Psychiatrists work to help people understand and manage their mental health. They may work with individuals with behavioral, substance use, and mental health disorders.
Psychiatrists are physicians, meaning they must attend medical school.
Want to become a psychiatrist? Keep reading to learn more about the educational requirements needed to become a psychiatrist in the United States.
What Does a Psychiatrist Do?
Psychiatrists are medical doctors who focus on diagnosing, managing, and treating mental health conditions. Management and treatment often involve a mix of psychotherapy and medication.
The duties of a psychologist may include:
- Assessing patients
- Diagnosing patients
- Prescribing medication
- Use psychotherapy to manage and treat mental conditions
There are many types of psychotherapy and many types of medications for mental health. Psychiatrists need to be well-versed in both fields.
Psychiatrists may see a range of mental health disorders, or they may choose to specialize.
Depending on their specialty, psychiatrists may work in hospitals, mental health facilities, or private practice.
Educational Requirements for Psychiatrists
Because psychiatrists are medical doctors, they need to attend medical school. They'll also need to pass national tests and will need specialized psychiatric training.
We've outlined all the details of the requirements to become a psychiatrist below.
Bachelor's Degree
Before you can go to medical school, you'll need to earn a four-year bachelor's degree. However, there is no specific major required for medical school.
About half of all medical students choose an undergraduate major in the biological sciences, but students can get into medical school with all kinds of majors.
For those interested in becoming psychiatrists, an undergraduate degree in psychology or counseling may provide a good foundation for this career path.
While there is no specific major required, many medical schools have prerequisite courses that you'll need to complete, such as courses in biology, chemistry, and physics.
Regardless of what major you choose to become a psychiatrist, you'll need to make sure you take these courses and study for your Medical College Admission Test.
Medical College Admission Test
The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is a standardized test offered by the Association of American Medical Colleges. It's required for acceptance into medical school.
The MCAT is broken into four sections:
- Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems
- Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems
- Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior
- Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills
Students can score a total between 472-528. A good score for medical school is usually above 510. You can retake the test up to seven times if you don't get the score you want.
Medical School
Medical school typically takes four years to complete. While in undergraduate medical school, you'll get an education that covers a broad spectrum of medical specialties.
By your second year or so, you'll participate in clinical rotations. During this time, you'll spend several weeks learning on-site in specific departments.
Most medical schools have certain clinical rotations that all students are required to participate in, like internal medicine, OB/GYN, pediatrics, and surgery.
They may also allow students to choose a certain number of rotation sites. Psychiatry students can use this time to explore rotations in psychiatry.
You can find accredited medical schools through the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME).
United States Medical Licensing Examination
The United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) is a three-step test required for licensure in all states.
You can take the first two steps of the exam while in medical school.
The first step tests your knowledge of foundational medical science, and the second tests how well you apply that knowledge to clinical medicine.
You won't be able to take the third step of the USMLE until you've spent at least one year in postgraduate study.
Residency
After medical school, you'll begin residency. Medical residency is a period of time when you specifically study your field of medicine.
A psychiatry residency is usually four years long. You'll spend time both in the classroom and in clinical psychiatric settings.
In your first year, you're typically considered an intern. You'll spend your time doing entry-level psychiatry work and shadowing licensed psychiatrists.
You can find accredited post-graduate medical programs through the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).
After a year of residency, you can take the final step of the USMLE. This step focuses on how well you apply your clinical knowledge to patient management.
Licensure
Once you've completed at least a year of postgraduate medical training and passed the third step of the USMLE, you may be eligible for licensure.
Licensure requirements vary by state. Some only require you to have your medical degree, some postgraduate medical experience, and to have passed the USMLE.
Others may require additional steps like passing a background check. Look at your state's requirements to determine what you'll need to do to obtain your medical license.
Fellowship
Students who want to specialize in a subspecialty of psychiatry will need to complete a psychiatry fellowship.
Fellowship is a period of time when you are specifically studying and learning about a subspecialty. The ACGME currently recognizes nine psychiatry subspecialties:
- Addiction Medicine
- Addiction Psychiatry
- Brain Injury Medicine
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
- Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry
- Forensic Psychiatry
- Geriatric Psychiatry
- Hospice and Palliative Medicine
- Sleep Medicine
While you're working as a resident, you'll have your medical license and be employed by the medical center where you're performing your residency, meaning you'll earn a salary.
Fellowships can vary in length depending on your subspecialty, but most last one to two years.
Become a Psychiatrist
To become a psychiatrist, you'll need to complete medical school, residency, and possibly a fellowship. You'll also need to pass the USMLE to earn your license.
With the information above, you can start your path toward becoming a psychiatrist today!
