What Is a Psychiatrist?Educational Requirements, Examination Requirements, Board Certification |
Physician developed and monitored. Original source: www.mentalhealthchannel.net
|
|
Home » What Is a Psychiatrist? » Educational Requirements, Examination Requirements, Board Certification | 
 |
A psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of mental, addictive, and emotional disorders, such as the following:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Developmental disabilities
- Psychosis
- Substance abuse
- Sexual dysfunction
Psychiatrists are trained in the medical, psychological, and social components of mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders. They order diagnostic tests, prescribe medications, practice psychotherapy, and help patients and their families cope with stress and crises. Psychiatrists often consult with primary care physicians and psychotherapists, such as psychologists and social workers.
Educational requirements
A psychiatrist must have an M.D. or D.O. degree from an accredited school of medicine or osteopathy (or international equivalent) and must complete at least 4 years of accredited residency training, including a minimum of 3 years in psychiatry.
Examination requirements
Psychiatrists must pass a daylong written examination that covers the basic sciences, the clinical science of psychiatry, and psychiatric subspecialties. They must also pass an oral examination that assesses clinical skills through the observation of an actual patient history and examination.
Board certification
After completing educational and examination requirements, psychiatrists may seek certification from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN). The ABPN is a member of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). Board certified psychiatrists have achieved the highest level of education and training possible in the field of psychiatry.
Psychiatrists seeking board certification must have an unrestricted license to practice medicine in the United States, must maintain a high standard of personal and professional conduct, and must meet standards set by the ABPN. They also must pass both a written and oral exam administered by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.
Psychiatrists must be re-certified every 10 years.
Subspecialty board certification requires additional training. Board-certifiable subspecialties include child and adolescent psychiatry and geriatric psychiatry.
Additional areas of interest that psychiatrists may pursue include the following:
- Addiction psychiatry
- Clinical neurophysiology
- Forensic psychiatry
- Neurodevelopment delays
- Pain management
|
Are you interested in becoming a nurse? Take this test.
Advertising Disclaimer |
What Is a Psychiatrist? (continued...)
|
|
What Is a Psychiatrist? Resources
 | Join Our Forum
Do you have a question, want to share medical advice, or just need to discuss your situation with someone else having a similar experience? The healthchannels forum is a resource for everyone to share and discuss their health and medical needs with others. |
|
||
 | Living with...Share your story
Do you have a personal health story that you would like to share with others? As a source of free patient education, our goal is to provide our users with trustworthy information and support from others. That's why we've started our "Living with..." sections. | |||
|
Our "Living With..." support pages are a place to share experiences about living with a certain condition, disease, disorder, or illness and for loved ones of those dealing with health-related issues. Many people, especially when newly diagnosed, find comfort in knowing that others are having a similar experience. June 1st is National Cancer Survivors Day
| ||||
 | Stay Updated
Sign up for our newsletter and receive important updates on the medical conditions that are most important to you. | |||
To quickly access health information from your website's browser,
| ||||
