Careers in Psychiatry
A career in Psychiatry
can offer a whole host of opportunities. There are many opportunities
to work in clinical posts treating people of all ages and abilities.
As a psychiatrist one will often also work very closely with other
professionals such as psychologists, social workers, nurses, occupational
therapists and managers. One may also choose to work in an academic
or research position either full time or as part of one’s clinical
post. Teaching of medical students and/or psychiatrists often
forms a significant part of a psychiatrist’s job.
How
to become a psychiatrist:
Firstly, psychiatry
is a medical specialty
so a basic medical degree (M.B.,B.A.O.,B.Ch
or its equivalent) is essential.
Psychiatry is taught as an undergraduate subject in medical
school and is an examination subject in final medical examinations.
Students can learn first hand by exposure to the clinical settings
where they are placed for a period of time in addition to attending
lectures etc.
During the intern year
a doctor may gain some experience of psychiatry by working on
such a team in the General Hospital.
However the earliest one may begin to pursue a career in
Psychiatry is after one’s intern year. Some find it useful to gain experience in other
areas such as Medicine, or Paediatrics, for example before embarking
on the specialist pathway. However
this is not essential.
Specialisation in Psychiatry
1.General
Professional Training
Firstly, one should
apply for a post as an SHO in one of the Psychiatric Services.
The postgraduate training in psychiatry in Ireland is quite well
established. Many SHO
jobs are organised as Training Rotations and will be advertised
as such in the national media, internet etc.
One should ensure to find out if the training scheme is
approved by the RCPsych. Details
of training schemes in Ireland are contained in the Trainee Handbook
(available from the ICPsych Office).
Usually Training Rotations
are approved for periods of time which reflect the variety of
posts and experience available.
One usually works as an SHO in General Adult Psychiatry
to start and then in time will go on to gain experience in the
specialties such as Old Age Psychiatry, Child Psychiatry, Learning
Disability Psychiatry, Substance Misuse, Forensic Psychiatry etc.
It is probably advisable to get as much specialty experience
as possible once one has a good basis in General Adult Psychiatry.
Each rotation has a Tutor and Specialty Tutors who will
advise trainees accordingly. Placement in a Child or Learning Disability
post is essential for all in order to receive their MRCPsych Certificate. Others are optional.
There is an Academic
Teaching programme organised by the IPTC (Irish Psychiatric Training
Committee www.iptc.ie) which
all trainees in psychiatry must attend and are allowed time from
work to facilitate this.
The IPTC is the body
in Ireland which organises postgraduate training for Psychiatrists
in Ireland. The examination
of the RCPsych is the most commonly recognised qualification to
practice psychiatry in Ireland. Information may be obtained from
the website of the Royal College of Psychiatrists www.rcpsych.ac.uk The exam is taken in two parts – the 1st
after a minimum of 12 months in Psychiatry and then the 2nd
after 30 months of postgraduate training. (See www.rcpsych.ac.uk/traindev
for exam regulations.) Both exams have academic and clinical components. The MRCPsych allows one to practice psychiatry
but further specialist training is necessary if one wants to proceed
to Consultant level.
2. The Interim Period
After the MRCPsych,
the next step is to pursue Senior
Registrar(SR) Posts in one’s area of interest. (Senior Registrars are also referred
to as Specialist Registrars in the UK and in some other specialties).
While awaiting this, some may take on
Lecturer or Research posts or “Career Registrar posts” for
extra experience. It is
always a good idea to try get some research experience where possible
as this always helps when looking for Senior Registrar posts.
3. Specialisation
in Psychiatry
In order to become a
Consultant in a particular specialty one should apply for the
“National Senior Registrar Rotation”.
These are advertised by the IPTC Higher Training Subcommittee.
MRCPsych or equivalent is the essential requirement.
These are the posts that provide the training and necessary
experience to become a Consultant in a specialty area of psychiatry.
These posts allow time for clinical experience, research
and an academic programme. A
national Coordinator (a Consultant Psychiatrist ) usually arranges
for rotation of SRs through a number of different posts in the
country to give them the widest variety of experience.
Consultant psychiatrists who have been approved as SR trainers
will supervise the work of the SR.
Training Rotations are
usually 3 or 4 years duration at SR level, depending on the Specialty.
SR training posts are available in Specialties such as Learning
Disability, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Old Age psychiatry
etc.
At the end of this an
SR who has satisfactorily completed will be awarded a CST (Certificate
of Specialist Training) in the specialty.
Some may qualify for dual CST.
