How to Become a Psychiatrist | Career Education to Become a Psychiatrist

Psychiatrists are licensed medical professionals who diagnose and treat mental illnesses. Along with prescribing medication, they may use a variety of psychiatric techniques, including psychotherapy and psychoanalysis. A career in psychiatry entails four years of undergraduate school, medical school and residency training for a total of 12 years.

Step 1: Attend Undergraduate School

Training for a career in psychiatry begins in undergraduate school. While bachelor's degrees don't qualify graduates to practice psychiatry, they are typically required for admittance into medical school. Undergraduate students pursuing a career in psychiatry may consider majoring in psychology, but a specific major is not required. Premedical degrees should include courses in the natural sciences, such as physics, chemistry and biology, as well as English, math and the humanities.

Step 2: Earn a Medical Degree

Aspiring psychiatrists must complete the same medical school training as doctors, surgeons and other physicians. Medical degree programs typically take four years to complete. These programs are divided into two years of classroom and laboratory instruction and two years of supervised clinical experience. Courses may include pharmacology, anatomy, physiology and pathology. Students also learn to conduct medical exams and diagnose patients.

Step 3: Gain Residency Training

After medical school, psychiatrists must gain at least four years of postdoctoral training in residency programs. Residencies provide beginning psychiatrists with paid, clinical practice in hospitals. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) reports that psychiatry residents must complete 36 months of required psychiatric training in addition to participating in rotations that generally include internal medicine, family medicine, pediatrics, neurology and emergency care (www.psych.org). Some programs allow residents to train in another clinical specialty before transitioning into psychiatry.

Step 4: Become Licensed

The APA notes that in order to serve in the occupation, psychiatrists must become state-licensed physicians by passing the United States Medical Licensing Examination. Licensing requirements and maintenance procedures vary according to state, and some licensing boards may allow reciprocity between states. To prescribe medication, psychiatrists must also acquire a federal narcotics license and register with the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Step 5: Consider a Subspecialty

After completing a residency, psychiatrists may choose to specialize in, for example, geriatric psychiatry, psychosomatic medicine or addiction psychiatry. The APA may require candidates to complete an additional year of fellowship training in their subspecialties. Once completed, candidates may contact the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology to become certified (www.abpn.com).

A psychiatrist is a licensed medical doctor certified to treat emotional and mental disorders with the authority to prescribe medication. Several subspecialities of psychiatrists can include geriatric, industrial or occupational, adolescent, and forensic.

Related to Psychiatrist Career

  • Related
  • Recently Updated
  • Popular
Psychologist Vs. Psychiatrist: What's the Difference?

Psychologists and psychiatrists work with people suffering from grief, trauma or mental disorders. Both professions,...

What to Major in to Become a Psychiatrist: Degree Options

At the bachelor's degree level, psychiatry majors are not available. Those interested in becoming psychiatrists may...

Psychiatrist: Educational Requirements for Psychiatrists

Psychiatrists diagnose, analyze and treat mental health disorders. They also serve as the primary source of care for...

Psychiatrist: Overview of This Psychology Profession

Psychiatrists deal with the emotional, psychological and physical well-beings of their patients. They can expect to...

Forensic Psychiatrist: Job Description, Duties and Requirements

20 Popular Schools

Popular Schools

Avg. Wages For Related Jobs