To become a psychiatrist refers to a medical doctor who diagnoses, treats, and prevents mental health disorders. This involves understanding the biological, psychological, and social factors that contribute to mental health issues. Psychiatrists are responsible for providing therapy and prescribing medication. They also often take on the most complex mental health cases. If you want to help people manage their mental health, are interested in medicine, and are willing to dedicate many years to academic and practical training, a career as a psychiatrist may be for you. This guide describes the steps to becoming a psychiatrist in the UK, the qualifications you need, and the key skills required.

What Does a Psychiatrist Do?

Psychiatrists work with individuals suffering from a range of mental health problems, from mild anxiety or depression to psychosis or personality disorders. As part of a mental health team, psychiatrists assess, diagnose, and treat these problems using a combination of medicine, therapy, and lifestyle changes. Typical duties include:

• Mental Health Disorder Diagnosis: Psychiatrists make diagnoses by conducting assessments, reviewing the medical histories of patients, and consulting with diagnostic tools to determine the type of mental health disorder a patient may have.
• Prescribing Medications: Psychiatrists, as medical doctors, are allowed to prescribe medications such as antidepressants, antipsychotics, and mood stabilizers for mental health conditions.
• Therapeutic Intervention: Psychiatrists may provide therapy in the form of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), psychoanalysis, or other therapeutic forms.
• Working in teams: Psychiatrists are often part of multidisciplinary teams that work together to provide comprehensive patient care alongside psychologists, social workers, nurses, and other health professionals.
• Developing Treatment Plans: The psychiatrist writes an individualized treatment plan based on the patient’s specific condition, which may include medication, psychotherapy, and lifestyle interventions.
• Caring in Crisis: In acute situations, such as psychotic breakdowns or suicide attempts, psychiatrists act to bring the patient to safety.

Average Psychiatrist Salary in the UK

The salary of a psychiatrist in the UK depends on the doctor’s experience and qualifications, as well as the location and the type of healthcare setting (National Health Service or private practice). A junior psychiatrist (in foundation training) usually pays £29,000-£34,000.

Upon qualification, a consultant psychiatrist can earn anything from £84,000 to £114,000 a year, depending on seniority and specialism. Consultants in private practice with a high profile might earn more, as would those with a niche speciality in brain injury or psychotherapy. Salaries are also likely higher in London and other major cities due to the premium paid for mental health professionals.

Key Skills for a Successful Psychiatrist

Being a good psychiatrist requires medical skills, communication skills, and emotional intelligence. Some of the skills you would need to be successful are:

• Empathy and Compassion: Psychiatrists tend to vulnerable people who are often in pain. All patients should be treated with empathy and compassion.
• Essential communication skills: You need to build rapport with your patients, discuss sensitive issues and explain treatment plans to them, and communicate with families, caregivers, and members of the medical team.
• Critical Thinking and Problem Solving: Mental health conditions can be challenging to diagnose. Psychiatrists need to be able to take a step back, interpret their symptoms, think about potential causes, and develop an appropriate course of action for each patient.
• Emotional Resilience: Working with highly distressing symptoms such as severe depression, psychosis, or suicidal ideation can be emotionally draining. A psychiatrist should be emotionally resilient and remain professionally abreast in high-pressure situations.
• Patience: There may not be immediate results from mental health treatment, and patients may not always get better. Patience and the ability to stick with patients over the long term are essential qualities for a psychiatrist.
• Analytical and diagnostic skills: Understanding medical histories and evaluating symptoms to make diagnoses are essential aspects of a psychiatrist’s job. Analytical skills are required to assess all the factors contributing to a patient’s mental state.
• Working with others: psychiatrists often work as part of a medical team. Collaboration with psychologists, social workers, nurses, and other medical professionals is important.

Steps to Become a Psychiatrist in the UK

Here’s how you can become a psychiatrist in the UK:

• Earn a Medical Degree: The first step to becoming a psychiatrist is to obtain a medical degree (MBBS or MBChB). This typically takes five to six years of university study, where you will learn about human anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, and pharmacology, as well as undertake clinical placements. Admission to medical school is highly competitive, so it’s important to have excellent A-levels (or equivalent qualifications) in subjects such as biology, chemistry, and mathematics. Some medical schools also require students to take entrance exams such as the UKCAT or BMAT.
• Complete Foundation Training: After graduating from medical school, you must complete foundation training, which typically lasts two years. During this time, you will rotate through various medical specialties, including psychiatry, and gain hands-on experience in different healthcare settings. Foundation training allows you to apply your medical knowledge in clinical environments, develop essential skills, and decide which medical specialty you wish to pursue.
• Enter Specialty Training in Psychiatry: Once you’ve completed foundation training, you can apply for Core Psychiatry Training (CT1-CT3), which lasts three years. This program focuses specifically on mental health, and you will work in a variety of psychiatric settings, such as general adult psychiatry, child and adolescent psychiatry, and forensic psychiatry. During this training, you’ll learn how to assess, diagnose, and treat a wide range of mental health conditions, while working under the supervision of experienced psychiatrists.
• Pursue Higher Specialty Training: After completing core training, you’ll need to undertake higher specialty training (ST4-ST6) in your chosen psychiatric subspecialty. This stage typically lasts three years and allows you to specialize in areas such as:
  • General Adult Psychiatry
  • Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
  • Old Age Psychiatry
  • Forensic Psychiatry
  • Learning Disability Psychiatry
  • Liaison Psychiatry

During this phase, you’ll develop advanced skills in your area of specialization and take on more responsibility in managing patients with complex mental health issues.

• Earn Your Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT): Once you’ve completed your higher specialty training, you will receive your Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT), which qualifies you to work as a consultant psychiatrist in the UK. At this stage, you can apply for consultant positions within the NHS or begin working in private practice. You may also choose to pursue further specialization or research opportunities, depending on your career goals.
• Consider Additional Qualifications and Continuing Professional Development (CPD): Psychiatry is a constantly evolving field, so continuing professional development is essential. Throughout your career, you’ll need to stay up-to-date with the latest research, treatments, and best practices by attending conferences, taking courses, and participating in CPD programs. You may also consider earning additional qualifications, such as a Master’s in Psychiatry or becoming a Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (FRCPsych), to enhance your expertise and career prospects.

Tips for Aspiring Psychiatrists

• Get Experience with Mental Health as Early as Possible: Find jobs or internships working in mental health settings as a medical student. This can help you determine whether psychiatry is a good fit for you.
• Develop empathy and emotional resilience: Working with patients with severe mental illnesses can be a challenge. Earning a medical degree won’t make you immune to stress, so developing your emotional intelligence and learning how to manage stress will be essential to succeed as a psychiatrist.
• Stay up to date with developments in psychiatry: Psychiatry is a fast-moving field. Keep up with the latest developments by reading medical journals, attending conferences, and participating in professional networks.

Get Qualified as a Psychiatrist

Legal Aspects of Mental Health Care Training, Diploma in Mental Health Law Practice, Mental Health First Aid & Wellbeing Online Course, Online Mental Health Course

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Should You Become a Psychiatrist?

Becoming a psychiatrist allows you to make a profound impact on people’s lives by helping them manage mental health challenges and improve their quality of life. If you are passionate about medicine, psychology, and supporting others through difficult times, this career offers intellectual fulfillment and the opportunity to make a difference in society.

Is a Career as a Psychiatrist Right for You?

A career as a psychiatrist is ideal for individuals who are empathetic, patient, and committed to understanding complex mental health conditions. If you enjoy problem-solving, working with diverse patients, and have an interest in both the biological and psychological aspects of medicine, psychiatry could be a great fit for you.

What Are the Salary Prospects for Psychiatrists in the UK?

Psychiatrists in the UK typically start by earning between £29,000 and £34,000 during foundation training. After becoming fully qualified, consultant psychiatrists earn between £84,000 and £114,000 per year, depending on experience, specialization, and location. Psychiatrists working in private practice or with additional qualifications may earn more.

What Qualifications Are Needed to Become a Psychiatrist?

To become a psychiatrist, you must complete a medical degree, followed by foundation training, and then specialty training in psychiatry. After completing higher specialty training, you will receive your Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT), which qualifies you to practice as a consultant psychiatrist in the UK. Along the way, you may also pursue additional qualifications, such as a Master’s in Psychiatry or become a Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (FRCPsych), to enhance your expertise and career prospects.

Do You Need Work Experience to Start a Career as a Psychiatrist?

Yes, experience is essential. Throughout your training, you will gain hands-on experience in various clinical settings, including during foundation training and your core and higher specialty psychiatry training. Experience working with mental health patients is particularly important for developing the diagnostic, therapeutic, and interpersonal skills necessary for the role. Additionally, gaining experience through internships or voluntary work in mental health settings can be helpful before entering medical school or during your studies.

What Is the Career Outlook for Psychiatrists?

The demand for psychiatrists in the UK is high, as mental health services are increasingly recognized as essential. Psychiatrists are needed across a variety of settings, including the NHS, private practices, hospitals, and community health services. Specializing in areas such as child and adolescent psychiatry, forensic psychiatry, or old age psychiatry can also improve job prospects and career advancement opportunities. The career outlook is positive, with opportunities for growth and advancement, especially as mental health awareness and the need for mental health services continue to rise.

What Are the Career Progression Options for Psychiatrists?

As a psychiatrist, you can progress into more senior roles, such as Consultant Psychiatrist, or move into leadership or administrative positions within healthcare organizations, such as Clinical Director or Head of Mental Health Services. Additionally, you may choose to specialize further, become involved in psychiatric research, or pursue teaching positions in medical schools. Psychiatrists also have the option to work in private practice or take on advisory roles with mental health organizations, government bodies, or research institutes.

What Are the Exit Options and Opportunities Beyond Psychiatry?

The skills and expertise gained as a psychiatrist can lead to various opportunities beyond traditional clinical practice. Some psychiatrists transition into research, focusing on developing new treatments or understanding mental health conditions more deeply. Others move into policy advisory roles, where they contribute to shaping mental health policies and practices at a national or international level. Psychiatry also offers opportunities for teaching and training, allowing professionals to educate future generations of mental health practitioners. Additionally, some psychiatrists choose to write books, work in media, or serve as mental health consultants for organizations and businesses.