Understanding the difference between a PhD and a doctorate just takes a little clarification. However, my first thoughts on this article take me to some funny movie moments over the years. 

"Dr. Price? Stu, you're a dentist, not a doctor. Don't try to get fancy," Phil says to Stu in the 2009 hit movie The Hangover. 

Disney's 2002 Treasure Planet includes Doctor Doppler stating, "Dang it, Jim. I'm an astronomer, not a doctor! I mean, I am a doctor, but I'm not that kind of doctor. I have a doctorate; it's not the same thing."

From Indiana Jones to Frasier, the debate between a PhD or a doctorate causes more confusion than clarification. We're here to help sort through the similarities and differences and answer the question—once and for all—is a doctorate a PhD? 

Plus, which one is right for your career path? 

Understanding Doctoral Terms

Let's look at a few key terms to help understand the difference between doctoral degrees. 

  • Doctorate: Known as a "terminal degree," it's the last stage of formal education. 
  • PhD: A type of doctoral degree that stands for Doctor of Philosophy.
  • MD: A medical doctor, traditionally the profession associated with the title "Doctor." 

However, anyone with a doctorate is a doctor by title. As Stu pointed out several times in The Hangover trilogy, he held a Doctor of Dental Science. 

What Is a Doctorate Degree?

Much like a bachelor's and master's degree can have different disciplines, so can a doctorate. In general, a doctoral degree splinters down two paths: an academic doctorate and a professional doctorate.

Academic Doctorates

When the area of study mostly involves research, theory, critical thinking, and data. As the name suggests, these doctoral degrees can lead to a career or advancement in academia. 

However, there are doctoral options that embrace the pinnacle of education for business, technology, and science, just to name a few. These degrees can cover broad areas. 

Only one arm of an academic doctoral degree is a PhD, which translates to a Doctor of Philosophy from the Latin Philosophiæ Doctor. At the same time, PhDs can apply the degree to various fields.

Professional Doctorates

A professional doctorate is a degree that focuses on advanced skills and practical knowledge for specific careers, like medicine, law, or education. It’s about applying what you learn to real-world problems, not doing original research like a PhD.

This is the category where we find MDs (Medical Doctors), attorneys (Juris Doctor), research scientists (Doctor of Science/DSc), and veterinarians (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine).

Professional doctorate degrees deal with applying education to real-world problems in a specific field. Academic doctoral degrees are about research and theory.

What Is a PhD?

A PhD means Doctor of Philosophy, but that's a bit misleading at face value. PhDs aren't necessarily challenging the nuances of Nietzsche or arguing over Aristotle. Even if you want to become a philosopher, you'd pursue a Doctor of Philosophy. 

The "philosophy" in question for the general term PhD refers to an overall pursuit of knowledge to the highest degree.

Another point of separation involving a PhD is that these doctoral degree holders are pursuing new knowledge. Some major developments resulting from PhD work include splitting the atom, identifying the double helix of DNA, and even the invention of the internet.

As my PhD holding partner keeps saying in the background as I write this, "A medical doctor can save lives. A PhD can change the world." 

The Key Differences Between a Doctorate and a PhD

As noted earlier, a PhD is a type of doctorate (academic doctorate, at that), but the nuances go a little deeper. We've already covered how professional doctors differ from academic doctors, but let's dive more into how PhDs are distinct from other academic doctorate degrees.

Purpose

A PhD is all about pushing boundaries and creating new knowledge through original research. Other academic doctorates focus more on applying what’s already known to solve real-world problems, while a PhD is about exploring unanswered questions and reshaping how we understand a field.

Fields of Study:

A PhD focuses on research in fields like science or the arts to create new knowledge. Other doctorates, like education, business, or medicine, focus on applying knowledge to real-world problems and professional practice. 

For example, a PhD in Medical Science works on research-based activities in the medical field. An MD treats patients and could eventually put into practice the new knowledge created by PhDs.  

Program Structure:

Academic doctorate degrees all have the same trajectory of learning toward completion, including the final dissertation. Since the PhD requires new knowledge and theory, it might be more challenging than a dissertation of other academic degrees, which rely on implementing current knowledge.   

Professional doctorate programs don't typically require a dissertation, but usually, education culminates with a capstone project or doctoral study. 

After achieving a doctoral degree, academics move to postdoctoral work in their field, while professional doctors transition to residencies or internships. 

PhD or Doctorate: Which Should You Choose?

A PhD is ideal if you’re passionate about research and advancing knowledge in academia. 

Do you have an affinity for coming up with groundbreaking ideas that you want to see through? Would you like to challenge the status quo? Trailblazers are ideal for PhDs.

Other academic doctorates, like an EdD or DBA, are better if you want to apply research to practical challenges.

Those who want to apply modern standards to the practice of medicine, law, engineering, or other important fields should pursue a professional doctoral degree. 

Here's another way of putting it. If you want to be the president of Harvard, get a professional or leadership-focused degree (like a JD, MBA, or EdD). If you want to teach at Harvard, get a PhD (and publish groundbreaking research). 

Are You Ready to Be a Doctor? 

Hopefully, you now understand the difference between a PhD and a doctorate a little better. Take one of our career quizzes to see which program is right for you.