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Psychiatrists are doctors who diagnose and treat patients with mental health problems.
You could work: evenings / weekends / bank holidays; on a rota
In this role, you could:
You could work in an NHS or private hospital, in the community, in a prison or at a client's home.
Your working environment may be emotionally demanding.
You can get into this job through:
To become a psychiatrist you'll need to complete:
You may be able to join a 6-year degree course in medicine if you do not have qualifications in science. This includes a one-year pre-medical foundation year.
If you already have a degree in a science subject, you could take a 4-year graduate entry route into medicine. Some universities will also accept non-science graduates.
When you apply for a course in medicine, you could be asked to take the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) or BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT). They test the skills you'll need on the course, like critical thinking, problem solving, data analysis, communication and scientific knowledge.
There's a lot of competition for places on medical degrees. Most university admissions departments will expect you to have done some relevant paid or voluntary experience.
You'll usually need:
You'll need to:
You can find out more about becoming a psychiatrist from the Royal College of Psychiatrists and Health Careers.
With experience, you may go on to lead a team, or manage a unit or department. You may also progress to teaching and training students, trainee doctors and other healthcare professionals.
With experience and entry on the General Medical Council (GMC) Specialist Register, you could apply for senior (or consultant) roles.
You can find out more about becoming a psychiatrist from the Royal College of Psychiatrists and Health Careers.