MD vs DO — Real Differences for Medical School Applicants 2025

Category	MD (Allopathic)	DO (Osteopathic)
Administered by	LCME-accredited medical schools	COCA-accredited osteopathic schools
Who takes it	Allopathic medical school graduates	Osteopathic medical school graduates
Pass rate	~96% USMLE Step 1 (US MD grads)	~84% COMLEX Level 1 (first-time takers)

Key differences

Both degrees grant full medical licensure — no clinical privileges are restricted by degree type
DO programs require additional training in osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM)
Residency match pools merged in 2020 — both MD and DO compete in NRMP
DO applicants may take USMLE to be competitive for certain programs; MD applicants cannot take COMLEX
Match rates differ by specialty — highly competitive specialties still favor USMLE scores

Common mistakes

× Believing DO graduates cannot enter competitive specialties — match data shows DOs match into every specialty, including surgical subspecialties
× Assuming DO school is 'easier to get into' — DO schools evaluate the same academic metrics with similar rigor
× Thinking COMLEX and USMLE are interchangeable — many residency programs still request USMLE scores from DO applicants

Test yourself

Quick check

1. Which licensing exam pathway is required for DO graduates to practice medicine in the US?

2. Since 2020, DO graduates applying to residency must:

Frequently asked questions

Do DO doctors have the same prescribing authority as MD doctors?

Yes. DOs have full, unrestricted prescribing authority in all 50 states and can practice in any clinical setting as attending physicians. The DO degree grants the same medical licensure as the MD in the United States.

Should a DO student take the USMLE in addition to COMLEX?

For students pursuing highly competitive specialties (dermatology, orthopedic surgery, radiology, ENT, neurosurgery), taking USMLE is strongly recommended — many programs require or prefer USMLE scores for initial screening. For less competitive specialties or primary care, COMLEX alone is typically sufficient.

Did the residency match really merge for MD and DO graduates?

Yes. In 2020, the AOA (osteopathic) match merged with the NRMP (allopathic) match. All residency programs now participate in a single match, meaning MD and DO graduates compete for the same positions. Some osteopathic-specific programs still exist for OMM-intensive training, but the general match is unified.

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