Do medical doctors need a PhD?

Two kinds of professionals are referred to as "doctor" -- those who are qualified and licensed to practice medicine and those who have earned a doctor of philosophy degree. The educational requirements for the two forms of doctors are quite different. A Ph.D. is the highest educational degree offered in the field of study. read more

No. Some do though. Most medical doctors have either an MD (Doctor of Medicine) or an MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery). They are effectively equal qualifications. I know a few medical doctors who also have a PhD, and they are all brilliantly intelligent. They do have to put up with the occasional joke about being "Doctor Doctor" though. read more

No. Being called a Dr is an honorary things after completing a medical degree but it is not a PhD and certainly can’t replace one. Getting a PhD as a doctor will allow you to apply to be a professor. read more

Depending on the type of medical specialty or Ph.D. field of specialization, both physicians and doctors of philosophy might spend the same amount of time in school. A physician may earn a Ph.D. in a related field, but is not required to do so to practice medicine. read more