How to Become a Foresnic Psychiatrist
The journey to obtain any advanced degree is a long and difficult one, but if you're thinking about becoming a forensic psychiatrist then you must know what all is involved before you finally make the decision to be trained as one. Forensic psychiatrists are quite different from forensic psychologists (or any psychologists, for that matter) because they are trained on a similar, but different playing field. Here is some more information about obtaining an M.D. and becoming a forensic psychiatrist.
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Things You'll Need
- An overall interest in mental health, the law, and forensic psychiatry.
- The patience and determination to complete undergrad and graduate training.
Instructions
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Becoming a Forensic Psychiatrist
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Have an overall interest in mental health and the law. Since the primary field of forensic psychiatry deals with issues where mental health and the law overlaps, you'll need to be interested in court cases and mental health issues in general.
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Attend a college with excellent preparatory courses for an education beyond your undergraduate degree. You'll eventually want to graduate from this college with a Bachelor's of Science or Bachelor's of Arts degree, but be sure to take several science courses and some psychology courses as well. A B.A. or B.S. degree in psychology or a specific science is not required, but medical schools may look favorably upon those educational tracks.
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In your junior or senior year of undergraduate college, apply to your choice of medical school. After you get accepted into a program you can then continue your education in forensic psychiatry.
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Complete medical school training. In the later years of your medical school training you'll be given the opportunity to specialize in psychiatry. Medical school programs usually have some type of residency program where you can do this.
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Beyond the medical school psychiatry "residency program," a forensic psychiatry fellowship program is an excellent idea to get an even better grasp of the issues within your field. These programs usually last 1 to 2 years, but students gain valuable information when working and studying in these types of environments.
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Graduate Medical School with an M.D. and a specialty in forensic psychiatry!
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