What is the full form of MD?

What is MD?

The full form of MD is Doctor of Medicine. Students who complete their MBBS course can go for the MD course. MD degrees differ on the basis of the country from where a student has completed the course. Individuals who successfully complete the course are authorized to work as a physician.

Undergraduate Degree

A medical degree is considered as an undergraduate degree in many countries like India, China, Kenya, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. It takes around 5 to 6 years to get a medical degree. This undergraduate degree is called MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine or Bachelor of Surgery).

Students are required to complete a postgraduate degree to start practicing or working as a doctor in a hospital. In the UK, students have to complete a postgraduate course of two or more years. If we talk about China, students have to complete an undergraduate course for five years, a one-year internship, and a two to three-year postgraduate course. German students have to complete a practical year and then take state examinations for independent practice.

Graduate Degree

In countries like Canada and the USA, medical degrees are provided as graduate degrees. Before pursuing a graduate course in these countries, students have to accomplish an undergraduate degree which is related to medical topics.

Career opportunities after MD

There are many career opportunities after completing the MD course and some of them are mentioned below −

• After completing the MD course individuals can get a job in the public and private sectors.

• MD students have the opportunity to apply to government hospitals

• MD students can also start practicing independently

Different types of MD degrees offered by the Medical Council of India

Students will be offered different types of MD degrees which are mentioned below −

• MD in Anaesthesiology

• MD in Aviation Medicine

• MD in Biochemistry

• MD in Community Medicine

• MD in Biophysics

• MD in Dermatology

• MD in Hospital Administration

• MD in Lab Medicine

• MD in Nuclear Medicine

• MD in Gynaecology and Obstetrics

• MD in Ophthalmology

• MD in Pathology

• MD in Physiology

• MD in Radiotherapy

• MD in Social and Preventive Medicine

• MD in General Medicine

• MD in Forensic Medicine

There are many more MD degrees that are offered by the Medical Council of India.

Features of MD

• MD is a postgraduate degree which students should pursue to expand their knowledge that they have gained in the graduate degree

• The course develops critical thinking, clinical skills, diagnosing illness, etc.

• Medical research ability and communication skills are also developed through the skill

• The duration of the MD course is of 4 to 6 years but it depends on the institution from which students pursue the course.

• Students develop abilities and become specialized in different subjects.

• They can diagnose the illness and provide medicines accordingly

Eligibility Criteria

Students who want to pursue the MD course have to complete the MBBS course which can be of 4 to 5 years. The MBBS degree has to be completed from a recognized institution. Besides the MBBS course, students also have to take the NEET PG or other equivalent test.

Admission Process

Students who have completed their MBBS course and have got a minimum of 50% marks can go for the entrance exams to apply for an MD course. Here is the description of two entrance exams.

NEET PG Exam

Students who want to go for MD, MS, or PG diploma programs in the medical field have to take the NEET PG exam. NEET PG is a computer-based exam and students who take it get the opportunity to choose an institution in any state where they want to pursue the post-graduation course. There are 200 multiple-choice questions in the exam and the total marks is 800. For each incorrect answer, one mark is deducted from the total score.

INI CET

INI CET test is conducted by AIIMS for students who want to pursue a post-graduation course after MBBS. There are 200 multiple-choice and single-answer questions and students can get admission in the following institutes −

• NIMHANS

• JIPMER

• PGIMER

• AIIMS

AIIMS Institute is located in Delhi, Bhubaneshwar, Bhopal, Jodhpur, Rishikesh, and Raipur.

A lot of study is needed as NEET PG and INI CET are very hard exams.

Difference between MBBS and MD

There are many differences between MBBS and MD courses and some of them can be found in the table below −

MBBS	MD
It is an undergraduate degree	It is a postgraduate degree
Related to general medicine	Related to specialization in medicine
Students can study diverse fields in this course	Students get specialized in a particular field
A mandatory degree to become a medical practitioner	A mandatory degree to be specialized in a certain field
Students who complete their 10 + 2 can get admitted here	Students who pursue MBBS or other equivalent medical course can go for the MD Course

Advantages of MD

An MD course has many advantages and some of them are listed below −

• Medical practitioners get a good knowledge which can be applied to diagnose diseases and provide medicines

• Professional career can be easily developed through the course

• Medical graduates can become specialized in one or more fields

• Great earning potential is developed through the course

Conclusion

MD can be expanded to Doctor of Medicine. This is a course which can be pursued by those students who have completed their MBBS or other equivalent course. MD helps students to become specialized in diagnosing certain types of diseases. The duration of the course depends on the institute and students get great career opportunities.

FAQs

FAQ 1: What does MD stands for?

Ans: MD stands for Doctor of Medicine.

FAQ 2: Is there any difference between an MD and a Ph.D.?

Ans: MD is a degree that is pursued by MBBS degree holders while a Ph.D. is a degree which can be pursued by those students who want to perform certain types of research.

FAQ 3: Can an MD degree be pursued without any graduate degree?

Ans: No! Students have to pursue an MBBS or any other medical course whose duration should be 4 years or more.

FAQ 4: What is the duration of the MD course?

Ans: The duration of the MD course is 4 to 6 years but it depends on the institution where students have taken admission.

FAQ 5: Can I go abroad after pursuing the MD course?

Ans: Yes! You can go abroad as an MD is a degree which is recognized globally.