scary stuff

[DOLVR]

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I've been looking at choosing a DO school based on state friendliness and I came across this bit of information. Has anyone else heard of legislation in West Virginia, Florida, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, and Michigan that require DOs, but not MDs, to do an extra year of internship before they can get licensed? This is crazy! What happened to our equal practice rights?

 

[Nate]

These states actually require an AOA approved internship year and from what I hear all it is legwork to get most MD program internship years approved. It isn't an extra year unless your MD program residency internship year is not approved by the AOA.

 

[DrMom]

I've been looking at choosing a DO school based on state friendliness and I came across this bit of information. Has anyone else heard of legislation in West Virginia, Florida, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, and Michigan that require DOs, but not MDs, to do an extra year of internship before they can get licensed? This is crazy! What happened to our equal practice rights?

This isn't MD vs DO discrimination. The requirement comes from the DOs.

And the info Nate posted is correct. This really isn't that big of a deal for most of us.

 

[DrFeelgoodDO]

This isn't MD vs DO discrimination. The requirement comes from the DOs.

And the info Nate posted is correct. This really isn't that big of a deal for most of us.

Nate is correct and so is DrMom, for the most part. The only thing that I would point out is that it depends on what you do. I am a DO IM intern at an allopathic institution and my internship is easily AOA approved non-the-less by changing around a couple of things and using my electives. HOWEVER, this works easily for an IM or FP residency program, but NOT for other things such as allopathic surgery. I, for example, am applying for general surgery (allopathic) as we speak. I chose to do an extra year for several reasons. Its all what you want out of life.

 

[medic170]

Those states have the largest number of AOA residencies and dually accredited residencies too. Chances are virtually zero that you would not be able to get that requirement met without any major problems.

 

[Robz]

Those states have the largest number of AOA residencies and dually accredited residencies too. Chances are virtually zero that you would not be able to get that requirement met without any major problems.

You can do it. There are challenges and paths available for those that do allopatic residencies.

Its not major problems but there are some hoops to jump though. Thats the path I am going to be going down.

 

[JohnDO]

It should also be noted that it is a self-imposed regulation by the AOA.

 

[DrMom]

Nate is correct and so is DrMom, for the most part. The only thing that I would point out is that it depends on what you do. I am a DO IM intern at an allopathic institution and my internship is easily AOA approved non-the-less by changing around a couple of things and using my electives. HOWEVER, this works easily for an IM or FP residency program, but NOT for other things such as allopathic surgery. I, for example, am applying for general surgery (allopathic) as we speak. I chose to do an extra year for several reasons. Its all what you want out of life.

Virtually all of the people who have applied to have their MD internship year approved have gotten it. The last # I heard (from the AOA) was either 4 or 6 applications had been denied... and this is out of hundreds.

There are times to be smart about it, though. For example, if there is an osteopathic residency really close by & you go allo, they're more likely to turn you down because there were osteopathic slots in the same local region. There could be other situations like DrFeelgoodDO has described.