Aspiring psychologists and psychiatrists take many of the same courses in college: intro to psychotherapy, biological bases of psychology, cultural differences in mental illnesses, for example. The professions of psychiatry and psychology also have greatly different education requirements. Psychiatrists attend medical school and are trained in general medicine. After earning an M.D., they practice four years of residency training in psychiatry. Their experience typically involves working in the psychiatric unit of a hospital with a variety of patients, from children and adolescents with behavior disorders to adults with severe cases of mental illness.
Psychologists, on the other hand, must obtain a Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy) or the Psy.D. (Doctor of Psychology). The Ph.D. takes six to seven years and the Psy.D. takes four to six years to complete. Both degrees allow the psychologists to become licensed to practice; however, the Ph.D. prepares the psychologist for a career in college-level teaching.
The major career difference between a psychologist and psychiatrist is the type of service provided. Psychologists will often discuss the client's psychosocial, historical and present situation. The psychologist may administer tests to carefully identify a mental illness or intellectual disorder, such as depression or ADHD. If the psychologist feels his client may need medication, the client will be referred to a psychiatrist. The psychiatrist will then provide the correct medication to treat the illness. Generally, clients will see their psychologist once a week and their psychiatrist monthly for checkups.
While psychologists and psychiatrists can practice in the same setting, such as the counseling center of an academic institution or a hospital, psychologists tend to work in the field or in private practice. Some examples include: community mental health centers, college counseling centers, and government or military organizations. Most all major sports teams and hospitals have a psychologist on staff. Psychiatrists tend to work in the mental health wards of hospitals, although many also work in doctor's offices or have established their own private practice.
Popular careers for psychologists include: school psychologists, industrial-organizational psychologist, clinical psychologist, sport psychologist, and counseling psychologists.
Popular careers for psychiatrists include: independent general psychiatrist, child psychiatrist, trauma-related psychiatrists and medical psychiatrists.