Specializing in psychiatry has pros and cons. Pros include studying a subject of interest, the ability to prescribe medication, and a salary during residency training. Cons include the lengthy education process and the lack of a bachelor’s degree in psychiatry.
The pros and cons of a specialist in psychiatry can vary depending on the person considering it. For many people, however, the main pro of a specialist in psychiatry is the chance to study a subject that interests them. Some people may also consider becoming a doctor and prescribing medication as well as providing advice among professionals. The fact that residency training provides a salary can also be seen as a positive. Cons often include the lack of a bachelor’s degree in psychiatry and the length of time it usually takes to become a psychiatrist.
When people consider practitioners of a specialty in psychiatry, they may focus on the fact that that specialty leads to a degree in medicine. As aspiring psychiatrists study the same as other future medical school physicians, they have the ability to prescribe medication as well as provide counseling services and other non-medical mental health treatments. This differs greatly from individuals who become psychologists, as they are typically not licensed to prescribe medication.
Some people may also consider residency training in which an aspiring psychiatrist must attend a professional. Residency training usually lasts three or four years and prepares an aspiring psychiatrist to practice alone. Training, however, includes payment for the aspiring psychiatrist. For some, this is a huge advantage, as it means they can afford to pay the bills and support themselves even as they are still preparing for careers in psychiatry.
One of the potential cons of being a specialist in psychiatry is the amount of time a person has to study if they want to become a psychiatrist. Unlike some jobs that a person can get after earning a bachelor’s degree, this career usually requires him to spend four years in college and another four years in medical school. Even after completing so many years of education, he will usually need additional preparation in the form of home training. For an individual who prefers to start his career after spending a few years in college, this lengthy education can be a disadvantage.
Also among the cons of this course is the fact that a person cannot obtain a bachelor’s degree. While a person can earn an undergraduate degree in psychology and possibly obtain a job based on it, the same option usually does not exist for a person interested in specializing in psychiatry. Instead, that person will usually have to choose a different major in college and then study psychiatry in medical school and during their residency. People interested in becoming psychiatrists often study in a scientific field or choose to pursue a pre-med degree, but this is not always a requirement.
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