What education is needed to become a psychiatrist

Psychiatrists specialize in emotional and mental health, but they have the same foundational training as other physicians. Their education enables them to diagnose both the mental and physical reasons for illness, according to the American Psychiatric Association. They use a wide range of treatments, including psychotherapy, psychoanalysis and medication. A practicing psychiatrist must have a bachelor's degree, a medical degree, additional qualifications in psychiatry and a state license.

Medical School Prerequisites: 4 Years

Prospective psychiatrists must complete a four-year bachelor's degree as preparation for medical school. Essential undergraduate classes include English, math, biology, chemistry and physics. Although no particular major is required before applying to medical school, many students major in biology or chemistry. You need good grades because competition for medical school is keen. Improve your chances for acceptance by engaging in extracurricular college activities and volunteer work in a hospital or other health-care setting. Most medical schools require you to take the Medical College Admission Test from the Association of American Medical Colleges.

Medical Degree: 4 Years

Medical school programs lead to a doctor's degree and typically take four years. However, some colleges combine the bachelor's and medical degree in accelerated six- or seven-year programs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The curriculum in med school typically includes classes in physiology, chemistry, biochemistry, neuroscience, psychiatry and neuroscience. After two years of coursework, students engage in clinical rotations in a minimum of five specialties, assisting physicians with patient care in hospitals and outpatient centers. Some possible rotations include psychiatry, family practice, pediatrics, surgery, and obstetrics and gynecology.

Residency and Fellowship: 4+ Years

A graduate physician must complete a minimum of four years of residency to qualify as a psychiatrist, according to the American Psychiatric Association. The first year consists of a general hospital residency treating patients with all types of illnesses. The future psychiatrist spends a minimum of three more years treating psychiatric patients in clinics, psychiatric wards or hospitals. The physician must then pass an examination from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology for board certification. Some psychiatrists complete optional fellowships after residency, studying sub-specialties such as addiction or geriatric psychiatry.

Licensing

Every state requires psychiatrists to become licensed as physicians. Each state makes its own requirements, but in general you must complete an accredited medical degree and a residency. You must also fulfill state examination requirements by passing the U.S. Medical Licensing Examination for M.D.s or the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination for D.O.s.

• Step 1: Earn a Bachelor’s Degree

• Step 2: Apply to Medical School

• Step 3: Earn License to Practice Medicine

• Step 4: Residency

• Step 5: Obtain License to Practice Psychiatry

• Step 6: Certification

Becoming a psychiatrist means going to medical school. The first step in the process is obtaining an undergraduate degree, perhaps with a pre-med or psychology major. After graduation, the candidate must apply to medical school. After four years of medical school, the graduate takes an examination to receive a medical license. From there, they go through four years of psychiatry residency. That means it takes most psychiatrists at least 12 years to become a practicing psychiatrist. If the psychiatrists wants to obtain additional certification, such as specialized training in certain types of psychiatry, they must undergo further schooling.

Step 1: Earn a Bachelor’s Degree

You’ll need to earn a bachelor’s degree in health science, from an accredited college or university. Because potential psychiatrists must earn a medical school degree, the undergraduate should take the types of courses required to get into medical school, such as biology, chemistry, physics, and math. Good majors to declare include psychology, biology, or pre-med. During this time, a student can increase the odds of acceptance into very competitive medical schools by volunteering at mental health clinics, undertaking an internship at a local hospital, and joining psychiatric and pre-medical organizations. It is vital that the student have some experience with patients with mental health issues, so they are familiar with the needs of such patients and are sure psychiatry is the right profession for them. The student must also study for the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) to gain medical school acceptance. It is imperative that the undergraduate maintain top grades, as only the most highly qualified candidates are accepted into medical school.

Step 2: Apply to Medical School

After earning a degree you’ll apply to medical school. After acceptance, you can expect to spend four years earning either a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree. During this time, the student learns about anatomy, histology, pathology, physiology, and similar studies of the human body. They also learn about medical ethics, pharmacology, and other issues pertinent to a psychiatric career.

Step 3: Earn License to Practice Medicine

Once their schooling is complete, they’ll take an examination to receive a license to practice medicine. Such licenses are granted by individual states, and the process may vary by state. You can expect that the state licensing board will run a background check to ensure the candidate possesses good moral character. After passing the examination, it should take at least 60 days from the time the application for a medical license is submitted and the date licensure is approved. Note: You must complete at least one year of an internship or the first year of residency in order to apply for a medical license. Certain states may require more than one year of residency.

Step 4: Residency

The next step will be the completion of four years of residency in either a hospital or clinic, preferably in the state in which you plan to practice. During this time, the candidate is trained in subjects such as chemical dependency, neurology, and psychometrics. The resident spends time either in a hospital’s psychiatric ward or in a psychiatric hospital. However, the initial part of residency is spent in general medical rotations, focusing on a family practice. Expect to spend a few months afterward concentrating on neurology. From there, the rest of the residency focuses on psychiatry, and includes a year of inpatient psychiatry followed by a year of outpatient psychiatry. The resident will then choose a specialized psychiatric field for the remainder of their residency. During the residency, the individual can expect to encounter patients with a variety of mental health disorders, including bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder, dementia, clinical depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and other issues.

Step 5: Obtain License to Practice Psychiatry

At this point you’ll need to obtain a license to practice psychiatry. Each state has its own laws and examination, which is why it wise to go through a residency in the same state in which you want to practice. If you go out-of-state, you must take another examination to qualify for licensure in that jurisdiction, and you must learn the regulations governing licensure in that state.

Step 6: Certification

Finally, you’ll need to receive certification from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN). While not absolutely mandatory, failure to obtain such certification limits a doctor’s employment considerations. The ABPN requires previous licensure to practice medicine in one state or territory before applying for certification. Certification testing is offered throughout the U.S. The ABPN also offers certifications in psychiatric sub-specialties. Certification is good for ten years. After that, psychiatrists maintain certification by taking continuing education classes and via self-assessment. A psychiatrist with a specialty must take 30 hours of related continuing education courses annually.

Psychiatrists may also want to join the APA, the world’s largest professional organization for those in the field. The APA offers continuing education classes, research opportunities, think tanks, and a vast community for networking purposes.

How many years does it take for you to become a psychiatrist?

Is becoming a psychiatrist hard?