What Is a Psychiatrist? 10 Steps to Become One

Key takeaways

Psychiatrists are medical doctors who diagnose, treat, and prescribe medication for mental health disorders.

• One in five adults in the United States lives with a mental illness, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) [1].

• Psychiatrists can specialize in areas such as child and adolescent psychiatry, forensic psychiatry, or addiction psychiatry.

• You can prepare for a psychiatry career by earning a bachelor's degree in psychology, biochemistry, or biology to build a strong foundation in science and math.

Learn more about psychiatrists, what they do, how much they earn, and what you need to do to become one. If you're ready to start preparing for a psychiatry career path, enroll in the Medical Terminology Specialization from Rice University. You'll have the opportunity to learn terms used in the medical field and develop a basic understanding of anatomy. This beginner-friendly program can be completed in as little as one month.

What is a psychiatrist?

Psychiatrists are medical doctors (MD or DO) who evaluate, diagnose, and treat mental health disorders, such as addictive behaviors, personality disorders, and depression. According to the NAMI, about one in five adults in the United States lives with a mental illness [1].

Unlike psychologists, psychiatrists are qualified to prescribe medication to their patients and focus primarily on the biological and neurological basis for mental health disorders. Nonetheless, psychiatrists can also provide talk therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

What does a psychiatrist do?

Psychiatrists must perform a range of duties during their day-to-day work. Specific responsibilities might include:

• Conducting interviews, psychological tests, and other assessments with patients

• Reviewing patient medical histories

• Documenting and analyzing assessment findings

• Prescribing suitable medications and establishing treatment plans

• Monitoring the progression of patients' health following treatment

• Adjusting treatment plans as necessary

Because of the nature of their work, psychiatrists may also have to play a role in crisis intervention. Depending on the setting, psychiatrists often work alongside psychologists, psychiatric technicians, aides, and social workers. 

Can an online psychiatrist prescribe medication?

Yes. Online psychiatrists are licensed medical providers who can evaluate your condition and prescribe medication during a virtual session. State laws vary, but they typically require you to have a patient-provider relationship established, either through in-person or telehealth visits. Federal law allows psychiatrists to prescribe schedule II-V controlled substances without a face-to-face evaluation through December 31, 2026 [3].

Psychiatrist salary

As highly trained medical professionals with an in-demand skillset, psychiatrists make a much higher salary than is the average in the United States. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), psychiatrists made a median annual salary of $269,120 as of May 2024 [2].

How to become a psychiatrist: 10 steps to success

Psychiatrists are highly trained medical professionals who must undergo many years of education and training. Here's what you'll have to do to join the profession:

1. Earn your bachelor's degree. 

Graduating from college with a bachelor's degree is the first step toward a career as a psychiatrist. You don't need to major in a specific subject, but holding a degree in psychology, biochemistry, or biology can help build a strong foundation. No matter which major you choose, aim to develop a firm understanding of science and math, which are topics you’ll study in depth in med school.

Learn more: What Is a Bachelor's Degree?

2. Gain experience in college.

While in college, you can start to build your resume by volunteering at local mental health service providers or joining psychology-related organizations. Consider any options that give you a chance to work near mental health professionals or build on your knowledge of biology and psychology. 

3. Develop your workplace skills.

Aside from a strong knowledge of medicine, psychiatrists need a set of personal skills that include analytical thinking, emotional resilience, and empathy. The ability to listen effectively and interpret body language is also useful. You can work on building these skills in your daily interactions with others.

4. Prepare for the MCAT. 

The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is a standardized test used as an admissions requirement when you apply for a medical degree program. Plan to spend at least 200 hours studying for the exam. Break this down into 10 to 15 hours per week for four to six months. Set yourself up for success by creating a manageable schedule and sticking to it.

The MCAT will assess your knowledge of multiple subjects, including chemistry, biology, and psychology. There's a fee for taking the exam, and you can retake it three times within one year. 

5. Apply to medical school. 

As you begin applying to medical schools, you'll need to decide whether you want to pursue a Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree. Either route allows you to become a physician within a similar timeframe and after completing similar training. However, DOs are trained in a more holistic approach.

Medical school typically takes about four years of full-time study. The initial two years focus on classroom-based learning and labs. Later years will involve more hands-on clinical experience.

6. Complete a four-year residency. 

Following medical school, you'll need to spend another four years in a residency program. During this time, you'll treat people with mental health conditions in a real-world clinical setting under the supervision of a more experienced psychiatrist. 

7. Consider a specialty. 

Some psychiatrists choose to specialize in a specific area, such as child and adolescent psychiatry, forensic psychiatry, addiction psychiatry, or brain injury medicine. This usually involves training for a year under a licensed physician during a clinical fellowship. 

8. Get your medical license. 

The application process for a medical license may differ from state to state, but you'll need a license to work as a psychiatrist in the United States. You'll need to pass either the US Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) or the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX-USA) to earn your license.

9. Pursue board certification. 

Pursuing board certification from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) is an optional step that can help you find further success in your profession. You'll need to meet the organization's specific requirements and take an exam. Every 10 years, you can take the Continuing Certification exam to maintain your credentials.

10. Embrace lifelong learning.

Most states will require you to complete a certain number of continuing education credits each year to maintain your license. This also gives you the opportunity to stay up to date on the latest studies in psychiatry so you can give the best possible care to your patients.

Psychiatrist vs. psychologist: What's the difference?

While both are mental health professionals, the roles of psychiatrists and psychologists differ in a few key ways. Psychiatrists tend to work with more severe cases and can prescribe medication to patients.

Psychologists, on the other hand, rely primarily on psychotherapy (or talk therapy) and similar practices to help clients. However, they rarely prescribe medication. The level of required education and expected salary also differ. Psychiatry jobs tend to be more lucrative because psychiatrists are required to be medical doctors. 

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• Discover career paths: Career Resource pages

• Watch on YouTube: Breaking the Stigma: How to Talk About Mental Health in the Workplace

• Read our Career Chat issue: AI in Health Care: Uses, Benefits, and Concerns

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