Psychologist vs. Psychiatrist Careers: Learn the Differences Between Psychology and Psychiatry
Updated July 22, 2024 · 4 Min Read
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Students often compare psychology and psychiatry when considering mental health career paths. These disciplines overlap, but they also diverge in important ways. To select the right educational program, you need a clear understanding of the differences between the two careers.
Explore the education, training, and scope of practice standards for psychologists vs. psychiatrists.
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Training and Education
As noted by the American Psychological Association (APA), psychiatrists are specialized medical doctors, while the APA classifies psychologists as mental health practitioners focused on behavioral science.
Psychologists earn doctoral degrees at colleges or universities, where their studies cover:
- Therapy techniques
- Behavioral and developmental psychology
- Theories of personality
- Patient assessment methods and therapeutic strategies
- Research methods and statistical analysis
Upon completing their schooling, psychologists engage in intensive full-time, supervised internship programs spanning 1-2 years.
Like physicians and other specialized doctors, psychiatrists study at medical schools. Their programs typically comprise four years of medical school and two years of preclinical training in general biological, statistical, and medical education, plus two years of clinical rotations. After medical school, graduates complete a four-year psychiatry residency.
During their residencies, psychiatrists engage in intensive studies of mental illnesses and the medications and medical techniques used for treatment. If psychiatrists want to specialize further after residency, they must complete 1-2 years of additional training called a fellowship.
The subsections below offer an at-a-glance comparison of the preparation requirements, timelines, and exams uniquely associated with each path.
Psychologists
- Degree required: Doctoral degree in psychology
- Supervised experience: Post-doctoral fellowship
- Licensure exam: Examination of Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP)
- Total time to become: 8-10 years
Psychiatrists
- Degree required: M.D. or D.O.
- Supervised experience: Four-year psychiatry residency
- Licensure exam: United States Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE) or Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX)
- Total time to become: 12 years
Practice
Psychologists
Psychologists mainly use evidence-based psychotherapy techniques to address a complete spectrum of behavioral and mental health disorders. In general, they aim to help their patients or clients cope with difficulties and challenges in their lives and interpersonal relationships.
The field recognizes multiple specializations and concentrations. Popular examples include:
- Addiction psychology
- Clinical psychology
- Counseling psychology
- Forensic psychology
Many psychologists operate their own private practices. Others work in hospitals, schools, inpatient or outpatient counseling facilities, or community health organizations.
Psychologists generally do not prescribe medications. However, some states allow licensed psychologists to write prescriptions if they undertake additional specialized training.
Clinical psychologists can work in settings other than clinical practice, such as teaching and conducting research at colleges and universities. With the rise of digital health and teletherapy, they can also find jobs as chief clinical officers for digital health platforms.
Psychiatrists
While psychiatrists also use psychotherapy techniques, they more closely focus on applying principles of biological science to address severe conditions requiring medical intervention. In some cases, they may use specialized brain stimulation techniques, admit patients for inpatient care, and other medical interventions not available to psychologists.
As medical doctors, psychiatrists can prescribe medications to patients as needed. The drug classes they commonly prescribe include antidepressants, anxiolytics (anti-anxiety medicines), mood-stabilizing medicines, and stimulants.
Psychiatrists can also specialize in focused branches of mental health medicine. A few specializations include:
- Addiction psychiatry
- Child and adolescent psychiatry
- Emergency psychiatry
- Geriatric psychiatry
Psychiatrists work in hospitals, college or university medical networks, government agencies, long-term care centers, and rehabilitation facilities, among other settings. According to the American Psychiatric Association, approximately half of all U.S. psychiatrists operate their own private practice.
Salary and Job Outlook
Psychologists
- Median Salary (May 2023): $92,740
- Growth Projection (2022-32): +6%
- Number of New Jobs (2022-32): 12,000
Psychiatrists
- Median Salary (May 2023): $256,930
- Growth Projection (2022-32): +7%
- Number of New Jobs (2022-32): 1,900
Similar factors influence the salary ranges of psychologists vs. psychiatrists. These primarily include location, experience, employment setting, and specialization type.
Choosing Between Psychology and Psychiatry
Choosing between these career paths comes down to your priorities and interests, as both professions have pros and cons. Differing factors include educational requirements, average salary, and scope of practice.
As a Career
Psychiatrists typically pay more for their education than psychologists because of the longer educational track. However, the return on investment pays off, as the average psychiatrist earns more than the typical clinical psychologist. While this initially attracts many students to psychiatry, it is important to consider other factors when choosing between the two professions.
Are you more interested in environmental and social effects on mental health or biological factors? Psychology students dive deep into the external causes of mental disorders and the therapeutic approaches to treating them. Psychiatrists spend a significant amount of time exploring the biological and neurological elements of mental health, requiring a strong aptitude for math and science.
Some prefer clinical psychology because it allows practitioners to get to know their clients and foster deeper relationships with them. While psychiatrists do provide therapy, most focus on helping patients with medication.
As a Client
Determining the type of mental health professional to fit your needs can be difficult. If you think you have a serious mental health condition, such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, consider seeing a psychiatrist. While individuals with these conditions can benefit from psychotherapy, medication is also a helpful treatment for many people.
Meeting with a licensed counselor or clinical psychologist is a good place to start. Talk therapy can help you process trauma and provide tools to deal with stress, depression, and anxiety without medication. If your psychologist determines that therapy alone is not improving your symptoms, they may recommend you make an appointment with a psychiatrist.
Unfortunately, it can be difficult to find a psychiatrist willing to take on new patients, because they are in such high demand. As an alternative, you may choose to see a therapist in conjunction with a general practitioner who can prescribe you the medication you need. This way, you can benefit from receiving psychotherapy in addition to medicine.
Frequently Asked Questions About Psychologists vs. Psychiatrists
Is psychiatry a type of psychology?
Psychiatrists and psychologists are both trained to identify mental issues and disorders. Psychiatry is technically a branch of medicine, while psychology is its own separate discipline.
Can psychologists diagnose mental illness?
Yes, psychologists are trained to diagnose mental illnesses.
Do psychologists go to medical school?
No, psychologists do not attend medical school. They earn a Ph.D. or Psy.D. in psychology before completing supervised post-graduate internship programs. A key distinction between psychologists vs. psychiatrists is that psychiatrists undertake medical training.
Is it harder to become a psychiatrist or psychologist?
Both career paths are challenging, and you must dedicate many years to training to enter either profession. Regarding total time investments, psychiatrists generally face longer preparation timelines of about 12 years compared to 8-10 years for psychologists.
Page last reviewed on July 11, 2024