An op-ed piece published recently in the Wall Street Journal made a case for new First Lady Jill Biden to eliminate the title of "Dr." from how she presents herself. The author argued that using it "sounds and feels fraudulent, not to say a touch comic" because Biden is not an M.D. Rather, Biden holds an Ed.D. from the University of Delaware (and two master's degrees, by the way).

The writer and the newspaper faced a good deal of backlash, including charges of being patronizing and sexist. But let's look specifically at what it takes to be called a doctor.

Earning a medical degree

When someone hears the word "doctor," thoughts often go immediately to a stethoscope-wearing person in a white lab coat working at a clinic or hospital. These professionals went to school to earn a degree that allows them to practice medicine. Most commonly, the designation M.D. follows their name.

Becoming a medical doctor takes a long time: four years of college, four years of medical school, and three to seven years of a residency. Individuals may even go on to additional training in the form of a fellowship.

Some people we commonly encounter in healthcare professions also hold the title of "Dr." even though they earned something besides an M.D. These include:

DO - Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine

DDS - Doctor of Dental Surgery

DMD - Doctor of Dental Medicine

DVM - Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

Earning a doctorate

Graduate students in a wide variety of academic and professional disciplines may choose to obtain a high level of expertise in their area. They complete a rigorous course of study known as a doctoral program.

The length of time to complete a doctorate varies but typically falls into the range of four to eight years. A significant part of most doctoral programs is writing a dissertation. This document presents original research and thought on a specific topic. (Biden's dissertation was called "Student Retention at the Community College Level: Meeting Students' Needs.") Doctoral students also are usually expected to demonstrate their knowledge of the field by passing an extensive test commonly referred to as an oral exam.

Doctoral programs in areas such as math, science, social science, and humanities lead to awarding a Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy). Institutions of higher learning often require faculty members to possess a Ph.D., and students often address their professors as "Dr." Holders of this degree also are found in research settings and in leadership positions in both the public and private sector.

Other doctoral programs confer different degrees. Some of the most common include:

DBA – Doctor of Business Administration

Psy.D. – Doctor of Psychology

DSW – Doctor of Social Work

Ed.D. – Doctor of Education

Anyone who earns a Ph.D. or a professional doctorate is entitled to put the word "Dr." in his or her title. Naysayers like the author of the WSJ piece may hold the opinion that "no one should call himself 'Dr.' unless he has delivered a child." The choice ultimately rests, however, with the hardworking, knowledgeable graduate who earned the right to decide for herself.