Psychiatrists Hold MD or DO Degrees: Clarifying Medical Credentials

Psychiatrists are physicians who complete medical school and residency training in psychiatry. They hold either an MD (Doctor of Medicine) or a DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) degree. Both are fully licensed medical degrees with equivalent practice rights in all 50 states.

The DO degree includes additional training in osteopathic manipulative medicine, but both pathways lead to the same psychiatric licensure and board certification (ABPN).

Therefore, a psychiatrist can have a DO degree—the statement that they "must have an MD" is incorrect.