MD vs DO: both MDs (Doctors of Medicine) and DOs (Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine) are fully licensed physicians in every U.S. state. They take the same kinds of residencies, can work in any specialty, and can prescribe and operate. About 11% of U.S. physicians are DOs.
Where DOs practice
The share of physicians with a DO degree by state. States with osteopathic medical schools and more rural primary care tend to have more DOs.
MD vs DO: key differences
- Schools. MDs graduate from allopathic medical schools (accredited by the LCME); DOs from osteopathic medical schools (accredited by the AOA’s COCA). Both are four years after college.
- Extra training for DOs. DO students also learn osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT), hands-on techniques for muscles and joints. Many DOs rarely use it in practice.
- Licensing exams. MD students take the USMLE; DO students take the COMLEX-USA, and many also take the USMLE.
- Residency. Since 2020, MD and DO graduates apply to the same residency programs, accredited by the ACGME.
- Practice. Licenses, prescribing rights and hospital privileges are the same. The letters after the name don’t tell you how good a doctor is.
Specialties with the most DOs
| Specialty | Physicians | DOs |
|---|---|---|
| Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine | 1,067 | 73% |
| Family Medicine | 153,753 | 23% |
| Sports Medicine | 7,975 | 21% |
| Emergency Medicine | 71,326 | 21% |
| Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R) | 13,741 | 20% |
| Facial Plastic Surgery | 2,316 | 16% |
| Hospice & Palliative Medicine | 4,179 | 16% |
| Hospitalist | 27,371 | 15% |
| Pain Medicine | 10,182 | 15% |
| Addiction Medicine | 2,255 | 14% |
Specialties with the fewest DOs
| Specialty | Physicians | DOs |
|---|---|---|
| Pediatric Surgery | 1,464 | 1% |
| Hematology | 1,909 | 2% |
| Radiation Oncology | 6,976 | 2% |
| Retina Specialist | 1,587 | 2% |
| Cardiothoracic Surgery | 6,061 | 3% |
| Fertility (Reproductive Endocrinology) | 1,752 | 3% |
| Medical Genetics | 1,079 | 3% |
| Plastic Surgery | 8,538 | 3% |
DOs are most common in primary care, emergency medicine and rehabilitation, partly because osteopathic schools have long emphasized primary care. They are fewest in small, highly competitive subspecialties.
How to check a doctor’s degree and license
Every doctor page on contact.doctor shows the credential the doctor reported and the state licenses on file. State medical boards confirm whether a license is active; see our guide to state medical license data.
Source: CMS NPPES NPI Registry, November 2026. Shares are among physicians whose credential field lists MD or DO. Specialty is each physician’s primary specialty. See our methodology.
Sources: the CMS NPI Registry (opens in a new tab) and Medicare Care Compare: Doctors and Clinicians (opens in a new tab). To check any doctor’s degree, license and board actions, use DocInfo (opens in a new tab) from the Federation of State Medical Boards; to learn more about osteopathic training, see AACOM (opens in a new tab).