How to become a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine

Careers in osteopathic medicine

7 questions—and answers—on how to become a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine

If you’re thinking about how to become a doctor, consider becoming a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.). Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine bring a whole-body approach to health care and medical research through compassion, patience, and extensive education and training.

So, what does it take and how much does it cost to become a D.O.? We will answer these questions, along with others you might be thinking about if you’re considering a career as a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine.

1. Why Become a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine?

When you apply to osteopathic medical programs you will likely have to answer this question multiple times, and it may elicit many responses. You may want to:

Help others in a meaningful way
Seek a career where no two days are the same
Think critically and problem solve each day to treat patients
Build meaningful relationships with patients and medical staff

Before you pursue a medical career, you will need to answer, “Why do I want to become a doctor?”, for yourself.

2. What is the Difference Between a D.O. and an M.D.?

Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.s) and Doctor of Medicine (M.D.s) both take a similar amount of time, and the differences between the two are found more in the philosophy of treatment and care.

While an M.D. focuses on symptoms and making a diagnosis based on those symptoms, a D.O. looks at the entire body to help prevent illnesses and injury. D.O.s also are trained to use osteopathic manual medicine, which involves a more hands-on approach to diagnosing and treating conditions that arise from disease, illness or injury. You may find that D.O.s partner more with their patients to help them get healthy — and stay healthy.

3. What are D.O. School Requirements?

Before gaining admission to a D.O. program, you will most likely need:

A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in the United States
Eight semester hours of biology/zoology, general chemistry, and physics
Six semester hours of English, English composition, speech or literature
Four semester hours of organic chemistry
Three semester hours in biochemistry
Other recommended coursework in cell biology, microbiology, immunology, genetics, physiology and anatomy
To submit your MCAT exam scores, which generally must be within 3 to 4 years of matriculation
To meet grade point average requirements, which vary from program to program. At DMU, a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.8 is recommended.
Exposure to medicine with a documented letter of recommendation from a health care provider.

Learn more about DMU’s admission requirements for our D.O. program.

4. How Many Years Does It Take to Become a Doctor?

If you are considering a career in medicine, you may be wondering how long it takes to become a doctor. After completing your undergraduate degree program, you can expect to:

Pursue four years of osteopathic medical training in classes and research labs
Spend three to nine years within internships and residencies, depending on your chosen specialty
Take and pass state licensing exams and national boards

So, how many years does it take to become a doctor? After your bachelor’s degree, you can expect to spend at least seven additional years before graduating with a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine and becoming a fully licensed doctor.

5. How Hard Is It to Become a Doctor?

While you might experience some challenges involving your coursework, family obligations, time management and more, your experience as you learn how to become a doctor has rewarding results. Four years in D.O. school may look like:

Year One — As you get settled into D.O. school, you can expect to take fundamental scientific classes in anatomy, biochemistry, clinical medicine and skills, ,medical ethics, microbiology, osteopathic manual medicine, pathology, and more.
Year Two — You will build on what you have learned and take more specialized courses in cardiology, endocrinology, family medicine, pharmacology, reproductive systems and more. UYou will also begin preparing to take your COMLEX Level 1 Exam, which is a nationally standardized licensure exam required for practicing osteopathic medicine. When you take each part of the exam varies depending on your doctoral degree program.
Year Three — Your third year brings clinical rotations in areas such as emergency medicine, family medicine, general surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, psychiatry, or rural hospital practice. You can also perform elective rotations in a specialty or care setting. At the end of your third or fourth year, you will take the COMLEX Level 2 Exam.
Year Four — Your final year will begin with completing your care and elective rotations. Next will be taking part in the American Osteopathic Medicine Match or National Residency Matching Program. Both place students in residency training programs around the United States. Wherever you complete your residency, you will need to become licensed to practice in that state.

6. Where Do Doctors Work, and What Are Their Career Outlooks?

Nearly 80,000 licensed osteopathic physicians work around the United States, according to the American Association of Osteopathic Medicine. That number is expected to grow by 13% over the next decade, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

D.O.s work in a variety of health care settings, including:

Physician offices — whether it’s in family practice, pediatrics, sports medicine and more — or as leaders of clinics, departments, or hospitals
Clinical and scientific research centers
Colleges and universities as professors

As you think about the overall cost of becoming a doctor, keep in mind this strong job outlook and the overall return on investment in your career and future.

7. How Much Does It Cost to Become a Doctor?

According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, the average cost of four years of medical school is $250,222 for public colleges and universities and $330,180 for private institutions.

However, at Des Moines University’s Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program, our tuition is below the national average for both public and private colleges and universities. There are also no graduate student fees for our D.O. program, which means you can become a doctor with a potentially lower financial investment. So, the answer to the question “How much does it cost to become a doctor?” will depend on the doctoral degree program you choose.

One other piece of good news: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, doctors make, on average, $208,000 a year.

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How Long Does It Take to Become a Doctor? At DMU, You’re Closer Than You Think

Des Moines University’s Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree program offers a holistic approach to teach you how to treat patients from the tips of their toes to the tops of their heads. DMU’s osteopathic medicine degree program will allow you to:

Study and grow in cutting-edge spaces, including our Cadaver Dissection/Anatomy Labs, Iowa Simulation Center for Patient Safety and Clinical Skills, Surgical and Medical Skills Lab and others.
Perfect your skills as you learn from expert educators and researchers.
Prepare you for your medical specialty with coursework, electives and clinical rotations within our D.O. program.

Learn how to become a doctor at DMU and enjoy a career that is helping patients live their best lives.