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Difference Between MBBS and MD
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You all must be prepping yourselves for your dream medical exam to begin your journey as a lifesaver on this planet. We appreciate your keen interest in the healthcare industry and your concern about selecting the appropriate career path. Thus, one might wonder whether there is a difference between MBBS and MD. In these two courses, NEET applicants are uncertain of their similarities or differences. 

You can find relevant information for your booming career in medicine in this blog post if you are a medical student or professional looking to enter the medical field. We have tried to provide you with information consisting of the answer to the question -   

What is the difference between MBBS and MD?

What is MBBS?

Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery also known as MBBS is the most popular and demanding medical course in the medical world. MBBS is a 5.5-year undergraduate medical program that is the most preferred choice of medical aspirants. It involves rigorous efforts to become a medical practitioner through the MBBS program as it has a well-structured course curriculum that requires extensive dedication and labor.

To take admission to the MBBS program, one must clear NEET Exam with the qualifying marks as per the cut-offs. It is much more challenging to get into a Government Institute as the cut-off remains high as compared to a private institution. So, one has to do relentless efforts to grab a government seat.

MBBS program offers the following specializations to candidates study:

  • General Medicine
  • General Surgery
  • Paediatrics
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Dermatology
  • Ophthalmology
  • Orthopaedics
  • ENT
  • Psychiatry
  • Anesthesiology
  • Plastic Surgery
  • Neuro Surgery
  • Cardio-Thoracic surgery
  • Continuous Urinary surgery
  • Pediatric Surgery
  • Gastroenterology
  • Endocrinology
  • Clinical Hematology
  • Nephrology
  • Cardiology
  • Immunology
  • Craniologist
  • Pathologist

What is MD?

Doctor of Medicine also known as MD is a postgraduate medical course that is pursued after the undergraduate MBBS program that is a 3-year PG course. There are many specializations in PG courses one may opt for.

To take admission to the MD program, one must clear NEET PG Exam conducted all over the country with the qualifying marks as per the cut-offs. However, many institutes/universities conduct their entrance exams to admit students to this postgraduate program. It is much more challenging to get into a Government Institute as the cut-off remains high as compared to a private institution. Thus, securing a seat in government requires consistent effort.

MD program offers the following specializations to candidates study:

  • Anaesthesiology
  • Anatomy
  • Biochemistry UG PG
  • Biophysics
  • Community Medicine
  • Dermatology and Venereology
  • Forensic Medicine and Toxicology
  • Laboratory Medicine
  • Medicine
  • Microbiology
  • Nuclear Medicine
  • Obstetrics & Gynaecology
  • Ophthalmology
  • Pathology
  • Paediatrics
  • Pharmacology
  • Physiology
  • Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PMR)
  • Psychiatry
  • Radio-Diagnosis
  • Radiotherapy

Eligibility Criteria For MBBS and MD

The eligibility criteria for the MBBS course through NEET UG are as follows:

  • Students must have passed the 12th (10+2) or equivalent exam with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English as core subjects from a recognized board.
  • Students appearing in the 12th exam or equivalent are also eligible to apply for NEET UG 2023.
  • For 12th, the passing marks aggregate in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology for the general category is 50% and 40% for OBC/SC/ST/PWD categories.
  • The age of 17 years must be met as on 31st December 2023 to appear in the NEET exam.

The eligibility criteria for the MD course through NEET PG are as follows:

  • Candidates must be an MBBS degree graduate or must have a provisional MBBS pass certificate. 
  • Candidates must have a permanent or provisional registration certificate issued by MCI or State Medical Council showing MBBS qualification.
  • Graduate candidates must have completed one year of internship or must complete it on or before March 31 of the admission year.

Admission Procedure for MBBS and MD

The admission process for both courses is almost similar but these are regulated by different bodies. 

MBBS

  • The admission process for MBBS involves qualifying NEET UG exam with qualifying marks as per cut-offs released.
  • A candidate’s scores must fall under the cut-off released as per the category he falls under. 
  • After the NEET results for MBBS, a candidate has to go for NEET UG Counselling held every year.
  • A candidate should participate in the rounds of NEET counselling as per the rank and scores obtained.
  • Candidate must participate in All India Quota or State Quota counselling as per the targeted Universities or Institutes.
  • For counselling and other information, you can visit the official website https://mcc.nic.in/.
  • After the allotment of a seat in an institute, the candidate has to go through the documentation and course fee submission as per MCC (Medical Counselling Committee).

MD

  • The admission process for MD involves qualifying NEET PG exam with qualifying marks as per cut-offs released. 
  • A candidate’s scores must fall under the cut-off released as per the category he falls under. 
  • After the NEET results for MD, a candidate has to go for NEET PG Counselling held every year.
  • A candidate should participate in the rounds of NEET counselling as per the rank and scores obtained.
  • Candidates must participate in All India Quota or State Quota counselling as per the targeted Universities or Institutes.
  • For counselling and other information, you can visit the official website https://mcc.nic.in/.
  • After the allotment of a seat in an institute, the candidate has to go through the documentation and course fee submission as per MCC (Medical Counselling Committee).

Career Scope of MBBS and MD

MBBS and MD's career scope is brilliant today if you have practiced medicine comprehensively. The public, as well as private hospitals, employ medical practitioners.MBBS graduates can get themselves into government and private medical institutes. The practitioners can open their private clinics as specialists or physicians in certain treatments to help out the patients in the best possible ways. MBBS is an undergraduate program but it too has great importance and scope in terms of making a medical career. Pursuing a postgraduate MD program adds a PG degree like a cherry on the cake that too carries high significance in a medical practitioner’s life.

Conclusion 

Hence, we conclude that MBBS and MD both have great importance in a doctor’s life. Hope you can understand the difference between MBBS and MD now. Being a PG degree, MD adds additional benefits to a doctor’s profile and credibility. Anyone with one of these degrees is qualified to work in healthcare centers and can even practice in their established private clinics as a physician or specialist. By helping others and most significantly, by saving lives, they can live a happy life forever.

FAQs

Ques - Which one is better MBBS or MD?

Ans - The primary difference between MBBS and MD is that MBBS is an undergraduate medical course whereas MD is a postgraduate medical course pursued after the MBBS UG course. Therefore, there is no comparison between these. 

Ques - What does MBBS mean for a doctor?

Ans - MBBS is a degree that a medical aspirant dreams of, to become a renowned and successful doctor. It means a lot for a doctor as MBBS doctors are the most preferred. People have more trust in MBBS doctors nowadays for all sorts of diseases.   

Ques - Is the MBBS equivalent to an MD?

Ans - No, MBBS is not equivalent to MD as MBBS is a UG medical degree while MD is a PG medical degree. There is a big difference between MBBS and MD. These are distinct from each other.