Doctor vs. Professor
The distinction between Doctor and Professor lies in the rank they hold within a university setting. Doctor is an honorary title given to anyone who has completed their PhD, or doctorate, in any field of study. However, there is a general misconception that only those who have passed the MBBS course and specialized in a specific medical field are considered doctors. Many people believe that the professional who writes prescriptions and provides medical advice is a doctor, while referring to a professor of poetry as a doctor is incorrect. This article aims to clarify the differences between a doctor and a professor.
Who is a Doctor?
Anyone who has passed their doctorate exam in any field of study can technically be referred to as a doctor. A doctorate is the highest possible degree in a field of study, so if someone is a doctor of economics, it means they have obtained a doctorate in economics. Therefore, there are not just medical doctors, but doctors in all fields of study. If you meet a doctor of literature, it only means that the person has achieved the highest possible degree in the study of literature. Doctor in this sense is an honorary degree, achieved through research work.
Who is a Professor?
A professor, on the other hand, is a job title that differentiates between senior and junior members of the teaching profession. If someone is a professor, it means they are a senior faculty member in a department, at a university or college. A person cannot become a professor until they have completed their Ph.D. To be eligible to be a teacher, a Ph.D. is not necessary, and someone with a simple B-Ed can start their career as a teacher in a college. To progress in this profession, they need to become a Lecturer, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, and finally a Professor to be at the top of the teaching profession.
The confusion arises when professors are sometimes called doctors and other times referred to as professors. Technically, the first requirement for a person to become a professor is having a Ph.D. Once the person completes the doctorate successfully, they are known as a Doctor. However, to become a professor, this doctor must dedicate their time to teaching at a university and be involved in research work. There is no test for a person to take to be declared as a professor; it is mainly given as an honorary title for doctors who have contributed significantly to their field of interest.
Key Takeaways
- Doctor is an honorary title given to anyone who has completed their doctorate in any field of study, while Professor is a job title that differentiates between senior and junior members of the teaching profession.
- A person cannot become a professor until they have completed their Ph.D., and their involvement in research work is more extensive than that of a doctor.
- Both Doctor and Professor are valuable titles, but to become a professor, a doctor must work harder and dedicate more time and energy to their field of expertise, with the journey to both titles beginning with the doctorate or Ph.D. degree.
