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...
