Psychologist vs. Psychiatrist: What’s the Difference?

Psychology and psychiatry both attempt to answer fundamental questions about the human mind and help diagnose and treat those with mental health conditions. The professions use different techniques and offer various specializations.

We review some of these key differences and potential careers in each field. Psychology and psychiatry require different training paths, so it’s important to figure out which career you want to pursue.

Psychology and psychiatry professionals both diagnose and treat people with mental health conditions. But, their treatment methods differ.

Typically, psychologists use talk and behavioral therapy to treat chronic mental issues, such as anxiety or depression. Clinical psychologists need a Ph.D. and a license. But, school and industrial psychologists may only need a master’s degree. Psychologists and psychiatrists both see clients regularly, building relationships of trust.

Psychiatrists use medication to treat mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. All psychiatrists hold an M.D. They typically evaluate patients’ progress and manage their medications.

Students typically need a master’s degree in psychology, counseling, or a related discipline to work as clinical psychologists. However, depending on your career goals, some social workers offer similar services to a clinical psychologist, requiring a master’s degree in social work. You can also pursue a Ph.D. in psychology. This option allows students to pursue independent research alongside your training.

Most states require a license for a psychologist to practice. While requirements vary from state, they generally include a certification exam, a master’s degree, and supervised hours of clinical practice.

A psychiatrist needs an M.D. to practice. While completing medical school, they need to pass medical board licensure exams. They then need to complete specialty-specific exams in psychiatry while completing their residency.

Residency is a period of supervised medical practice, typically four years for psychiatrists. During this period, they gain clinical experience and develop the ability to practice medicine independently.

Psychiatrists need to continually educate themselves about changes in psychiatric medicine. This includes a regular examination to ensure their medical knowledge is still sharp and up to date.

Students can consider the job market when selecting what position to pursue after college.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that psychology jobs are growing about as fast as other jobs, with positions forecasted to grow 6% between 2021 and 2031. The median salary for a psychologist is $81,040 annually.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics also reports that growth for physicians, in general, is slower than average at 3% annually. They also report an average salary of $217,100 for psychiatrists.

Psychology and psychiatry have very different work environments. Psychologists often work independently, seeing clients from small, independent offices. Psychiatrists most often work in a team of doctors, nurses, and other professionals in a hospital.

You should also consider work-life balance and salary when choosing a path. Psychiatrists tend to work longer hours than psychologists, but also earn more.

Yes, you can study psychiatry after psychology. Many students with either a bachelor’s or master’s degree in psychology then go on to pursue an MD. Specializing in clinical psychology, with patient-facing experience, could even be useful in gaining admission into medical school.

However, it is not necessary to study psychology before studying psychiatry. You can enter medical school without any prior courses in psychology.

While psychologists and psychiatrists work in a similar field, there are key differences that make it difficult to say whether one is better than the other. A psychologist primarily works with clients using talk and behavioral therapy, while a psychiatrist primarily prescribes medication to clients.

If you’re deciding between a career in psychology or psychiatry, consider both job features and requirements. For example, psychiatrists are generally higher paid than psychologists. However, psychiatrists require a much longer training period than psychologists, including four years of medical school and four years of residency.

While psychology is a popular major for students who want to be a psychiatrist, it often isn’t the best choice. Psychiatrists need to attend medical school, which requires coursework in chemistry, biology, and physics.

While a psychology major can get into medical school, they need to supplement their major courses with natural science courses. A natural science major may have an easier time preparing for medical school.However, opportunities as a psychology major may be helpful for a future psychiatrist. For example, participating in student research opportunities can help your chances of getting into medical school.