Becoming a Psychiatrist in the UK
Guidance on the Qualifcations Required to Be a Doctor in Psychiatry
Aug 17, 2008
Psychiatrists are doctors who specialise in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. There are a number of settings that call for psychiatrists, including hospitals, residential services, community teams and prisons.
The professional requirements for training as a psychiatrist in the UK differ from those in Canada and the United States. One difference is that UK universities offer undergraduate programmes, whereas programmes in the US and Canada are usually only available to postgraduates.
How to Become a Psychiatrist
- Secondary school education – this will vary depending on where in the UK the candidate resides. Their school careers advisors and/or teachers will be able to advise them of the subjects (usually sciences) and grades required to apply to medical degree programmes. These programmes vary in their criteria and so it’s important that the candidate contacts their prospective universities in advance.
- Undergraduate degree programme application – the candidate must make their applications through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). Universities are interested in the candidates’ grades, references and personal qualities.
- Completion of a medical degree – medical degrees usually take five years and offer the chance for students to get a feel for the different branches of medicine.
- Completion of a foundation training programme – this two year postgraduate programme takes place in a hospital environment. Graduates develop on the skills achieved in medical school. This leads to full registration with the General Medical Council (GMC).
- Completion of specialty training – this takes around six years, concentrating on the field of psychiatry. Doctors must pass an exam to become a Member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (the exam itself is referred to as the “MRCPsych”). The doctor also receives a Completion of Training Certificate (CTC), and may then apply for a position as a consultant psychiatrist.
- Continuing Professional Development (CDP) – psychiatrists continue their learning throughout their career in order to keep their knowledge and skills up to date.
Postgraduate Courses in Psychiatry
Some universities offer postgraduate courses in medicine. Candidates usually have a degree in a science subject, and are expected to pass the Graduate Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT). Postgraduate courses are usually a year shorter than undergraduate medical degrees.
Specialising in Psychiatry
Psychiatrists may wish to specialise further. The main specialties are as follows:
- Child and adolescent psychiatry
- Forensic psychiatry
- General adult psychiatry
- Learning disability
- Psychotherapy
- Old age psychiatry
For more information on becoming a psychiatrist, read the Royal College of Psychiatry’s leaflet, Careers info for school leavers, which includes preparatory questionnaires and details of the qualities they feel are necessary for studying and practising medicine. The GAMSAT website has information for potential postgraduates, including a list of universities that offer programmes.
Sources
Becoming a doctor: entry in 2009, British Medical Association website, accessed: 17th August 2008, no author specified.
Careers info for school leavers, The Royal College of Psychiatrists website, accessed: 17th August 2008, no author specified.
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