How to Become a Psychiatrist, Eligibility, Courses and Skills

How to Become a Psychiatrist: A career as a psychiatrist is a wise career decision for students who want to know more about human behavior. A psychiatrist is an expert physician and is committed to working with the mentally ill. Psychiatrists have training and understanding of how the human brain works. A psychiatrist is also well-versed in the causes of human emotions and diseases and the treatment of mental illness. Career in psychiatry is the most preferred career by science students and those students who have a keen desire to help others. A career in psychiatry is a popular, well-respected, and rapidly developing career in India.

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How to Become a Psychiatrist 

To become a psychiatrist in India, students must follow a long but clear path starting from Class 11 with Biology, then MBBS, and finally postgraduate studies in psychiatry. It takes about 10 to 12 years to fully become a licensed psychiatrist. 

Psychiatrists are doctors who can treat patients for mental illness such as stress, depression, anxiety, and other emotional and mental disorders. They are well-versed with the human brain, the nature of human behaviour and mood swings, and the treatment of these illnesses with the help of drugs and psychotherapy.

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Psychiatrist Eligibility in India

In India, the following are the eligibility requirements if you want to become a psychiatrist

• 12th (Science with Biology): You should have studied Physics, Chemistry, and Biology in classes 11 and 12. You should have at least 50% marks to apply for NEET UG
• Clear NEET UG: Candidates who clear the NEET UG exam get admission in MBBS colleges. This exam is conducted annually in India and serves as a gateway to medical colleges
• Do MBBS: MBBS is a 5.5-year-long course ( 4.5 years of education + 1 year of internship). It is mandatory for all doctors, including psychiatrists
• Clear NEET PG: Candidates who complete MBBS need to clear NEET PG to get admission in PG courses like MD or DNB in Psychiatry.
• Do PG in Psychiatry: This is a 3-year PG course. Once you complete this, you officially become a psychiatrist
• Medical Registration: Candidates who complete PG need to register with the NMC or state medical council to practice legally.

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PG in Psychiatry After MBBS

After completing MBBS, the student needs to take admission in a PG course in psychiatry. Here are some PG courses to become a psychiatrist:

• MD in Psychiatry
• DNB in Psychiatry
• Diploma in Psychiatric Medicine (DPM)

Students need to qualify for NEET PG or other college-specific entrance exams to get admission in these courses. The duration of the PG course is 3 years. In this, the students are taught in-depth about mental diseases, therapy, and medicines.

Students also get clinical exposure during PG psychiatry courses. They get to meet patients at hospitals, get to know about various conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, OCD, addiction, and also get to learn how to treat these. Students may also get to do some research work in mental health during some PG courses. The student is then qualified as a trained psychiatrist to professionally practice as one.

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Skills Required to Become a Psychiatrist

Courses to Become a Psychiatrist in India

Students can pursue various courses to become a psychiatrist in India. They complete these courses in a step-by-step manner. The list of important courses is given below.

• MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery): The first and most important step towards psychiatry is the MBBS course. It takes 5.5 years to complete the course along with a 1-year internship. The course makes the students aware of the human body, disease, and basic treatment methods.

• MD in Psychiatry (Doctor of Medicine): After completing the MBBS course, students need to take up MD Psychiatry as their postgraduate course. It is the most important step in becoming a psychiatrist as it makes the students aware of all the concepts related to mental health and treatment methods.

• DNB Psychiatry (Diplomate of National Board): The DNB is another PG course that students can opt for in order to be a psychiatrist. The course is equivalent to the MD Psychiatry in Psychiatry and is of 3 years.

• Diploma in Psychiatric Medicine (DPM): The DPM is a postgraduate diploma course that students can complete in 2 years after completing their MBBS degree. In this course, the students can learn psychiatry, but it will take less time as compared to the MD/DNB courses. It does not offer the same career growth as the MD/DNB.

• Super-Speciality Courses (DM): Once students complete their MD in Psychiatry, they can opt for DM (Doctorate of Medicine) in sub-specialities such as Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Geriatric Psychiatry or Addiction Psychiatry.

MBBS to Psychiatrist Journey

The journey from MBBS to becoming a psychiatrist is long but fulfilling. After MBBS, the student needs to choose psychiatry as a specialization during PG admissions. The admission process is carried out through NEET PG or other entrance exams, depending on the institute. The students get exposure to various mental illnesses and their treatment during their PG.

After PG, the new doctor registers themselves with the medical council and can start their practice. Many doctors also start working in hospitals to gain more experience before starting their clinic. The MBBS to psychiatrist journey is a journey of learning, patience, and emotional strength to handle mental health issues.

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Psychiatrist Salary in India

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