DO stands for Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. A DO is a fully trained and licensed physician who can diagnose illness, prescribe medication, perform surgery, and practice in every medical specialty, just like an MD (Doctor of Medicine). There are more than 167,000 practicing DOs in the United States today, and the profession is growing fast: over 25% of all current U.S. medical students are training at osteopathic medical schools.
How DO Training Compares to MD Training
DO and MD programs follow largely the same structure. Students typically spend their first 12 to 24 months in the classroom studying anatomy, pharmacology, biochemistry, and pathology, then shift to hands-on clinical rotations in hospitals and clinics. Both paths require four years of medical school followed by residency training in a chosen specialty.
The key difference is that DO students receive additional training in the musculoskeletal system and learn a hands-on technique called osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT). This involves using pressure and gentle manipulation to stretch muscles, move joints into proper alignment, and improve blood and nerve circulation. Techniques range from slow, continuous pressure to quick adjustments. Think of it as a diagnostic and treatment skill layered on top of the standard medical curriculum, not a replacement for it.
For licensing, MD students take the United States Medical Licensure Exam (USMLE), while DO students take the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX). Most residency programs accept either exam, and many DO students choose to take both.
The Osteopathic Philosophy
Osteopathic medicine is built on four core principles. The first is that the body functions as a single unit of body, mind, and spirit, not as a collection of separate organ systems. The second is that the body is capable of self-regulation and self-healing. The third is that structure and function are directly connected: if a bone, muscle, or joint is out of alignment, the organs and systems near it can be affected. The fourth principle ties these together: effective treatment should account for all three ideas rather than targeting symptoms in isolation.
In practice, this means DOs are trained to consider how a patient’s lifestyle, mental health, and physical structure all contribute to their condition. This doesn’t make their clinical decisions fundamentally different from those of MDs in most situations, but it does shape how they approach patient assessments.
What Specialties DOs Practice In
DOs have a strong presence in primary care. In the most recent residency match cycle, over 4,000 DO graduates matched into family medicine, internal medicine, and pediatrics. But roughly an equal number matched into other specialties, including emergency medicine, psychiatry, anesthesiology, obstetrics and gynecology, surgery, neurology, diagnostic radiology, and orthopedic surgery. DOs can pursue board certification through the American Osteopathic Association’s 15 specialty boards, which cover 24 primary specialties and 48 subspecialties.
The osteopathic profession represents about 11% of all physicians in the U.S., and that share is climbing as enrollment in DO programs continues to grow. Roughly 40,000 osteopathic medical students are currently enrolled for the 2025-26 academic year.
DO Practice Rights
In the United States, DOs hold full, unrestricted medical licenses in all 50 states. They can prescribe medication, admit patients to hospitals, lead surgical teams, and serve as attending physicians in any setting. From a patient’s perspective, visiting a DO is no different from visiting an MD.
Outside the U.S., it gets more complicated. Many countries associate the term “osteopath” with non-physician practitioners who focus solely on manual therapy, so a U.S.-trained DO may face different licensing requirements or restrictions depending on the country. Practice rights vary not just by nation but sometimes by province or the type of employment arrangement.
DO vs. MD: What It Means for You as a Patient
If you’re choosing a doctor and notice “DO” after their name, the practical takeaway is straightforward: they completed a medical education that is comparable in length and rigor to an MD program, passed a national licensing exam, and completed a residency. The main thing that sets them apart is their additional training in hands-on musculoskeletal techniques and a philosophy that emphasizes treating the whole person rather than isolated symptoms. For most medical visits, you’re unlikely to notice a difference in the care you receive. If you’re dealing with chronic pain, musculoskeletal issues, or conditions where manual treatment could help, a DO may bring an extra set of tools to the table.