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Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O. or DO) is an academic degree offered in the United States. It is a graduate-level first professional degree for physicians and surgeons, usually requiring four years to complete. Holders of the D.O. degree are known as osteopathic physicians, while holders of the similar, but more common M.D. degree are known as allopathic physicians. The existence of this distinction and of D.O.s as licensed physicians is not widely known.^[1]

Although U. S. osteopathic medical physicians currently may obtain licensure in 47 countries, osteopathic curricula in countries other than the United States differs. D.O.s outside the U. S. are known as "osteopaths" and their scope of practice excludes allopathic medical therapies and relies more exclusively on osteopathic manipulative medicine and other alternative medical modalities.

See also: Osteopathic medicine (U.S.) and Comparison of M.D. and D.O.

Contents 1 International variations in the D.O. degree 2 Current status and scope of practice 2.1 International practice rights 3 References 4 See also 5 External links

In the United States, D.O.s are "doctors of osteopathic medicine" who are trained as physicians.

Main article: Osteopathic medicine in the United States

In France, Germany,and Switzerland, some osteopathic practitioners are M.D.s who take additional courses in osteopathy after completing their medical training. In the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, “osteopaths" are trained in osteopathic principles and osteopathic manipulative treatment 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 physicians.^[2]

While there are approximately 55,000 D.O.s practicing within the United States, this number represents only 6% of all practicing physicians. D.O.'s may obtain licensure in any of the fifty states and practice in all medical specialties including, but not limited to, family medicine, internal medicine, emergency medicine, dermatology, surgery, and radiology. The D.O. degree is the legal and professional equivalent of the M.D. degree and as such there is no difference in compensation between allopathic and osteopathic physicians.

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 recognizes as physicians are graduates of osteopathic medical colleges in the United States.^[3] 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.^[4]

Country	Year of latest policy	Medical Practice Rights	Requirements for Licensure
Argentina	1994	Unlimited.	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, 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 Terriory 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.
France	1988	Restricted.	OMM only. French government does not recognize osteopathic medicine.
Germany	1993	Unlimited.	No special requirements. Decisions made on individual basis.
Greece	2004	Unlimited.	Difficult. Greek citizenship required.
Hong Kong	1998	Unlimited.	Written examination. Personal interview. Training approval.
India	1999	Undetermined.	Indian nationality status required.
Indonesia	1992	Unlimited.	All foreign physicians affiliated with a University project or a mission have unlimited practice rights. No private practice allowed.
Ireland	1999	Under 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.[5]
Lebanon	2004	Unlimited.	AOA letter required. Examination required.
New Zealand	2005	Unlimited.	Hearing required. Case-by-case basis.
Nigeria	1999	Unlimited.	An appearance before the Nigerian Medical Council & an oral quiz.
Singapore	1993	None.	Singapore does not recognize US DO degree. Only recognizes US MD degree from 37 US allopathic schools.[6]
Spain	1994	None.	No medical practice rights.
Sweden	1996	Unlimited.	US license recognized.
Taiwan	2005	Unlimited.	The ROC government recognizes US D.O. degree. Applicants must take Taiwan Examination Yuan to obtain Taiwanese license.
United Kingdom	2005	Unlimited.	US-trained DOs eligible for full medical practice rights. Applicants must pass the PLAB examination and work for one year in the National Health Service. Following that year, the applicants will be able to apply for a license to practice privately.
Table data from AOA International License Summary.[4]

• List of Osteopathic Medical Schools

• US-Trained DOs in Ireland. American Osteopathic Association President's Blog. [4]

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