2 answers
Raine
Student
Middletown, New York
2
Questions
Asked
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How do I become a psychiatrist?
How long would it fully take to be a psychiatrist? I have been wanting to be one for years, but I dont know how long it will fully take with all the different thing you have to do.
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2 answers
Michel Davis
Medical student
171
Answers
Cranston, Rhode Island
Updated
Michel’s Answer
The short of it. It will take four years for a bachelors. Four years for medical school. Most likely another four years for residency. It is a long path, but you will learn a lot during that time.
Gregory Barclay, M.D., DLFAPA, FASAP
Psychiatrist
28
Answers
Wilmington, Delaware
Updated
Gregory’s Answer
Hi Raine!
It is great to hear that you want to become a psychiatrist someday! The world needs many more psychiatrists. There are so many people who need and benefit from the help and expertise that only a psychiatrist can offer them. I can say this because I have been a psychiatrist for 36 years and have loved every minute of it!
Since psychiatrists are medical doctors, you first need to attend and finish college, take the required pre-med courses, pass your entrance exam, and get admitted to medical school. Once you complete medical school, like other doctors, you need to complete a residency which, for psychiatrists is 4 years and for child psychiatrists it is 5 years. There are lots of residency programs all over the country so getting into one isn't a big problem. During residency, you will be supervised by psychiatrists in the work you do with patients every step of the way, gaining more skills and independence as you go along, just like a surgeon who starts their residency with no surgical skills but by the time they complete their residency, they are fully trained and skilled at multiple techniques. The same will happen with you as a psychiatrist. You will become fully skilled in evaluating patients, doing psychotherapy with them, working with children, teens, and families, seeing hospitalized medical and mental health patients, testifying in court, and collaborating with a team of professionals who will work with you as well as with other non-psychiatrist doctors.
I know this seems like a long and drawn out path. It is long, and to become a doctor takes a lot of sacrifice, effort and commitment. But then, so do a lot of other endeavors in life and basically any career. And, as remember that as a resident you will be paid something, so it is sort of like working and getting on the job training. Think back to when you started kindergarten. Sure, that was a long time ago but you see how fast the time passed and how much you've grown and learned about life since then? The years ahead will go just as quickly and you will have grown and learned so much more!
Being a psychiatrist is very special and you become someone very special and needed by people who require your skills. You become, to them, a sacred and trusted person with whom they can share their most difficult moments, memories, experiences, and thoughts with which you are able to use all your skills as a doctor and therapist to move them to a better and safer place in their lives.
Good luck and Congratulations on your choice!!
It is great to hear that you want to become a psychiatrist someday! The world needs many more psychiatrists. There are so many people who need and benefit from the help and expertise that only a psychiatrist can offer them. I can say this because I have been a psychiatrist for 36 years and have loved every minute of it!
Since psychiatrists are medical doctors, you first need to attend and finish college, take the required pre-med courses, pass your entrance exam, and get admitted to medical school. Once you complete medical school, like other doctors, you need to complete a residency which, for psychiatrists is 4 years and for child psychiatrists it is 5 years. There are lots of residency programs all over the country so getting into one isn't a big problem. During residency, you will be supervised by psychiatrists in the work you do with patients every step of the way, gaining more skills and independence as you go along, just like a surgeon who starts their residency with no surgical skills but by the time they complete their residency, they are fully trained and skilled at multiple techniques. The same will happen with you as a psychiatrist. You will become fully skilled in evaluating patients, doing psychotherapy with them, working with children, teens, and families, seeing hospitalized medical and mental health patients, testifying in court, and collaborating with a team of professionals who will work with you as well as with other non-psychiatrist doctors.
I know this seems like a long and drawn out path. It is long, and to become a doctor takes a lot of sacrifice, effort and commitment. But then, so do a lot of other endeavors in life and basically any career. And, as remember that as a resident you will be paid something, so it is sort of like working and getting on the job training. Think back to when you started kindergarten. Sure, that was a long time ago but you see how fast the time passed and how much you've grown and learned about life since then? The years ahead will go just as quickly and you will have grown and learned so much more!
Being a psychiatrist is very special and you become someone very special and needed by people who require your skills. You become, to them, a sacred and trusted person with whom they can share their most difficult moments, memories, experiences, and thoughts with which you are able to use all your skills as a doctor and therapist to move them to a better and safer place in their lives.
Good luck and Congratulations on your choice!!