DO vs. MD: What's the Difference for Your Primary Care?

If you’re searching for a new primary care physician (PCP), you might be curious about the difference between the credentials “MD” and “DO.” Fortunately, you can choose either type of doctor as your PCP with confidence.

In short, both are fully licensed physicians who completed four years of medical school plus residency training. They both had to pass national licensing examinations, can practice specialties and prescribe medications.

The main difference between an MD and a DO is the school they attended and one extra skill. For some patients, that difference genuinely matters; for most primary care patients, it will not change the appointment much.

Keep reading to learn more about what DO and MD actually stand for, where the training is identical and where it differs, and what to consider when you’re picking a primary care doctor.

What the Letters MD and DO Actually Stand For

MD stands for Doctor of Medicine. It’s the degree awarded by allopathic medical schools, which is the older and larger of the two paths in the United States. Physicians with an MD diagnose and treat illness, prescribe medication, order and interpret tests, and perform surgery.

DO stands for Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. Osteopathic physicians are also fully licensed to practice medicine in every state, in every specialty. The training adds a focus on the musculoskeletal system and on treating the person as a whole rather than the presenting complaint alone, along with hands-on techniques for diagnosis and treatment.

It’s important to note that a DO is not a chiropractor, not a naturopath and not a physician assistant. Those are separate professions with different training and different scopes of practice.

Where the Training Is the Same

Both MD and DO degrees take four years of medical school after a bachelor's degree. Both include the same foundational sciences, the same clinical rotations through internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics, psychiatry and family medicine.

After medical school, both go into residency, and since 2020, they compete for the same residency positions through a single accreditation system. A DO and an MD in the same family medicine residency can both have the same role, supervised by the same attending physicians.

According to the American Medical Association, MDs and DOs have equivalent training and practice rights. Both must pass national licensing examinations before they can practice independently. Both then hold the same prescribing authority, including for controlled substances, and both can be board-certified in any specialty from dermatology to neurosurgery.

Insurance treats them identically: If your plan covers a primary care visit, it can be with an MD or DO.

Where the Training Diverges

Osteopathic medical schools add an additional 300 to 500 hours of training in hands-on manual medicine and the musculoskeletal system, known as osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT). This is a set of hands-on techniques for examining and treating the muscles, joints and connective tissue, using pressure, stretching and resistance.

The philosophy behind it is that the body's structure and its function are related, and that problems in one can show up as symptoms in the other. In practice, a DO may use their hands as an additional diagnostic tool, feeling for restriction or asymmetry alongside the usual examination.

Osteopathic training emphasizes preventive care and the relationship between lifestyle and environment and illness. Many MDs also practice this way, but it is more directly written into the DO curriculum.

Historically, osteopathic medicine also had a stronger link to primary care, and a higher proportion of DOs than MDs still go into family medicine, internal medicine and pediatrics.

Does It Matter if Your PCP is an MD or DO?

For the most part, it comes down to personal preference and not actual skill differences. A 2024 JAMA Surgery analysis concluded there was no evidence that patient outcomes differed between MD and DO surgeons for common operations. Surgery isn't primary care, and one study of one setting can't answer every version of the question. But it's one large comparison that looks at how these credentials affect outcomes.

What Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment Feels Like

If your DO offers OMT, you may be wondering if it’s right for you. During OMT, your DO uses their hands to move your muscles and joints, applying gentle pressure, stretching or asking you to push against resistance, usually while you are on a treatment table.

It’s most often used for musculoskeletal complaints, particularly lower back pain, neck pain and some kinds of headache. Not every DO uses OMT regularly, so you are always welcome to ask before you schedule.

Are DO and MD Appointments Different?

For most primary care, no. Your annual physical, blood pressure check, cholesterol panel, referral to a specialist, prescription refills and sick visits are essentially the same, regardless of these credentials.

It may differ most if you have a condition like ongoing back or neck pain, for example. A DO who practices OMT can offer a hands-on option inside a normal primary care appointment, alongside the usual approaches. That may save you a separate referral.

The Questions That Matter More Than the Letters

When choosing a primary care provider, several factors predict your experience better than a degree does. Consider whether the provider is in your insurance network, where the office is and whether you can get there easily; what the office hours are, how urgent problems are handled after hours and which hospital the doctor admits to.

Do you have a preference about your primary care physician’s gender, years of experience, primary language or other details? Take time to determine what you’re most comfortable with before making an appointment.

You Deserve a Partner in Lifelong Whole Health

To summarize: A DO and an MD are both physicians with the same length of training, residencies, licensing, prescribing rights and ability to specialize in anything. The osteopathic (DO) path adds hands-on manipulative training and an emphasis on the whole person.

Taking time to find the right fit for your PCP will help you stay well for years to come. Find a primary care provider near you to get started. After that, read through our helpful Guide to Your First Visit With a New Primary Care Physician to learn more about what to bring and what to expect.