Decoding the 'Alphabet Soup' of Medical Degrees

We’ve all seen the letters “MD” (doctor of medicine) or “RN” (registered nurse) on name tags at the hospital. But MD isn’t the only acronym you’ll find after a provider’s name. We break down a few of the most common ones you may encounter.DO: This degree translates to “doctor of osteopathic medicine.” These doctors attend a four-year osteopathic school of medicine instead of a traditional medical school, which is where a majority of physicians get their training. A DO completes a residency program (a three- to seven-year period of training) and must pass a licensing exam, which can differ from the MD licensing exam, in order to practice medicine.MBBCh & MBBS: These are MD-equivalent degrees given by medical schools that follow the United Kingdom medical education system.Both acronyms are derived from Latin and mean “bachelor of medicine, bachelor of surgery.”MD:This is the designation for medical doctor, which is earned by obtaining a bachelor’s degree (which takes four years) and then...