Education Needed to Become a Psychiatrist

Psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialize in the treatment of disorders of the mind. Twelve or more years of education and training at the postsecondary and postgraduate levels are required to start a career as a psychiatrist. In addition, psychiatrists must be professionally licensed in order to treat patients in hospitals, clinics or private practice. Read on to learn more about the required education to become a psychiatrist. 

Psychiatrist Education Requirements

Bachelor's Degree

During undergraduate study, aspiring psychiatrists can begin their preparation for medical school. The Association of American Medical Colleges indicated that many medical schools require applicants to have completed undergraduate coursework in such fields as organic chemistry, physics and other scientific disciplines as well as humanities and liberal arts (www.aamc.org). A bachelor's degree program in chemistry or biology can help students to reach these requirements; however, as long as students complete all prerequisite coursework, a bachelor's degree in any discipline is usually sufficient. In addition, students should complete classes in advanced mathematics, communications, anatomy and related fields.

Doctor of Medicine

Medical school applicants are required to take the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT). This standardized exam measures writing, critical-thinking and problem-solving skills as well as knowledge of the scientific concepts needed to succeed in medical school. Medical school admissions committees consider MCAT scores in addition to undergraduate transcripts, letters of recommendation, extracurricular participation, life experience and personal character.
A Doctor of Medicine degree program is a 4-year education and training program. During medical school, aspiring psychiatrists receive the same training as students interested in studying other branches of medicine. Common courses taken during the first two years of study include:

• Anatomy
• Physiology
• Biochemistry
• Pharmacology
• Psychology
• Medical ethics

During the final two years of the program, students work in clinical settings. There they are exposed to various fields of medicine, including family practice, obstetrics, surgery, pediatrics and psychiatry.

Clinical Residency in Psychiatry

During completion of a psychiatric residency program, medical school graduates receive the additional training and education needed to work as a psychiatrist. Admission to residency programs can be competitive and is based on performance in medical school and scores received on medical board exams.
Residents are typically paid salaries to work in hospitals and clinics. In addition to practical work, residents complete further academic study and attend lectures and seminars in order to keep abreast of advancements in the field. During the first year of the program, psychiatric residents could engage in foundational study in medicine, neurology, psychiatric emergencies and substance abuse.
The second year introduces practice in psychotherapy with actual patients under the supervision of a licensed physician or psychiatrist. During the third year, they might focus on specific topics, such as child, adolescent or geriatric psychiatry. The final year is often devoted to developing additional areas of professional interest.

Licensing and Certification

Psychiatrists, like all medical doctors, must be licensed by the medical board of the state in which they plan to work. Once licensed, they can become board certified by taking certification exams through organizations, such as the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology or the American Board of Physician Specialties. Psychiatrists can earn certification in general psychiatry or choose a subspecialty, such as addiction, forensic, geriatric or adolescent psychiatry. The tests cover general psychiatric topics including:

• Developmental psychology
• Behavioral sciences
• Public policy
• Diagnostic procedures
• Psychiatric disorders
• Child abuse

Psychiatrist Salary and Career Outlook

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported in May 2012 that psychiatrists earned median salaries of $173,330 annually. In job projections, the BLS does not differentiate psychiatrists from the broader occupations of physicians and surgeons. Instead, it predicts a 24% job growth for all surgeons and physicians in the years 2010 through 2020. This employment growth is considered faster than average.

Psychologist Vs. Psychiatrist: What's the Difference?

Psychologists and psychiatrists work with people suffering from grief, trauma or mental disorders. Both professions, though closely related, have several differences. The approach to treatment is different, and education is also a factor. Read this article to find out more about these professions. 

The Difference Between a Psychologist and a Psychiatrist

A psychologist studies the human mind through lab tests, surveys and interviews. Some psychologists may use this information to counsel patients suffering from mental disorders, grief or trauma. Others may apply their findings to explain and predict group behavior or help school children address behavioral issues. Psychologists may also study methods for improving an organization's work performance or personnel development.
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor. They specialize in the treatment, diagnosis and prevention of mental health problems. However, as a medical doctor they may write prescriptions to help patients manage disorders such as depression, anxiety, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or bipolar disorder.

Training for a Psychologist

Psychologists generally begin their career path with a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Students then pursue studies at the graduate level. Industrial-organizational psychologists can enter the job field with a master's degree.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), clinical psychologists make up the largest specialty in the field of psychology (www.bls.gov). These and other psychologists must hold a Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (Ph.D.) or Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) to practice.
A Ph.D. requires a dissertation, while a Psy.D. is based on clinical experience. Coursework in a doctoral degree program may include educational inquiry, quantitative methods in research, adult psychopathology, child psychopathology, dynamic psychotherapy, statistics and individual research.

Training for a Psychiatrist

The educational path for psychiatrists is more complex than that of psychologists. After completing a bachelor's degree, usually in one of the sciences, an aspiring psychiatrist must complete the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). They then enroll in a 4-year medical school program to earn a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.). A Doctor of Medicine program offers coursework in biochemistry, cell biology, gross anatomy, physiology, neurobiology, microbiology, pathology and immunology.
Aspiring psychiatrists must also complete a 4-year residency with at least three years of rotations in the mental health field. They usually complete their residency in a hospital psychiatric department. Psychiatrists may then choose to enroll in a specialized fellowship program to work with adolescent or geriatric patients.

Required Credentials

Psychologists must be licensed by their state boards of psychology. Applicants with the appropriate master's or doctoral degree and 1-2 years of clinical or internship experience may qualify to sit for their state licensing exam, according to the BLS. The Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards' Examination for Professional Practice Psychology is used by many state boards (www.asppb.net).
Psychiatrists must be licensed as medical doctors in their state of residency. All states require physicians to pass the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). Psychiatrists must also become board certified by passing the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology's Psychiatry Certification Examination. Specialty certification in areas such as child psychiatry, forensic psychiatry, geriatric psychiatry and addiction psychiatry is also available.

How to Become a Psychiatrist

Psychiatrists are licensed physicians who specialize in treating mental illnesses by prescribing medication and using techniques like psychotherapy. With its interesting breadth of research and multiple fields of study, psychiatry attracts many keen medical students. If you're considering this career path, here is a guide on how to become a psychiatrist in the United States.

Method 1 of 3: Meeting the Educational Requirements

1. Obtain a bachelor of science degree. The road from high school graduate to licensed psychiatrist is a long one, and it starts with a bachelor's degree. Many people who are interested in psychiatry choose to major in psychology, chemistry, biology, or engineering in order to start learning about the way the mind works. The important thing is to obtain a degree from a 4-year university that will prepare you to apply to medical school.

• You must have 1 year of inorganic chemistry, 1 year of organic chemistry, 1 year of biology, 1 year of mathematics including calculus, and 1 year of physics in order to apply for medical school.
• Grades must be outstanding in order to secure admission. For every one person admitted to medical school, 7 will be rejecte
• Some universities offer pre-med programs that are designed to fulfill all of the prerequisites for applying to medical school.
• Going to the best school you can get into is a good idea when your end goal is becoming a psychiatrist. Medical schools are very competitive, so make sure you attend a top school and get the best grades you can get.
• While you're in college, get experience in the psychiatric field by taking an internship at a hospital or doing volunteer work. Make sure psychiatry is definitely for you before you spend the time and money it takes to become licensed.

2. Get your Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) or Doctor of Medicine (MD) medical degree. Psychiatrists must go through the same medical training program that all doctors go through. In addition to learning about the mind, you'll be learning about how the body works and how to treat all types of illnesses. Medical school will give you the fundamental knowledge you need to be a responsible and excellent doctor. You will have to pass internal medicine, surgery, neurology, obstetrics, emergency medicine, family practice, and pediatrics.

• Do well on the MCAT and apply to the best school you can get into. You'll have a greater range of career choices if you go to a great medical school.
• During the first four years of medical school you take classes, do lab work, and learn about medical ethics. You may not have the opportunity to do hands-on psychiatry work at this stage, but earning your medical degree is a requirement in the path to becoming a psychiatrist, so stick with it.

Method 2 of 3: Studying Psychiatry

 

1. Decide which sub-specialty you want to go into. You could focus on psychiatric research, a certain therapeutical approach, or a specific set of illnesses. Do research on the different sub-specialties and figure out what you want to pursue during your residency. Consider the following options:

• Addiction psychiatry, which involves treating patients who are dealing with addiction (such as substance abuse, gambling, food, and sex addictions).
• Child and adolescent psychiatry.
• Geriatric psychiatry.
• Emergency psychiatry, which involves dealing with emergency situations that may endanger a person's life (for example, suicide attempts, violent changes in behavior, self-harm, psychosis).
• Forensic psychiatry, which is psychiatry within the field of criminology, often dealing with the use of the insanity defense in a trial.
• Neuropsychiatry, which is psychiatry connected to diseases of the nervous system.

 

2. Complete your residency. After you have your DO or MD, you'll spend the next four years getting hands-on experience with patients under the supervision of licensed doctors. The first year of residency will include several months in internal medicine and neurology. You'll put into practice all that you learned in the classroom while you pursued your medical degree. Your residency will be set up through your school and completed at a hospital or clinic.

• Your residency will include general medicine rotations, neurology, psychiatry and electives geared toward the specialized fields of psychiatry that interests you. You'll work in both outpatient and inpatient psychology.
• Many students of psychiatry complete their residency working in the psychiatric ward of a hospital. You will work with patients to treat problems like clinical depression, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, psychosis, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, dementia, post-traumatic stress disorder, dissociative identity disorder, and sleep disorders.

Method 3 of 3: Becoming a Licensed Psychiatrist

 1.Get licensed by the state where you will practice. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) requires that psychiatrists pass state exams in order to become licensed. Fulfill your state's licensing requirements by passing the United States Medical Licensing Examination. Each state has slightly different examination requirements having to do with specific state laws. 

 

• If you move states, you may have to sit for another examination to practice psychiatry there.^[3]
• In order to prescribe medication, you must also get a federal narcotics license and register with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).  

 

2. Become certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) or the American Osteopathic Board of Neurology and Psychiatry (AOBNP). This is not a requirement, but it improves your chances of getting a job as a psychiatrist. The ABPN offers certificates in general psychiatry and specialized fields like teenage psychiatry. Earn the certificates that apply to the field of psychiatry you wish to pursue.


3. Work as a psychiatrist. After you've been licensed, you have several choices when it comes to employment. You may apply for a job at a hospital, work at a psychiatric clinic, or open your own private practice. Figure out which work situation is the best fit for you, then fill out applications or take steps toward opening an office and receiving patients

• Working an a hospital or clinic setting provides stability and structure, but the hours can be long, just as they are for any doctor.
• Opening a private practice is lucrative, but it may be tough to get patients when you're first starting out.

Tips

• Having good analytical thinking skills, patience, and listening skills will greatly help you succeed as a psychiatrist.
• Remember that you are still practicing medicine, so you must follow the Hippocratic Oath. This includes observing the doctor-patient confidentiality rule.
• You'll be spending at least 12 years in post-secondary education and training to become a psychiatrist (and pretty much any doctor). If you're not able to commit to that amount of school, consider another career field. Not everyone who wants to become a psychiatrist can be one.
• One of the most prestigious schools offering psychiatry studies in the United States is Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts.

Sources and Citations

1. ↑ http://education-portal.com/how_to_become_a_psychiatrist.html
2. ↑ http://www.howtobecomeapsychiatrist.org/
3. ↑ http://education-portal.com/how_to_become_a_psychiatrist.html
4. ↑ http://education-portal.com/how_to_become_a_psychiatrist.html
5. ↑ http://www.howtobecomeapsychiatrist.org/