How to become a psychiatrist
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
University
To become a psychiatrist you'll need to complete:
- a 5-year degree in medicine, recognised by the General Medical Council
- a 2-year foundation programme of general training
- 3 years of core training in psychiatry
- 3 years of training in a speciality
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.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science
- 3 A levels, or equivalent, including biology and chemistry
- a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study
More Information
More Information
Registration
- you'll need to register with the General Medical Council
Further information
You can find out more about becoming a psychiatrist from the Royal College of Psychiatrists and Health Careers.