Career Profile
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Psychiatrist - DO/MD
Academic Requirements
To become a psychiatrist, you first must hold a medical degree. Once you earn your MD or DO, you must enter a residency program in psychiatry.
Post-graduate education in psychiatry consists of 4 years of residency training, of which at least 3 are in psychiatry. During the first year, the resident spends at least four months in general medical care, including internal medicine, family medicine or pediatrics, and at least two months of neurology.
General psychiatry residents spend the next 3 years rotating through in-patient services, with full and partial hospitalization; ER and/or walk-in or crisis clinic coverage; and ambulatory services. These experiences are complemented by lectures, seminars and case supervision.
Introductory experiences in public health/community psychiatry, child psychiatry, geriatric psychiatry, substance abuse, forensic psychiatry and consultation/liaison programs usually are included in the final two years.
The last year offers numerous opportunities for electives. Some residents become the chief resident of an in-patient or ambulatory care unit. Others focus on special clinical and/or research interests.
Following residency, you must select a sub-specialty. Most sub-specialties require a one-year fellowship, although some (such as child/adolescent psychiatry) require two years. Sub-specialty fellowships culminate in a certificate of added qualification in one of the following fields:
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
- Geriatric Psychiatry
- Addiction Psychiatry
- Forensic Psychiatry
- Psychosomatic Medicine
In addition, there are a number of informal "subspecialties", for which advanced training is available. These include, among others:
- Consultation/Liaison Psychiatry
- Community Psychiatry
- Administrative Psychiatry
- Emergency Psychiatry
- Research Psychiatry
Physicians who have completed the specialty residency training requirements are eligible to take the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) certification examination. The ABPN also issues certificates on psychiatry subspecialties in addition to the general certification.
NOTE: Psychiatry has developed a number of combined programs with other medical specialties, including internal medicine, neurology, family medicine, and pediatrics. These programs allow for complete training in two specialties in a shorter time period than would be the case otherwise.