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Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
 
 
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Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O. or DO) is an academic degree
Academic degree

A degree is any of a wide range of status levels conferred by institutions of higher education, such as University, normally as the result of successfully completing a program of study....
 offered in the United States. It is a graduate-level
Postgraduate education

Postgraduate education involves studying for Academic degree or other qualifications for which a first or Bachelor's degree is required, and is normally considered to be part of tertiary or higher education....
 first professional degree
First professional degree

A first professional degree is an academic degree that prepares the holder for a particular profession by emphasizing practical skills over theory and analysis....
 for physicians and surgeons, requiring four years to complete. Holders of the D.O. degree are known as osteopathic medical physicians. D.O.s are trained much in the same way as M.D.s
Doctor of Medicine

Doctor of Medicine is a Doctorate for physicians . The degree is granted from medical schools.It is a first professional degree in some countries, including the United States and Canada, although training is entered after obtaining at least 90 hours of university level work ....
, with the addition of osteopathic manipulative medicine
Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine

Osteopathic manipulative medicine is an approach to manual therapy, a form of therapy that uses physical contact, used to improve the impaired or altered function of the musculo-skeletal system ....
 techniques.

In the United States, the D.O. and the M.D. are the only two degrees permitting licensure as medical physicians.






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Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O. or DO) is an academic degree
Academic degree

A degree is any of a wide range of status levels conferred by institutions of higher education, such as University, normally as the result of successfully completing a program of study....
 offered in the United States. It is a graduate-level
Postgraduate education

Postgraduate education involves studying for Academic degree or other qualifications for which a first or Bachelor's degree is required, and is normally considered to be part of tertiary or higher education....
 first professional degree
First professional degree

A first professional degree is an academic degree that prepares the holder for a particular profession by emphasizing practical skills over theory and analysis....
 for physicians and surgeons, requiring four years to complete. Holders of the D.O. degree are known as osteopathic medical physicians. D.O.s are trained much in the same way as M.D.s
Doctor of Medicine

Doctor of Medicine is a Doctorate for physicians . The degree is granted from medical schools.It is a first professional degree in some countries, including the United States and Canada, although training is entered after obtaining at least 90 hours of university level work ....
, with the addition of osteopathic manipulative medicine
Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine

Osteopathic manipulative medicine is an approach to manual therapy, a form of therapy that uses physical contact, used to improve the impaired or altered function of the musculo-skeletal system ....
 techniques.

In the United States, the D.O. and the M.D. are the only two degrees permitting licensure as medical physicians. D.O and M.D. physicians have similar training (both requiring four years of training in the basic and clinical sciences and the successful completion of licensing exams). Osteopathic medical physicians receive additional training in Osteopathic Manual Manipulation. Although U.S. osteopathic medical physicians currently may obtain licensure in 47 countries, osteopathic curricula in countries other than the United States differ. In some countries outside of the United States, D.O.s are known as "osteopaths" and while their scope of practice includes some conventional medical therapies, they rely more exclusively on osteopathic manipulative medicine
Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine

Osteopathic manipulative medicine is an approach to manual therapy, a form of therapy that uses physical contact, used to improve the impaired or altered function of the musculo-skeletal system ....
 and other alternative medical modalities
Alternative medicine

The term alternative medicine, as used in the modern western world, encompasses any healing practice "that does not fall within the realm of conventional medicine"....
.

International variations in the D.O. degree

In the United States, doctors of osteopathic medicine are physicians who are also trained in osteopathic manipulative medicine
Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine

Osteopathic manipulative medicine is an approach to manual therapy, a form of therapy that uses physical contact, used to improve the impaired or altered function of the musculo-skeletal system ....
.

In France
France

France , officially the French Republic , is a country whose Metropolitan France is located in Western Europe and that also comprises various Overseas departments and territories of France....
, Germany
Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a country in Central Europe. It is bordered to the north by the North Sea, Denmark, and the Baltic Sea; to the east by Poland and the Czech Republic; to the south by Austria and Switzerland; and to the west by France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands....
,and Switzerland
Switzerland

Switzerland is a landlocked Swiss Alps country of roughly 7.7 million people in Western Europe with an area of 41,285 km?. Switzerland is a federal republic consisting of 26 states called Cantons of Switzerland....
, some osteopathic practitioners are M.D.s who take additional courses in osteopathy
Osteopathy

Osteopathy is an approach to healthcare that emphasizes the role of the musculoskeletal system in health and disease. It is practiced in the United Kingdom, the rest of the European Union, Israel, Canada, and Australia....
 after completing their medical training
Medical education

Medical education is education related to the practice of being a medical doctor, either the initial training to become a Physician or additional training thereafter ....
. In the United Kingdom
United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom , the UK or Britain,is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe....
, Canada
Canada

Canada is a country occupying most of northern North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean....
, Australia
Australia

Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the southern hemisphere comprising the Australia of the world's smallest continent, the major island of Tasmania, and numerous list of islands of Australia in the Indian Ocean and Pacific Oceans....
, and New Zealand
New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses , and numerous Islands of New Zealand, most notably Stewart Island/Rakiura and the Chatham Islands....
, “osteopaths" are trained in osteopathic principles and osteopathic manipulative treatment
Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine

Osteopathic manipulative medicine is an approach to manual therapy, a form of therapy that uses physical contact, used to improve the impaired or altered function of the musculo-skeletal system ....
 but are not physicians.

According to the BIOMEA, in most countries outside the United States, D.O. stands for “diploma of osteopathy,” not “doctor of osteopathic medicine.” The difference is that osteopaths are not trained or licensed as physicians, and therefore do not carry the same practice rights, such as surgery and prescribing medication. However, osteopaths in some countries do act as primary care providers, coordinating treatment with fully licensed primary care
Primary care

Primary care is a term used for the activity of a health care provider who acts as a first point of consultation for all patients. Continuity of care is also a key characteristic of primary care....
 physicians.

International practice rights


Every country has different requirements and a different way of licensing or registering osteopathic physicians and osteopaths. The only osteopathic practitioners that the U.S. Department of Education
United States Department of Education

The United States Department of Education is a United States Cabinet-level department of the United States government of the United States. Created by the Department of Education Organization Act , it was signed into law by President Jimmy Carter on October 17, 1979 and began operating on May 4, 1980....
 recognizes as physicians are graduates of osteopathic medical colleges in the United States
List of Medical Schools in the United States

This list of medical schools in the United States includes List of colleges and universities in the United States that award either the Doctor of Medicine or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degrees, either of which is required to become a physician or a surgery in the United States....
. Therefore, osteopaths who have trained outside the United States are not eligible for medical licensure in the United States. On the other hand, US-trained D.O.s are currently able to practice in 45 countries with full medical rights and in several others with restricted rights.

The following is a table of International Practice Rights of U.S trained Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine, as listed by the American Osteopathic Association. An update of this listing was released in December 2007.

Country Year of latest policy Medical Practice Rights Requirements for Licensure
Argentina1994Unlimited.Full license granted to US-trained D.O.
Australia 2000 Restricted. Varies by state.
Austria 1994 Unlimited. Hospital must have position unable to be filled by Austrian physician.
Bahamas 1997 Unlimited.US license recognized.
Bolivia 1988 Unknown. No response from embassy.
Brazil 2000 Unlimited. Completion of Brazilian board exam & some training in Brazilian hospital is required.
Canada (varies by province)
Alberta Unlimited. LMCC
Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada

Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada, commonly abbreviated as LMCC, is a physician that has either:* Before 1 January 1992: Passed Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination Part 1 and has completed successfully one year of internship training or the MCCQE Part 2...
, Step 1&2 required
British Columbia Unlimited. LMCC required
Manitoba Unlimited. US license recognized.
New Brunswick Unlimited. LMCC required, except DOs registered in Maine
Newfoundland Pending. Currently under review.
NW Territories Unlimited. US license recognized.
Nova Scotia Unlimited. Only D.O.s from ACGME (US or Canadian) residency.
Ontario Unlimited. Only D.O.s from ACGME residency.
Prince Edward I. Restricted. No provision for US D.O.
Quebec Unlimited. 1 year GME in Quebec & French fluency required.
Saskatchewan Limited. OMM only.
Yukon Territory Unlimited. US license recognized.
Cayman Islands (UK) 1983 Unlimited. US license recognized.
Chile 1993. Unlimited. A written exam, in Spanish, is required.
China 1994 Unlimited. US-DOs are permitted to apply for "Short Term Medical Practice" only.
Costa Rica 1993 Unlimited. Several requirements. (Same as for any foreign MD.)
Denmark 1995 Unknown. No response from embassy.
Dominican Republic 2000 Unlimited. US license recognized.
Ecuador  Unlimited. Several. Same as for any foreign MD.
Finland 1996 Unlimited. Several. Same as for any foreign MD.
France1988Restricted.OMM only. French government does not recognize osteopathic medicine.
Germany1993Unlimited.No special requirements. Decisions made on individual basis.
Greece2004Unlimited.Difficult. Greek citizenship required.
Hong Kong1998Unlimited.Written examination. Personal interview. Training approval.
India1999Undetermined.Indian nationality status required
Indonesia1992Unlimited.All foreign physicians affiliated with a University project or a mission have unlimited practice rights. No private practice allowed.
Ireland1999Under review.The Irish government has repeated declined to recognize US trained D.O.s as physicians. The American Osteopathic Association president has said that obtaining unlimited practice rights for US-trained D.O.s in Ireland is a top priority in 2007.
Lebanon2004Unlimited.AOA letter required. Examination required.
New Zealand2005Unlimited.Hearing required. Case-by-case basis.
Nigeria1999Unlimited.An appearance before the Nigerian Medical Council & an oral quiz.
Singapore1993None.Singapore does not recognize US DO degree. Only recognizes US MD degree from 37 US conventional medical schools.
Spain1994None.No medical practice rights.
Sweden1996Unlimited.US license recognized.
Taiwan2005Unlimited.The ROC
Republic of China

The Republic of China , also known as Nationalist China is a country in East Asia that has evolved from a single-party state with full global recognition into a multi-party democratic state with Political status of Taiwan....
 government recognizes US D.O. degree. Applicants must take Taiwan Examination Yuan to obtain Taiwanese license.
United Kingdom2005Unlimited.US-trained DOs eligible for full medical practice rights. Applicants must pass the PLAB
Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board test

The Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board test is the assessment procedure conducted by the General Medical Council of the United Kingdom that is required for overseas doctors outside the European Union before they can practice medicine in the UK....
 examination and work for one year in the National Health Service
National Health Service

The National Health Service is the name commonly used to refer to the four publicly funded healthcare systems of the United Kingdom, collectively or individually, although only the health service in England uses the name 'National Health Service' without further qualification....
. Following that year, the applicants will be able to apply for a license to practice privately.
Table data from AOA International License Summary., updated December 2007.


See also

  • List of medical schools in the United States
    List of Medical Schools in the United States

    This list of medical schools in the United States includes List of colleges and universities in the United States that award either the Doctor of Medicine or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degrees, either of which is required to become a physician or a surgery in the United States....


External links

  • US-Trained DOs in Ireland. American Osteopathic Association President's Blog.