As the baby boomer population ages, the demand for medical professionals to care for them grows. Among this group, psychiatrists are among the 20 most highly recruited physician and nurse practitioner specialties, according to the 2024 Review of Physician and Advanced Practitioner Recruiting Incentives from AMN Healthcare. Further, the HRSA’s 2024 State of the Behavioral Health Workforce projects staggering shortages of mental health professionals — including psychiatrists — through 2037.
The unbalanced relationship between the demand for psychiatrists and the number of professionals available to meet that demand is driven by numerous factors. Examples are reimbursement barriers for professionals, high turnover rates, burnout, and elevated proportions of both adult and child populations in need of mental health care. In fact, the National Institute of Mental Health reports that more than one in five U.S. adults live with mental illness, while only half that population receives mental health treatment.
Clearly, there is widespread, unmet demand for mental health practitioners. Those interested in helping to meet this demand by pursuing a psychiatric career can take the first step by enrolling in the online Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Applied Psychology – Clinical Psychology program from Florida Institute of Psychology.
What Is a Psychiatrist, and How Do They Differ From Psychologists?
Mental health is a critical facet of overall health, and with their medical expertise, psychiatrists have the unique skills and qualifications necessary to apply medical understanding to treatment plans for people suffering from mental disorders. This medical background is what distinguishes a psychiatrist from a clinical psychologist, as psychiatrists attend medical school and complete a residency, with an emphasis in psychiatry.
In addition to conducting psychotherapy, which psychologists also apply in the treatment of mental disorders, psychiatrists can prescribe medical approaches, either through prescription medication or other medical treatments. Alternatively, psychologists train extensively in either research or clinical practice, most often with an advanced degree in clinical psychology, and treat patients with psychotherapy.
Psychiatrist Career Description and Job Responsibilities
Ultimately, psychiatrists address patient cases. To do so, they must assemble and keep up patient records and information, either directly from the patient or from medical professionals, relatives or others who may have this information. Psychiatrists must evaluate data and test findings to provide a diagnosis and establish the magnitude of a mental disorder. They then create a customized care plan for the patient, often with an array of treatments. They may prescribe, oversee or administer psychotherapeutic treatment or medication as part of a treatment plan for a mental, emotional or behavioral disorder.
Treating patients may also require collaboration across medical and behavioral health specialties, such as psychologists, social workers, physicians, psychiatric nurses, mental health counselors, substance abuse counselors or others to review the treatment plan and monitor progress. Throughout treatment, the psychiatrist would meet with the patient regularly to review and adjust the treatment plan.
According to the American Psychiatric Association (APA), psychiatric patients possess diverse reasons for seeking help: Some may have suddenly begun suffering from issues like panic attacks, hallucinations, suicidal thoughts or hearing “voices.” Others may suffer from long-term issues like perpetually feeling sad or hopeless or exhibiting behaviors that inhibit everyday function.
Psychiatrists can practice a variety of specializations and in an array of settings, such as private practices, general hospitals, psychiatric hospitals, university medical centers, courts and prisons, nursing homes, government, rehabilitation programs, emergency rooms, hospices, and community agencies. Some psychiatrists work in a combination of different settings and environments
Salary Potential and Job Outlook for Psychiatrists
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates that all physicians and surgeons as an entire occupational group earned a median annual wage of $239,200 or more in 2024. Psychiatrists, specifically, earned a median annual wage of $269,120 that year — more than generalist physicians, family medicine physicians, pediatricians and others.
BLS projects 8% job growth for the psychiatrist occupation between 2023 and 2033. This growth rate is roughly twice the average projected growth of all occupations. According to BLS, this high rate of growth is due to factors like the increasing demand for psychiatrists and access to mental health services in general.
Psychiatrist Career Path: Education and Skills
To launch this career path, students must first obtain a bachelor’s degree. Earning a bachelor’s degree in a related field, such as applied psychology, can provide an excellent foundation of knowledge and skills for future psychiatrists.
Aspiring psychiatrists must then go to and graduate from medical school, followed by a four-year psychiatry residency. Most often, the first year of a residency occurs in a hospital with patients, followed by three years studying psychiatric diagnosis and treatment. Through this residency, psychiatrists gain valuable skills in areas like psychotherapy, psychiatric medication and other treatments, according to the American Psychiatric Association (APA).
Once the residency is complete, psychiatrists can apply for board certification from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. Following residency, some psychiatrists may elect to pursue a subspecialty, requiring additional years of training. Subspecialties can include one of the following:
- Child and adolescent psychiatry
- Geriatric psychiatry
- Forensic (legal) psychiatry
- Administrative psychiatry
- Addiction psychiatry
- Emergency psychiatry
- Consultation psychiatry
- Neurodevelopmental disorders
- Community psychiatry and public health
- Military psychiatry
- Psychiatric research
To span therapy and medicinal treatment, psychiatrists must possess knowledge of therapy and counseling, psychology, medicine and biology. Soft skills are also essential, as clinical psychiatrists spend most of their time with patients. As a result, skills like active listening, social perception and speaking are valuable in patient interactions. Psychiatrists must then synthesize the data they compile to establish a personal treatment plan, which requires both critical thinking skills as well as sound judgment and decision-making.
Choosing a Career in Psychiatry
Pursuing a career in psychiatry can be an excellent choice for those who want to make a difference and improve people’s lives. Helping to address the shortage of mental health professionals is also critical to improving the overall health and well-being of the U.S. population.
Yet, with the advanced skills, expertise in both psychology and medicine, and experience that psychiatric practice requires, the educational path toward this career is long and involved, demanding a great deal of determination on the part of the aspiring psychiatrist. As such, beginning one’s education with a specialized program like Florida Tech’s online BA in Applied Psychology – Clinical Psychology can be crucial to building a foundation for success in further education and professional practice.
Learn more about Florida Tech’s online BA in Applied Psychology – Clinical Psychology program.
