Psychiatrist

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Work Tasks

• Diagnose, treat, and prevent mental illnesses and emotional problems
• Get medical histories and order diagnostic tests
• Treat patients using psychotherapy, medications, behavioral therapy, or hospitalization
• Some may do research or teach in colleges
• Work for general and psychiatric hospitals, hospital outpatient departments, university medical centers, research organizations, community mental health centers, colleges, universities, medical schools, courts, prisons, the military, the government, and in private practice
• Work with patient records, treatment plans, medications, tests, and lab and diagnostic equipment

Salary, Size & Growth

• $182,500 average per year ($87.75 per hour)
• A small occupation (22,700 workers in 2010)
• Expected to grow rapidly (2.2% per year)

Education/Training

• Minimum for Entry: A 4-year degree and completion of medical school and 4 years of general psychiatric residency
• Skills/Courses: College courses for child and adolescent training is an additional 2 years. Other subspecialty fellowships such as geriatrics, addiction, or forensic psychiatry require an additional 1 year of training.
• Certification/Licensing: All states require psychiatrists to be licensed.