Is a D.O. the Same as a Chiropractor?

Both, the D.O., or doctor of osteopathy, and chiropractors provide health care to patients and are considered to be medical doctors. Of course, the services that they offer differ greatly. Both fields require you to obtain extensive schooling and licensing by the state that you will be working in. Then they are qualified to begin working in their field.

Tasks

The role of a chiropractor is to help patients by treating the muscles, spine and other areas of the skeletal system that have been affected. Then the D.O. provides services that are a bit more holistic. This means that they help the patient's entire body instead of just one part that is affected by illnesses.



Degrees

To work in the field as a doctor of osteopathy, you will have to obtain a medicine degree. Then to be a chiropractor, you will have to obtain a doctor of chiropractic degree.

Features

In most cases, chiropractors are not known to use medications to treat the conditions of their patients. Instead they use natural methods and manipulations of the bones in the body to help treat the problem. Then the doctors of osteopathy use alternative medicine to treat their patients. They are also known to use prescribed medications for the treatment of their patients.

Training

There are two types of D.O.s, the other type is a medical doctor, but in this profession, you will have to obtain advanced education within a medical school. Then after, you must complete a residency that can last between three and six year, during which you will be independently practicing. In order to become a chiropractor, you will have to obtain a bachelor's degree, go to a chiropractic program for four years and then finish a residency. In some cases, you are able to go straight to a chiropractic program without needing a bachelor's degree.