone who has graduated from a conventional medical school.

Most of the doctors who graduate are allopathic doctors.

What Is An OD?

OD stands for doctor of osteopathic medicine.

They are known as osteopathic doctors. An OD has graduated from an osteopathic medical school.

What Is The Difference Between An OD And MD?

Over time, the difference between these two qualifications has become smaller and smaller.

They go through the same amount of training and this training is on nearly identical topics. ODs are also taught about osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) during medical school. However, they do not use this kind of treatment on most patients.

Both qualifications are worth the same. An MD is not better trained than an OD. Some argue that there is so little difference between the two types of schools now that they should be combined into one.

Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) during medical school involves using physical movement to treat the body. Massage and chiropractor sessions are two examples of OMT.

OMT was originally based on Andrew Taylor Still’s techniques. However, as more medical research has been done, how OMT is practiced has changed dramatically.

Most ODs will use OMT on a patient less than once a week.

However, MDs and ODs go to different schools, so medical students must decide after Pre Med where they want to study.

You can read more about DO schools here.

What Qualifications Do I Need To Become An MD?

To become a qualified MD (doctor of medicine), you will need to have an undergraduate degree, have passed the MCATs (the average medical student scores 509 out of 528), and have graduated from medical school.

After this, they must go through residency as a doctor and pass the licensing exam.

Some students will do a Pre Med post-bacc course or master’s to improve their chances of getting into Medical School or to meet the school’s requirements. But you do not have to have a master’s degree to become a doctor.

Do I Need A Masters Degree To Get Into Med School?

Most Med Schools do not require you to have a master’s degree to get in. However, some more competitive schools may do. It is in your best interest to talk to the admissions office of any school you want to apply for to see what they are expecting of their students.

That being said, getting a master’s degree will improve your chances of getting into any Med School.

Do I Need To Do A Pre Med Post-Bacc Course To Get Into Med School?

If you have gone through the Pre Med track during your undergraduate degree then you may not need to take a Pre Med Post-Bacc course.

However, getting a Pre Med master’s course is expected by some Med Schools.

Med Schools are incredibly competitive, and performing well in a Pre Med Post-Bacc course will increase your chances of getting into Med School.

The University of Georgetown said that 85% of their post-bacc Pre Med graduates got into Med School within 10 months of graduating.

Do I Need To Do The Pre Med Track At Undergraduate Level To Get Into Med School?

No.

Many people do not discover a love for medicine until later on in their degree and therefore do not have the right qualifications when they finish.

They can go on to take a Pre Med course to get these credits.

Some Med Schools like their students to have taken a wide range of classes during their undergraduate degree. You will need to check with the admissions office of your intended medical school what they expect from their applicants.