What it is
A professional (practice) degree prepares graduates for a licensed profession — medicine, law, dentistry, pharmacy, veterinary medicine, and others. Federally these are "doctor's degree – professional practice" credentials, focused on practice rather than original research.
The degrees & designations
Professional degrees prepare for a licensed profession. Click a degree to jump to its field:
How long it takes
Typically three to four or more years after a bachelor's (JD ~3; MD/DO, DDS/DMD, PharmD, DVM ~4; DPT ~3), plus licensing exams.
What you study
Professional programs combine rigorous professional coursework with extensive clinical, laboratory, or experiential training, and prepare students for licensing examinations required to practice.
Getting in
Requires a bachelor's degree and specific prerequisites, plus admission tests (MCAT, LSAT, DAT, PCAT, GRE, etc.). Admission is typically very competitive.
Cost & funding
Professional degrees are among the most expensive, and student debt can be significant. Loans, scholarships, and service-based repayment programs are common.
Where it leads
These degrees lead to licensed professional practice. In medicine and dentistry, graduates typically continue into residencies and fellowships before independent practice.
How it compares
A professional-practice doctorate trains for licensed practice, unlike a research doctorate (PhD), which centers on original scholarship. Both are doctoral-level.
Is it right for you?
A professional degree suits people pursuing a specific licensed profession — physician, lawyer, dentist, pharmacist, veterinarian, physical therapist, and the like.
Explore further
This is a reference guide. Keep exploring the education resource:
Key facts
- LevelGraduate professional (practice doctorate)
- Length3–4+ years post-bachelor's
- ExamplesMD, DO, JD, DDS, DMD, PharmD, DVM, DPT, PsyD
- EntryBachelor's + prerequisites + admission test
- Leads toLicensure (often + residency/fellowship)
Where to learn more
Keep exploring the K12 Academics education resource library: