Psychiatrists diagnose and treat those with mental illnesses. Examples of mental illnesses are anxiety disorders, substance abuse, depression, ADHD, Alzheimer’s, Anger, Autism, Bipolar Disorder, Bullying, Children, Eating Disorders, Emotional Health, Ethics, Hate Crimes, Sexuality, Trauma, Workplace Issues, Lack of the proper chemicals in the brain, or Events that caused the death of a loved one, and many more but these are the most common issues that psychiatrists deal with. Psychiatrists usually work indoors in clinics, offices or hospitals.
Psychiatrists are often exposed to diseases or infections from patients and sometimes work just a few spaces away from their patients. Even violence from patients can play a role. Knowing how to handle these situations is a crucial part of the job. One must know how to write well due to the many memos and letters that will have to be written. Must be able to work emergency calls, weekends, nights and on a short notice. Psychiatrists must meet strict deadlines and be exact in their work.
Skills Needed
Ability to listen to others and ask questions; read and understand written information; notice when something is wrong or likely to go wrong; manage the time of self and others; identify patterns; be aware of others’ reactions and change behavior in relation to them; and know how to solve problems by bringing others together to discuss differences.
Licensing/Certification
Becoming licensed in your state can vary but usually it requires one to have a High School Diploma or GED and a Bachelor’s Degree. One must complete medical school and the internship. Pass state licensing exam and attend a three year residency program in psychiatry. One may also have to pass additional exams to become board certified and in most states one will have to contact their local medical board and follow the steps for becoming licensed in the state where one resides.
Following residency, you must select a sub-specialty. Most require a one – two year fellowship. Sub-special fellowships culminate in a certificate of added qualifications in one of the fields to become board certified: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Geriatric Psychiatry, Addiction Psychiatry, Forensic Psychiatry and Psychosomatic Medicine.
Schools
There are hundreds of schools where you can obtain a psychiatry degree but below are a few of them which also include the cost of tuition for two of them just to show that cost does range by city and state.
Georgia— Emory
- In-state tuition: $38,600
- Out-of-state tuition: $38,600
Washington D.C — Spokane Community College
- Admissions: Open (virtually all applicants are accepted)
- In-state tuition: $3,107.70
- Out-of-state tuition: $3,732.90
Of course there are schools in every state but choosing wisely and cost effectively is important.
Courses needed in school (these are classes that you want to make sure you take in addition to other required classes: Calculus (one year), English (one year), General Biology with lab (one year), General Chemistry with lab (one year), General Physics with lab (one year), Organic Chemistry with lab (one year). Course prerequisites vary from program to program. You may also be required to take biochemistry and courses in a second language.
Salary
Nationally, the average wage for psychiatrists is $154,050 per year. Wages vary by years of experience, area of the country, and hours worked. The doctor’s skill, personality, and professional reputation also affect wages. Self-employed psychiatrists generally earn more than those who are not self-employed. Salaried psychiatrists who work full time usually receive benefits. Typical benefits include sick leave, paid vacation, and health insurance. Some employers also provide a retirement plan. Psychiatrists who are self-employed must provide their own insurance and retirement plan.
