Psychiatrist
Psychiatrists are doctors who diagnose and treat patients with mental health problems.
What you'll do
Day-to-day tasks
In this role you could:
- assess your patient's condition by asking them about their thoughts
- recommend treatments like counselling or cognitive behavioural therapy
- get information from other sources like GPs, social workers or relatives
- carry out blood tests or scans to rule out other health conditions
- carry out psychiatric tests and prescribe medication
Working environment
You could work in an NHS or private hospital, in the community, in a prison or at a client's home.
Your working environment may be emotionally demanding.
Career path and progression
With experience you could:
- become a senior consultant, once you're on the General Medical Council Specialist Register
- lead a team or manage a unit or department
- move into teaching trainee doctors and other healthcare professionals
What it takes
Skills and knowledge
You'll need:
- counselling skills including active listening and a non-judgemental approach
- knowledge of psychology
- knowledge of medicine and dentistry
- the ability to understand people’s reactions
- excellent verbal communication skills
- active listening skills
- knowledge of English language
- sensitivity and understanding
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
Restrictions and Requirements
You'll need to:
How to become
You can get into this job through a university course or an apprenticeship.
To become a psychiatrist you'll need to complete:
- a degree in medicine recognised by the General Medical Council
- a 2-year foundation programme of general training
- 3 years core training in psychiatry
- specialist training which can take up to 3 years
A medical degree normally takes 5 years to complete. Some courses have the option to include an extra year if you want to study a subject further. This is called an intercalated year.
You might be able to study a foundation year before starting a medical degree. This will depend on your circumstances or if you have not studied enough sciences. Check with the admissions department where you want to study.
If you already have a degree, you could take a 4-year graduate entry route into medicine. There’s lots of competition and entry requirements vary, so check with the admissions department where you want to study.
Entry tests
When you apply for a course in medicine, you may be asked to take the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT).
It tests the skills you'll need on the course, like critical thinking, problem solving, data analysis, communication and scientific knowledge.
Work experience
Medical schools will also expect you to have some relevant paid or voluntary work experience. The British Medical Association provides information on how to find a placement.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science
- 3 A levels, or equivalent, including biology and chemistry
- a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study
More Information
You might be able to do a doctor degree apprenticeship which will take around 5 years to complete.
The apprenticeship is recognised by the General Medical Council.
You could then progress to the foundation course of general training before completing the specialist training.
Entry requirements
Employers will set their own entry requirements.
More Information
You can gain valuable caring skills from volunteering in education, health, charity or social care settings. You could:
- get some work experience in the NHS
- find volunteering opportunities through The National Council for Voluntary Organisations and Do IT
Registration
- you'll need to register with the General Medical Council
Career tips
The General Medical Council has a guide on what it means to be a good doctor. You might find this useful when preparing for medical school interviews.
You can use online resources to find out more about the types of interviews you can expect to get into for medical school.
Professional and industry bodies
You could join the British Medical Association for professional development and training opportunities.
Further information
You can find out more about becoming a psychiatrist from the Royal College of Psychiatrists and Health Careers.
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External links
This page contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.