How To Become A Psychiatrist

Step 1: Take Pre-Med and Science Classes in High School

Students who want to become a Psychiatrist should take pre-med and science classes in high school. They can also take psychology classes. Important science classes include Biology and Chemistry, as well as other sciences such as Anatomy. They can get a solid foundation before they go to college.

Step 2: Earn a Bachelor’s Degree

When you enter college, you will want to choose your major. You can choose any science major, and you may even consider a double major of Psychology and any science. If your college has a pre-med program, you will benefit from being a part of it. You want to build a great transcript for your applications to medical schools after college.

Psychiatrists need to take the same courses in medical school as students pursuing other careers in medicine. In college, they should take Chemistry, Biology, Anatomy, Math, and other courses that will help them prepare. If the school offers a pre-med program, this can be very beneficial as well.

Step 3: Earn a Doctor of Medicine Degree

Psychiatrists must earn a Doctor of Medicine Degree, just as any doctor does. They spend four years in medical school. The first two years are devoted to coursework in different classes, such as Biochemistry, Physiology, and Anatomy. Psychiatry students will also take Neuroscience, Psychiatry, and Behavioral Science in medical school.

In the last two years of medical school, students rotate through various medical specialties. They work under the supervision of doctors during this time. In the Psychiatry rotation, the students will have a chance to work with patients who have mental health problems.

Step 4: Complete a Residency Program

After Medical School, aspiring Psychiatrists will have to complete a Residency in Psychiatry. This can last more than four years. They spend the first year in a hospital taking care of patients with many different illnesses, and then the student spends three or more years learning how to diagnose and treat different medical illnesses. They also develop skills in psychotherapy and learn about psychiatric medications and other possibilities for treatment.

Step 5: Obtain a License to Practice Psychiatry

After the residency is complete, they will pass an exam to obtain a license to practice Psychiatry. It is important to learn the requirements for the state so that you can prepare to take the exam. It is a good idea to complete your residency in the state where you plan to be licensed because you will be better prepared for the exam. Once you pass this exam, you can obtain your license to practice Psychiatry.

Step 6: Get Certified

Once you obtain your license, you need to get certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. It is not mandatory that you earn this certification, but you might face limited employment opportunities without it. 

You can also earn certification in subspecialties within Psychiatry. There are many different subspecialties, including Addiction Psychiatry, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Forensic Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and more. If you want to work in a certain field, you should choose your field and obtain this certification. For example, if you want to work in a rehabilitation center, you will want to be certified in the subspecialty. You might want to work with children, in which case you will want to be certified.

Step 7: Start Working

Once you have your certification, you are ready to start practicing. You can work in a number of different settings, including private practice, a clinic, a general hospital, or a psychiatric hospital. You can also work at a school, a college, or a university. There are many other opportunities as well, including jobs in courts, prisons, nursing homes, military settings, rehabilitation programs, hospice programs, and more. If you have chosen a specialty, this will help you narrow down what you choose to do. 

Many Psychiatrists have a private practice, and many work in several different settings. You can keep a private practice and work at a hospital, a clinic, or a school a few days a week. There are many different ways to structure your career when you choose to become a Psychiatrist.

Step 8: Maintain Your Certification

When you get certified, your certification is good for 10 years. However, you need to maintain the certification by taking continuing education classes. You are required to take 30 hours of continuing education classes each year to maintain your certification. This is called the Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program, and it is designed to promote a lifelong commitment to learning and providing the highest level of treatment for your patients. 

In addition to taking 30 hours of courses, this program requires you to engage in self-assessment to identify weaknesses and make sure that you take the appropriate courses to learn what you need to know to treat your patients effectively. This program is designed to ensure that you stay on top of the latest treatments and developments in your field. The certification allows your patients to have confidence that you are qualified to treat them using the most up-to-date methods.