What types of health care professionals, who have doctoral degrees, are “physicians”?
Only professionals who have received a Doctorate of Medicine (MD) or a Doctorate of Osteopathy (DO) and who are licensed pursuant to Article 131 of the State Education Law (EL) are physicians. Chiropractors receive a Doctorate of Chiropractic (DC) and are licensed pursuant to Article 132 of the EL. Dentists receive a Doctorate of Dental Science (DDS) and are licensed pursuant to Article 133 of the EL. Podiatrists receive a Doctorate of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) and are licensed pursuant to Article 141 of the EL. Chiropractors may use the initials “DC” after their names; dentists may use the initials “DDS” after their names; and podiatrists may use the initials “DPM” after their names. Neither chiropractors, dentists nor podiatrists, however, are physicians and thus only physicians are affected by this law.
Related Questions
- What is the difference between the information found in the Vision section and the information in the physicians and other health care professionals section of DocFind?
- Are references and credentials available from physicians and other health care professionals?
- What types of health care professionals, who have doctoral degrees, are "physicians"?
