How To Become a Psychiatrist in 5 Steps

Psychiatrists use a combination of therapy techniques and prescription medications to help patients manage their mental health.

Those who want to become a psychiatrist will need to earn a medical degree and to obtain a medical license.

Keep reading to learn more about psychiatrists and discover the five steps you'll need to take to become one.

What Is a Psychiatrist?

A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who specializes in mental health. They may treat a variety of conditions like behavioral disorders, depression, and substance abuse disorders.

Psychiatrists typically use a combination of therapy techniques and medications to help their patients. The job duties of a psychiatrist often include:

• assessing their patients' mental health
• conducting therapy sessions with patients
• creating mental health treatment plans for patients
• diagnosing patients with mental health conditions, behavioral disorders, and personality disorders
• maintaining patient records
• monitoring patient progress and adjusting the treatment plan as needed
• prescribing medications like antidepressants
• testing patients for behavioral disorders and personality disorders

Psychiatrists may work as general psychiatrists who see a variety of patients, or they may specialize. Examples of psychiatry specializations include:

• addiction psychiatry
• child and adolescent psychiatry
• forensic psychiatry
• geriatric psychiatry

Psychiatrists may work in hospitals, clinics, or private practice. They may also work in settings like addiction rehabilitation centers, child development centers, and jails and prisons.

Psychiatrists Versus Psychologists

Both psychiatrists and psychologists work with patients to improve mental health. The key differences lie in the treatment they provide and the education required to practice.

Psychiatrists are trained in medicine, so they are able to prescribe medication as well as offer therapy. Psychologists focus specifically on using therapy techniques to help patients.

Both roles require doctorate degrees. Psychiatrists earn Doctor of Medicine (MD) degrees, while psychologists earn Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) degrees or Doctor of Philosophy degrees (Ph.D.) in psychology.

To become a psychiatrist, you'll need to attend medical school, a psychiatry residency, and obtain a medical license from your state.

We've broken down all the steps to becoming a psychiatrist below.

Step 1: Earn a Bachelor's Degree and Complete Medical School Prerequisites

Before you can go to medical school, you'll need to fulfill the medical school prerequisites, starting with a bachelor's degree.

A bachelor's degree is a four-year undergraduate degree. There is no specific major required for medical school, but most students major in the biological sciences.

If you're interested in a psychiatry career, you may want to consider a major in a field like psychology or social sciences.

Most medical schools require students to have taken core classes in fields like biology, chemistry, and physics, so regardless of your major, be sure you take these key courses.

Almost all medical schools require applicants to submit their scores from the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) issued by the Association of American Medical Colleges.

This is a four-part test that assesses your readiness for medical school. You can earn a total score between 472 to 528. A good MCAT score is usually 511 or above.

If you aren't happy with your MCAT score, you can retake the test. The MCAT can be taken a total of seven times by one individual.

Step 2: Attend and Graduate from Medical School

After completing your bachelor's program, taking the MCAT, applying to schools, and attending interviews, you've finally made it to medical school. Now what?

Most medical schools are four-year programs. Typically, the first year is spent almost exclusively in didactic learning, which is traditional classroom learning with lectures and labs.

In the second year, you'll likely start doing clinical rotations. During clinical rotations, you'll spend a few weeks in various hospitals and clinical departments.

There are usually clinical rotations that all students have to complete, which may include rotations in departments like emergency medicine, OB/GYN, pediatrics, and psychology.

Many schools also let students choose some of their rotations, allowing them to visit the departments they're most interested in.

Most medical schools will list their available rotations on their website. You can find a list of accredited medical schools through the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME).

While in medical school, you'll complete the first two steps of the United States Medical Licensing Examination. This is a three-step test required to obtain your medical license.

You can take the first two steps once you begin medical school, but can't take the final step until you've completed at least one year of postgraduate experience.

Step 3: Complete Your Postgraduate Psychiatry Experience

A medical residency is a period of time after you've earned your doctorate when you train in a specific area of medicine, like psychiatry.

Most psychiatry residencies are four years long. Your first year, called the internship year, you'll have a mix of didactic learning and fieldwork.

Typically, residents start out doing entry-level tasks under the supervision of a licensed doctor. As you progress through the program, you'll be given more difficult tasks under reduced supervision.

During your residency you'll complete the final step of your USMLE and obtain your medical license.

Psychiatrists who want to specialize may then go on to a fellowship in psychiatry, where they study their particular specialty.

As a psychiatry fellow, you are acting as a licensed medical doctor and will be earning a small salary through your place of employment.

Step 4: Obtain a Medical License

All states require psychiatrists to hold a medical license in order to practice. However, specific requirements can vary between states.

Generally speaking, to obtain a medical license, you'll need:

• a medical degree from an accredited medical school
• to have completed a certain amount of postgraduate experience
• to pass all three steps of the USMLE
• to pass a background check

You can find out exactly what your state requires by checking your state's medical board. You may also be required to complete continuing education hours after you earn your license.

Step 5: Pursue Board Certification

While board certification isn't a requirement to work as a psychiatrist, some employers may require their psychiatrists to be board certified.

Being board-certified can also help you attract patients to your practice, help you negotiate your salary, and even help you earn a promotion.

The primary body for psychiatry certification in the United States is the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN).

To earn certification through the ABPN, you'll need to have an unrestricted medical license in the United States or Canada, to have completed the board's specialized training requirements, and to pass the certification exam.

The ABPN offers a general psychiatry certification as well as subspecialty certifications in a variety of psychiatry subspecialties.

Become a Psychiatrist

To become a psychiatrist, you'll need to complete medical school and a psychiatry residency as well as obtain a medical license from your state. You may also want to consider becoming board-certified to help you further your career.

Check out the step-by-step guide above and start your journey to becoming a licensed psychiatrist.