Undergraduates preparing for medical school can choose any major, but since medical school has a long list of prerequisites in chemistry, biology and physics, many students choose a major in the sciences in order to satisfy both requirements at once. Medical schools accept students from the arts and humanities as long as they have strong grade point averages and high MCAT scores.
In order to become psychiatrists, students must complete four years of medical school. The first two years of medical school focus on chemistry, physiology, and the science of medicine. The second two years consist of practical clinical training. This time is broken down into six- to twelve-week rotations. Generally, students sample family medicine, nutrition, neurology, emergency medicine, psychiatry, surgery, pediatrics and obstetrics. Additionally, students may choose to cover subjects more in-depth by choosing electives. Those who complete medical school are awarded their M.D., or Doctor of Medicine, degree.
After four years of medical school, new doctors spend four years continuing their training in a specialty as psychiatric residents. Residency, or graduate medical education, allows semi-supervised direct patient contact as training for a psychiatry career. Residents are supervised by the program supervisor and at least two other instructors. Psychiatry residency takes 48 months. Several focus areas are covered, including geriatric, child and adolescent, addiction, forensic, and family medicine. Additionally, psychiatrists are required to spend at least four months continuing their education in other fields such as family medicine, pediatrics, or emergency medicine. Students use residency to master patient care, interpersonal communication, medical knowledge and professionalism. Additionally, residents learn how to stay updated on the newest research and how to continue to teach themselves after their residency has ended.
After residency, psychiatrists-in-training can choose an optional fellowship program. A fellowship gives the student an opportunity to develop a specialty, either in one of the above focus areas or in teaching or research. This lasts for a varying amount of time depending on which path is chosen. Throughout their career, psychiatrists participate in workshops, research, and other professional development seminars in order to stay abreast of the most practical and up-to-date information available for treating patients. A fellowship in a psychiatric sub-specialty may be required as a prerequisite to taking some types of board certification examinations.