Psychiatry Career Guide: Education, Training, and Licensing in 2025

What Does a Psychiatrist Do?

Psychiatrists are medical doctors who diagnose, treat, and manage mental health conditions using a combination of medication, psychotherapy, and behavioral interventions. Their work spans from treating anxiety, depression, and trauma to managing complex psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and addiction. Unlike psychologists, psychiatrists can prescribe medication and often work in multidisciplinary teams within hospitals, outpatient clinics, and private practices.

Psychiatry vs. Psychology: What’s the Difference?

While both psychiatrists and psychologists work in the mental health space, their education and clinical roles differ:

• Psychiatrists hold an MD or DO degree and can prescribe medication. They focus on both the biological and psychological components of mental illness.
• Psychologists typically hold a PhD or PsyD and specialize in psychotherapy, testing, and research. They cannot prescribe medication (in most states).

Students interested in clinical psychiatry should plan to attend medical school, while those drawn more to counseling or research may opt for psychology.

How Long Does It Take to Become a Psychiatrist?

Becoming a psychiatrist requires significant time and dedication:

• Bachelor’s degree: 4 years
• Medical school (MD or DO): 4 years
• Residency in psychiatry: 4 years
• Optional fellowship (e.g., child psychiatry, forensic psychiatry): 1–2 years

In total, you’ll spend around 12 years in education and training post-high school before practicing independently.

Education and Training Path to Psychiatry

1. Undergraduate Degree

Start with a bachelor’s degree, ideally in a science-related field such as psychology, biology, or neuroscience. Most medical schools require prerequisite courses in:

• Biology and chemistry (general and organic)
• Physics
• Mathematics
• English and social sciences

GPA and MCAT scores are key for med school admissions. Gaining clinical experience through volunteering, shadowing, or pre-med internships—like those offered by Go Elective—will strengthen your application and expose you to diverse patient care settings.

2. Medical School (MD or DO)

Medical school typically takes four years. The first two years are classroom-based (anatomy, pathology, pharmacology), and the final two involve clinical rotations across core specialties, including psychiatry.

Prospective psychiatrists should focus on excelling in psychiatry rotations and seek out electives in mental health, addiction medicine, and neurology. Participating in psychiatry-related research or global mental health internships can also boost your residency applications.

3. Psychiatry Residency

After earning your MD or DO, you must complete a four-year residency in psychiatry. This is hands-on clinical training in inpatient units, outpatient clinics, emergency psychiatry, and subspecialties like child and adolescent psychiatry.

Some psychiatrists choose to further specialize through fellowships in fields like:

• Addiction Psychiatry
• Geriatric Psychiatry
• Forensic Psychiatry
• Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Licensing and Certification Requirements

Step 1: Medical Licensure

You must pass national licensing exams:

• USMLE (for MDs)
• COMLEX-USA (for DOs)

These are typically taken in multiple steps during medical school and residency.

Step 2: Board Certification (Optional but Recommended)

After residency, you can pursue board certification through the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN). While not mandatory, it signals clinical excellence and is often preferred by employers.

Board certification must be renewed every 10 years and requires ongoing continuing medical education (CME).

Where Do Psychiatrists Work?

Psychiatrists work in a wide range of healthcare and non-traditional settings, including:

• Private practices
• General and psychiatric hospitals
• Outpatient mental health clinics
• University health systems
• Correctional facilities and courts
• Substance abuse rehabilitation centers
• Military and veterans’ hospitals
• Home health services and hospice
• Telepsychiatry and virtual platforms

This flexibility allows psychiatrists to align their practice with personal interests, preferred schedules, and populations they want to serve.

How Much Do Psychiatrists Earn in 2025?

Psychiatry remains one of the most financially rewarding specialties in medicine. According to Salary.com, the average psychiatrist salary in the U.S. in 2025 is $268,774, with most professionals earning between $219,000 and $322,000 annually.

Salary by Industry

Top-Paying States

Job Outlook for Psychiatrists

Demand for psychiatrists is growing steadily:

• Job growth (2023–2033): 7.6% (much faster than average)
• Projected new jobs: 2,100+
• Total employment by 2033: ~27,400 psychiatrists in the U.S.

Several factors are fueling this demand:

• Rising awareness of mental health
• National shortages in rural and underserved areas
• Greater need for child, adolescent, and geriatric mental health providers
• Expansion of telehealth and integrated behavioral care

How Go Elective Can Help You Explore Psychiatry

Psychiatry is more than a career—it’s a calling that requires empathy, resilience, and a global mindset.

At Go Elective, our mental health internships in Kenya and Tanzania give you first-hand exposure to psychiatric care in real clinical settings. You’ll shadow professionals in:

• Outpatient mental health clinics
• Inpatient psychiatry wards
• Emergency care units
• Community outreach programs

This immersive experience can help you:

• Understand global mental health disparities
• Develop cultural competence
• Clarify whether psychiatry is right for you
• Gain experience for PA, medical school, or psychology programs

Final Thoughts: Is Psychiatry the Right Path for You?

Becoming a psychiatrist takes dedication, but it offers incredible rewards — from shaping patients’ lives to influencing mental health policy on a global scale. If you're passionate about psychology, medicine, and long-term patient care, psychiatry may be your perfect fit.

The journey starts with exposure. Take the first step by applying to Go-Elective’s healthcare internships, and build the knowledge, experience, and confidence to pursue a meaningful career in psychiatry.

Article Details

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Recent Articles , Pre-health, Medical Electives,

Author: Go-Elective Africa

Date Published: Jun 16, 2025