What is a psychiatrist?
When you’re struggling with mental health challenges, taking the first step and reaching out to a mental health professional can be intimidating! With so many different types of mental health providers out there, it can be difficult to figure out which one is the best fit for your needs. Dr. Holly Betterly MD, Board-Certified Psychiatrist in Weston, FL, provides an overview of the role that psychiatrists play in your mental health journey.
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How do you become a psychiatrist?
How do I know if my psychiatrist is board certified by the ABPN?
What is a psychiatrist?
Psychiatrists are medical doctors who have completed years of extensive, specialized training in the treatment of psychiatric disorders. As physicians, they are licensed to prescribe medications, including those used in the treatment of common mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, and OCD. They also have training in providing therapy, however, not all psychiatrists ultimately choose to incorporate therapy into their practice.
Tip: If you are in need of prescription medications for your mental health, it’s important that you look for a psychiatrist, not a psychologist or a therapist. In most states, psychologists and therapists cannot prescribe medications.
Psychiatrists can work in many different settings. Some psychiatrists provide care to patients on an outpatient basis, meaning that they work with patients outside of the hospital in settings like medical offices or clinics. Since the pandemic, many psychiatrists provide care virtually via telehealth, providing patients with a convenient option to access care from their home. Other psychiatrists work in hospitals, helping patients who require more intensive care. They may work in Crisis Response Centers, or psychiatry emergency rooms, providing care to patients who need immediate attention for the treatment of psychiatric emergencies. Psychiatrists can work in correctional settings such as jails or prisons, providing care to patients in custody. They may also work in rehab centers or detox programs, providing care to patients with substance use disorders. The list goes on!
How do you become a psychiatrist?
Psychiatrists complete many years of specialized training to be able to provide the highest quality of mental health care to their patients.
After high school, the first step in the pathway to becoming a psychiatrist is to obtain an undergraduate degree at a college or university. This step generally takes around four years to complete, and requires the completion of “pre-medical” coursework in scientific subjects like biology, chemistry, and physics. This coursework serves as the foundation upon which further training is built. During college, students must take the Medical College Admissions Test, or MCAT, which is the entrance examination required for admission to medical schools. The MCAT examination is over 7 hours long.
Next in the pathway is medical school, which consists of a rigorous four years of training at the doctoral level. Medical school involves extensive coursework on topics like human anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology (the study of diseases), and pharmacology (medications). In addition to traditional classroom-based learning, medical students complete clinical rotations in hospitals and clinics, gaining experience in a range of medical specialties such as hospital medicine, family medicine, surgery, OBGYN, and neurology. When students graduate from medical school, they are granted an MD (Medical Doctor) or DO (Doctor of Osteopathy) degree, at which point they officially become a medical doctor.
After graduation from medical school, newly minted doctors go on to complete a residency training program in their medical specialty of choice. During residency training, doctors are known as “resident physicians.” Those who wish to become a psychiatrist must complete a residency program in psychiatry, which is generally a four year training program. Resident physicians in psychiatry complete clinical rotations in a range of different healthcare settings, such as clinics, psychiatric hospitals, general medical hospitals, and psychiatric emergency rooms, to name just a few. They gain experience in working with patients with the full spectrum of psychiatric conditions, developing extensive expertise in the prescription and management of mental health medications. They may work up to 80 hours per week providing care to patients, including lengthy “on-call” shifts during which they provide care to patients for 24 hours in a row. After graduation from psychiatry residency are prepared to practice independently as psychiatrists- but we haven’t reached the end of the pathway just yet!
Throughout medical school and residency training, doctors must pass a series of three medical licensing examinations, known collectively as the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE), in order to become eligible for an unrestricted medical license, which allows them to practice medicine. The three USMLE examinations add up to 33 hours of examination time.
To become a board certified psychiatrist, one must sit for a certification examination administered by the The American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN). This certification examination is over 8 hours long. ABPN board-certification in psychiatry signifies that the psychiatrist has completed years of rigorous, specialized training, and has passed a specialized examination. Board-Certification in Psychiatry by the ABPN is an indicator of expertise and commitment to the field of psychiatry.
After residency training, some psychiatrists choose to pursue further training in a sub-specialty of psychiatry through completion of a fellowship program. Fellowships are generally one to two years in length, and provide specialized training in working with a specific group of people. Some fellowships that are available for psychiatrists to pursue include Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Addiction Psychiatry, Geriatric Psychiatry, Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry, and Forensic Psychiatry. Upon completion of the fellowship, psychiatrists are eligible to sit for another board-certification examination administered by the ABPN in order to become board-certified in their specialty area. Some psychiatrists choose to complete multiple fellowship programs in order to gain expertise in multiple areas.
When all is said and done, it takes around 12 to 14 years after graduation from high school to become a psychiatrist. For a great visual representation of the pathway, check out this infographic from the ABPN.
How do I find a psychiatrist?
The American Psychiatric Association (APA) is the national professional organization for psychiatrists. The APA maintains a free online search tool to help people locate a psychiatrist in their area. This tool provides the option to filter your search to display psychiatrists who accept insurance, or offer care via telehealth. You can access this free search tool by clicking here.
Dr. Holly Betterly, MD is a board-certified psychiatrist in Weston, FL dedicated to helping you overcome depression, anxiety, and OCD. She offers appointments at her office in Weston, FL, conveniently located in Weston Town Center, as well as via telehealth for patients across Florida. Request an appointment today to start your journey to better mental health.
How do I know if my psychiatrist is board certified by the ABPN?
Board Certification in Psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) signifies that a psychiatrist has passed a certification examination and successfully completed years of extensive, rigorous training. It is an indicator of expertise and commitment to the field of psychiatry.
When it comes to your mental health, you deserve expert care. It’s important to know whether your psychiatrist is board certified in psychiatry by the ABPN. The ABPN provides a free online tool to verify your psychiatrist’s board certification status, and to locate a board certified psychiatrist in your area. This tool can be accessed by clicking here.
