Doctor of osteopathy (D.O.) training is considered indistinguishable from that of allopathic (M.D.) physicians. Both pursue the following identical track of:

• Four years of medical school
• Specialty and subspecialty residency training
• Board certification

Osteopathic schools offer curricula that is identical for the most part to those of M.D.-granting schools. The first two years generally consist of classroom-based learning, while the third and fourth years include clinical rotations through the major specialties of medicine.

According to the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM), there are currently 26 colleges of osteopathic medicine, offering instruction at 34 locations in 25 states.

For a list of Osteopathic Medical Schools and Financial Aid Offices, visit the AACOM.

The general requirements for admission to osteopathic programs may vary from school to school but generally include:

• A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
• Eight semester hours of general chemistry, organic chemistry, biology, and physics
• Six semester hours of English composition and literature
• Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) scores of at least an 8 or higher in each section