In the United States, there are two degrees that lead to a career as a physician: the Doctor of Medicine (MD) and the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO). Both lead to full, unrestricted licenses to practice medicine and surgery in every state. Many applicants consider both, and many patients never know the difference. But there are real differences worth understanding before you apply.
What they have in common
- Four years of medical school, typically two years of foundational science and two years of clinical rotations.
- The same residency system. Since 2020, graduate medical education in the U.S. has had a single accreditation system, so MD and DO graduates apply to the same residency programs through the same Match.
- Every specialty, from family medicine and pediatrics to surgery, radiology and psychiatry.
- Full practice rights in every state, including prescribing and performing surgery.
What’s different
| MD | DO | |
|---|---|---|
| Philosophy | Allopathic medicine, focused on diagnosing and treating disease | Osteopathic medicine, emphasizing the whole person, prevention and the musculoskeletal system |
| Extra training | None required beyond the standard curriculum | Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT), a hands-on approach to diagnosis and treatment |
| Licensing exams | USMLE | COMLEX-USA, and many students also take the USMLE |
| Application | AMCAS (or TMDSAS for public schools in Texas) | AACOMAS (some Texas DO schools use TMDSAS) |
| Schools | More programs, including most research-intensive medical schools | 46 colleges of osteopathic medicine on 73 campuses in 36 states, as of 2026 |
Residency and the Match
DO graduates match into residencies in every specialty. In the 2026 Match, a record 7,928 DO seniors matched, a 93.2% match rate. Historically, DOs have been especially well represented in primary care, which many osteopathic schools emphasize in their missions. Some highly competitive specialties and research-focused programs have matched fewer DO applicants, so if you have a specific specialty in mind, look at match data and talk to residents and physicians in that field.
Admissions differences
- Metrics: average MCAT scores and GPAs of matriculants tend to be somewhat lower at DO schools than at MD schools, though ranges overlap and vary widely by school.
- Letters: many DO schools recommend or require a letter from a DO physician. Shadowing a DO is the best way to get one and to understand osteopathic medicine.
- Fit: DO schools want to know why osteopathic medicine appeals to you. A generic answer is a missed opportunity.
- Grade replacement: application systems handle repeated courses differently, so check how each one calculates your GPA if you’ve retaken classes.
How to decide
- Shadow both an MD and a DO, ideally in the specialty you’re considering.
- Think about your goals. Research-heavy careers may favor schools with strong research infrastructure, which are more often MD programs. A passion for primary care or community medicine fits many DO schools’ missions well.
- Look at each school, not just the degree. Mission, location, clinical sites, cost, match outcomes and support matter more than the letters after your name.
- Apply to both if both fit. Many successful applicants do. It can broaden your options, but each application should reflect real interest.
Our medical school page covers the full cycle, and our guide to secondaries and interviews explains what happens after you submit.