Provide comprehensive neurological training. All psychiatrists must complete four years of medical school to become proficient in the basic workings of the human body, conducting physical exams and reading laboratory results. Neurology, the science dealing with the central nervous system, is important to psychiatry, as dementia and seizures can stem from nerve damage. Neurologists and psychiatrists use brain imaging technology to diagnose a patient's illness. The American Board Of Psychiatry And Neurology awards certification to students who complete these requirements.
Offer extensive residency experience. By the fourth year of medical school, students should designate a specialty area for their residency. Offering a four-year residency leaves time for the traditional breakdown of four months for basic and emergency medicine, two months of rotations and at least three months of inpatient psychiatry. The second year consists of inpatient rotations and the third and fourth years are spent in an outpatient environment. A good residency program offers a variety of specialties in the core (or first) rotations.
Encourage participation in fellowships. Psychiatrists wanting to add to their credentials by obtaining certification in geriatric or pediatric psychiatry should consider a psychiatric fellowship. Fellowships provide additional clinical and academic training in a discipline of choice and provide access to the latest developments in the diagnosis, analysis and treatment of psychiatric disorders. Fellows also have the chance to engage in individual research projects and are offered teaching opportunities. At the end of the fellowship, a certification exam is often given.