> Dr. Biden does not have a PhD (or an MD), which led to the mentioned controversy Dr. Biden has an EdD, or Doctor of Education, which is a research doctorate.

> Dr. Biden does not have a PhD (or an MD), which led to the mentioned controversy Dr. Biden has an EdD, or Doctor of Education, which is a research doctorate. People with this title commonly use the title "Dr", as they do have a doctoral degree. AFAIK 'Dr.' is not a protected title in the US, so anyone can call themselves Dr. if they so choose. Where they get into trouble is if they are using the title fraudulently; for example to imply that they are a medical doctor, or claim to have a degree that they do not actually have.