Psychiatrist vs. Psychologist: What’s the Difference?
Explore the similarities and differences between these two meaningful medical career paths.
Authored by Stephanie E. King, PhD.
Psychology and psychiatry are two similar career paths, but with important distinctions in terms of the required education and practice involved within the field of mental health.
For current and future MD program participants, and anyone else who may be curious, read on to learn about the key differences between these respected professions.
What Is a Psychiatrist?
A psychiatrist is classed as a medical doctor (there are many types of medical doctors, such as a surgeon) with the power to diagnose, treat and monitor mental health conditions. They can treat these mental health conditions with medication, by prescribing therapy sessions or via other medical interventions.
Importantly, in most settings, only psychiatrists can prescribe medication – but both psychiatrists and psychologists can diagnose and help treat mental health disorders.
What Is a Psychologist?
A psychologist is a professional with advanced educational degrees in psychology.
Psychologists have undergone specialist training to diagnose and treat mental health disorders via different types of therapy. These can include cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy and psychoanalytic therapy.
Generally, psychologists cannot prescribe medication or run medical tests, but rather they hone in on the assessment, diagnosis and interpersonal treatment of mental health challenges. Some psychologists may obtain certification to prescribe medication with additional specialized training in certain jurisdictions.
What Do Psychiatrists and Psychologists Do?
Now that we’ve highlighted broad distinctions between the two professions, let’s dive into more specifics about what they do.
What Does a Psychiatrist Do?
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who examines the biological, psychological and social factors contributing to a mental health disorder, and other medical conditions that could be negatively affecting them (just like how, for example, a cardiologist examines and treats the cardiovascular system, a psychiatrist examines and treats mental health problems).
What Does a Psychologist Do?
A psychologist often works with a psychiatrist to provide comprehensive care for mental health patients, but they aren’t medical doctors. Instead, they study the deep world of human thought and behavior.
They also investigate aspects of the human experience that may impact why someone is suffering from a mental health condition, such as their upbringing, social influences and environment – not just their genes and family history of illness (nature vs. nurture).
What’s the Difference Between a Psychiatrist and a Psychologist?
Here are some of the key differences between the two professions:
Prescribing Medication
Because they are medical doctors, generally only psychiatrists have the power to prescribe medication. In order to work as a psychiatrist, prospects must complete a relevant medical school program (such as the St. Matthew’s University MD program) and complete a psychiatry residency program.
Under most circumstances, psychologists cannot prescribe medication. Instead, they often work closely with psychiatrists to help provide comprehensive care for their mental health patients.
Treatment Approach
When assessing and treating their patients, psychiatrists often use a combination of medication and psychological treatments (talking therapies, such as CBT). They can also use brain stimulation therapies on patients, such as ECT (electroconvulsive therapy).
Psychologists, on the other hand, primarily provide talking therapies in terms of their treatment options. This is sometimes known as psychotherapy. Because they lack a medical degree, prescribing medication or ordering physical stimulation therapies are usually not options available for them.
Conditions Treated
Because of these differences in treatment approaches, psychiatrists and psychologists may differ somewhat in the conditions they encounter and treat on a daily basis.
Psychiatrists are often involved in the treatment of more complex mental health conditions, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or severe bouts of depression, especially when medications or other medical interventions are required. They also play a key role in treating patients with suicidal thoughts or thoughts of self-harm as part of a broader care team.
Psychologists, on the other hand, are more likely to deal with a wide variety of mental health issues from mild to severe. These can include anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), more manageable levels of depression, or learning difficulties, using psychotherapy as the main tool. In many cases, psychologists and psychiatrists work together to provide comprehensive patient care.
Work Settings and Scope of Practice
Because psychologists and psychiatrists can manage different illnesses and provide different treatments (with some overlap), their work settings can also vary quite a lot.
Both professions can open doors to many different industries, but psychiatrists are more likely to find work within:
- Government/public sector organizations
- The legal sector/judicial system
- Hospitals and private clinics
- Private practices
Psychologists, on the other hand, often find work within these areas:
- Public health
- Law enforcement and criminal justice
- Policy and security
- Community and social services
- Education and training
- Research and analysis
- Human resources and people management
- Marketing and communication
- Business and enterprise
These lists are not exhaustive, but provide an overview of the work settings you’d be more likely to move into depending on whether you train as a psychiatrist or psychologist.
Psychiatrist vs. Psychologist: Education and Training Requirements
Naturally, given the differences between the two professions, becoming a psychiatrist or a psychologist requires different types of knowledge and career-entry requirements.
Psychiatrist Education Requirements
To progress as a psychiatrist, you must complete the following steps:
- Complete an undergraduate degree program (often a science-focused program) or relevant pre-medical program.
- Graduate with a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree from an accredited medical school (approximately four years of study).
- Complete a residency program in psychiatry (approximately four years in duration).
- Optional: 1-2 years of further fellowship training, if seeking to specialize in a specific area (e.g. addiction psychiatry).
- Optional: Aspiring psychiatrists in the U.S. can choose to pursue board certification from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (APBN).
Practicing physicians are then able to practice independently, once they have completed all licensing requirements in the locale where they plan to work.
Psychologist Education Requirements
Rather than pursuing an MD degree, prospective psychologists adopt a more research-based route to qualification:
- Complete an undergraduate degree in psychology (the type of psychology degree can vary – this can take 3 to 4 years).
- Complete a master’s degree in psychology (again, the type can vary, and may take 1 to 2 years). In the U.S., a master’s degree is often considered enough to become licensed as a mental health counselor or therapist. To qualify as a licensed psychologist, however, you’ll most likely need to complete a doctorate.
- Complete a PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) to enter the research sector, or a PsyD program (Doctor of Psychology) to enter the clinical sector – each typically takes around five years to complete.
- Complete 1,500 to 6,000 hours of supervised clinical hours/professional experience, depending on the jurisdiction, to qualify as an independent practitioner.
After completing these steps, you can then pursue licensure as a psychologist.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Psychiatrist or Psychologist?
Both paths to qualification can be long and intense, but the reward at the end is more than worth the effort.
The route to becoming a qualified psychiatrist will last approximately 12 years after high school (undergrad, med school, residency), followed by 1 to 2 years of further training if you’re seeking to specialize in a fellowship program.
For prospective psychologists, the study time can last 9 to 11+ years (undergraduate, master’s and doctorate studies), followed by 1,500 to 6,000 hours of clinical experience.
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Psychiatrist vs. Psychologist vs. Therapist
The title of “therapist” is a broad term that can include the more specific term, psychologist. It can also cover several sub-divisions, including counselors and social workers.
To be a licensed therapist, the professional must have at least a master’s degree in a field relating to psychotherapy, whereas psychologists must generally have a doctorate. In essence, a psychologist can also be referred to as a therapist, but a therapist generally isn’t qualified enough to be called a psychologist.
As discussed previously, a psychiatrist is a medical doctor and requires a different educational pathway entirely.
Psychologist vs. Psychiatrist: Salary and Job Outlook
According to the latest report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024), the median annual salary for a psychologist was $94,310 USD per year in the United States. From the same source, the median annual salary for a psychiatrist was $194,740 USD, demonstrating high, rewarding wages for both – but a clear difference in earnings.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics also predicts that overall employment of psychologists is projected to grow 6% from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for occupations in general. There is also a growing demand for psychiatrists in the U.S. – there is expected to be a national shortage of over 40,000 adult psychiatrists by 2038, indicating an urgent need for new graduates entering the sector.
Psychiatry vs. Psychology – Which Career is Right For You?
When faced with the choice of two highly respected professions within the field of mental health, it can be hard to decide which is best. After weighing up the educational requirements, expected wages and overall demand – how do you decide? Ultimately, it comes down to your own personal interests and goals.
Do you want to specialize in a role that is more medically focused? Perhaps you’ve considered becoming a physician in the past, but have more interest in the mental health side of medicine (one of many medical specialties)? Maybe you’re also incentivized by high wages? If this is the case, then psychiatry may be the right fit!
At St. Matthew’s University School of Medicine (SMUSOM), we proudly help future medical doctors achieve their career practice goals, including those who plan to work as psychiatrists. Since 1997, we’ve provided medical education and hands-on training for 2,300+ MD program graduates. Alumni have gone on to practice in the U.S., Canada and internationally!
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Learn more about blog author Stephanie E. King, PhD.
FAQs about Psychologists and Psychiatrists
If a patient is experiencing severe or complex mental health conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or severe depression, a psychiatrist is likely the right choice, as they can prescribe medication and other medical treatments alongside therapy. If their needs can be addressed through talking therapies alone, such as anxiety, OCD or mild-to-moderate depression, a psychologist may be a good fit. In many cases, the two work together to provide comprehensive care, with a psychiatrist managing medication and a psychologist providing ongoing therapy.
Yes, as qualified medical doctors, psychiatrists are licensed to prescribe medication to their patients. This is one of the key distinctions between psychiatrists and psychologists – as psychologists generally cannot prescribe medication and are limited to talking therapies as a form of treatment.
Yes, providing therapy is a core part of a psychologist’s role. They are trained to deliver a range of talking therapies, including CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy), dialectical behavior therapy and psychoanalytic therapy, to help patients manage and overcome mental health challenges.
No. Unlike psychiatrists, psychologists do not attend medical school. Instead, they follow a research and clinical training route, completing an undergraduate degree, a master’s degree and typically a doctorate (PhD or PsyD) in psychology, followed by 1,500 to 6,000 hours of supervised clinical experience.
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