| Osteopathic Physicians (DO) | Allopathic Physicians (MD's) | Chiropractors (DC's) |
|---|
| Undergraduate Training Required | 4 years | 4 years | 4 years |
| Postgraduate Training Required | 5-8 years | 5-8 years | 3-4 years |
| Hospital Residency Required | Yes | Yes | No |
| Able to Prescribe Drugs | Yes | Yes | No |
| Able to Perform Surgery | Yes | Yes | No |
| Training in Bodily Manipulation | Receives 300-500 hours extensive training in bodily manipulation including cranial, extremity, spinal joints, and connective tissue | Receives no formal training in manipulation, spinal or otherwise | Receive up to 600 hours in the use of spinal manipulation |
| Founders | A.T. Still, physician whose philosophy is a “whole person” approach and whose emphasis was on disease prevention as well as cure. A.T. Still was an American original. | German trained physicians who viewed the body as being comprised primarily of parts and who emphasized treating symptoms through drugs and surgery. | D. D. Palmer who felt that spinal manipulation could effectively address 95% of all illness. Briefly studied with A. T. Still, then developed his own techniques. |
