Differences between MD, PhD and a professional doctorate

Some people might confuse an MD (Doctor of Medicine) with a PhD (Doctor of Philosophy), and vice versa. While both an MD and a PhD are prestigious degrees near the top of the academic ladder, they each have a different meaning and come with very different requirements.

Different still from MD and PhD degrees are professional doctorates (also referred to as "practitioner doctorates"), which allow industry professionals to translate their education and experience into credibility and leadership through research. These doctorates have similar requirements to PhDs, such as a dissertation and residency, but focus on the application of research and professional growth over original research.

Upon graduation, those who have earned any of these three degrees can call themselves a “doctor,” but the path to a degree, the purpose behind it and its applications vary based on the choice. MD graduates want to work in medicine and healthcare. PhDs want to bring new knowledge and research to the world. A practice-based doctoral graduate wants to grow in their professional expertise.

Becoming a Doctor of Medicine requires a significant investment of time and money, but the reward can be well worth it. Before medical school, students need to take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT®) and earn a passing score. They also need to build a portfolio of coursework and experience to help gain admission to medical school.

Medical school typically takes students four years to complete. They'll learn the latest techniques and approaches for patient assessment, diagnosis and treatment. Medical schools commonly provide a combination of classroom, research and clinical experience. Students work alongside peers and healthcare professionals as they develop skills in general medicine.

Med students choose a field to specialize in during their final year of medical school. There are more than 120 options to choose from when specializing, including primary care, pediatrics, geriatrics, emergency medicine and family medicine.

After graduating, students complete residency training to further develop skills in their specialty. Residency typically lasts three to seven years, depending on the field selected. During the residency portion of a medical education, residents treat patients under the supervision of more experienced physicians.

Even after beginning to practice as an MD, the educational portion of a career never stops. As practices change, patient needs evolve and research continues, MDs benefit from ongoing education to stay current.

A PhD, or Doctor of Philosophy, is a doctoral degree that recognizes graduates who have completed a full postsecondary program. Students can earn a PhD in more fields than philosophy. After completing the necessary coursework, original research and hands-on experience, students can earn a PhD in fields like science, the humanities and engineering.

Earning a PhD can help unlock a wide range of potential career opportunities. Computer engineers, research scientists, statisticians, healthcare administrators, professors, chemists and other careers commonly require a PhD degree, in addition to appropriate undergraduate study.

Becoming a PhD is also a serious commitment that requires an investment of time, money and energy.

Here is what’s typically required to become a PhD:

• Complete a bachelor’s degree in a specific field
• Complete a master’s degree in an appropriate field
• Pass any program entrance exams
• Fulfill coursework, research and hands-on lab requirements in the program
• Finalize and defend a dissertation as a doctoral candidate (unless the program specifies otherwise)

It’s important to note that many PhD programs have different requirements, prerequisites and parameters for students. Students should check with their preferred institution for a more detailed explanation of these requirements.

While some professional or practice-based doctorate programs are medical, others are designed for professionals in other fields. These programs are meant for scholar-practitioners in disciplines like education, business or psychology. One of the key differences between this degree and a PhD is the focus on applying research to a professional setting rather than conducting theoretical and research-focused studies. Often, programs are differentiated as academic versus professional.

Examples of doctoral degrees are Doctor of Education, Doctor of Nursing Practice and Doctor of Business Administration. Each of these programs focuses on a specific discipline and applying research in those areas to a professional setting.

Doctoral programs offer significant benefits to program graduates, including newly developed skills, insight into field trends, hands-on research opportunities and leadership capabilities.

Completing a doctoral program is also a strong indication to employers that you’re serious about your career and your field. With so many options for advanced study, these programs are available for most major fields. Even if you have already completed a bachelor’s or master’s degree in your discipline, a doctorate lends further credibility to your reputation and can help prepare you for a leadership position.

While professional doctorate programs teach different skills, they all share common requirements. Complete a bachelor’s degree in the field and sometimes a master’s degree, depending on program requirements.

After completing the necessary coursework and research, students also typically need to finish a supervised thesis and defend their dissertation or capstone project-specific coursework, research and hands-on labs alongside other students in the same field. However, this will depend on the specific professional doctorate program and its requirements.