Adult Psychiatrists: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of adult psychiatrists about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for adult psychiatrists to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of adult psychiatrists expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for adult psychiatrists.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Adult Psychiatrists?
Do adult psychiatrists need a degree? What kind of experience do adult psychiatrists typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for adult psychiatrists to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Adult Psychiatrists
Jobs Postings for Adult Psychiatrists By Education
- No Education Listed: 42,777 (84%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 6,314 (12%)
- Master's degree: 906 (2%)
- Bachelor's degree: 741 (1%)
- High School or GED: 412 (1%)
No education was listed by most employers of adult psychiatrists. According to job data, no education was required for 84% of positions. In 12% of job listings a ph.d. or professional degree was required and in 2% of postings a master's degree was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Adult Psychiatrists
Jobs Postings for Adult Psychiatrists By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 1,313 (28%)
- 2-3 Years: 1,930 (42%)
- 4-6 Years: 1,321 (29%)
- 7-9 Years: 44 (1%)
- 10+ Years: 27 (1%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for adult psychiatrists. In 42% of job postings for Adult Psychiatrists, employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience. In 29% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 4-6 years of experience, while 0-1 years of experience was sought in 28% of job postings for adult psychiatrists.
What Kind of Degree Do Adult Psychiatrists Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for adult psychiatrists, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 3 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective adult psychiatrists, and in 2023 a total of 150,335 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective adult psychiatrists.
Top Degree Programs for Adult Psychiatrists
Top 5 Degree Programs for Adult Psychiatrists (2023)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Psychology, General. | 143,660 |
| Behavioral Sciences. | 4,777 |
| Pre-Medicine/Pre-Medical Studies. | 1,898 |
What Skills Do Adult Psychiatrists Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by adult psychiatrists to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for adult psychiatrists, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Adult Psychiatrists
Based on 51,013 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Adult Psychiatrists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Psychiatry | 30,019 | 59% |
| Medication Administration | 7,121 | 14% |
| Mental Health | 7,069 | 14% |
| Treatment Planning | 5,045 | 10% |
| Behavioral Health | 4,159 | 8% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Adult Psychiatrists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Management | 3,563 | 7% |
| Teaching | 3,430 | 7% |
| Leadership | 3,164 | 6% |
| Communication | 3,075 | 6% |
| Research | 2,680 | 5% |
Based on 51,013 job postings related to adult psychiatrists, psychiatry was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 59% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for medication administration, mental health, treatment planning, behavioral health and administrative support were also highly sought.
As for common skills, management was the most desired skill found in job postings for adult psychiatrists, followed by teaching, leadership, communication, research and scheduling.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Psychiatry | 30,019 | 59% |
| Medication Administration | 7,121 | 14% |
| Mental Health | 7,069 | 14% |
| Treatment Planning | 5,045 | 10% |
| Behavioral Health | 4,159 | 8% |
| Administrative Support | 4,100 | 8% |
| Psychology | 3,538 | 7% |
| Child And Adolescent Psychiatry | 3,437 | 7% |
| Digital Technology | 3,290 | 6% |
| Telehealth | 3,159 | 6% |
| Geriatrics | 3,096 | 6% |
| Mental Status Examination | 3,057 | 6% |
| Psychotherapy | 2,633 | 5% |
| Mental Diseases | 2,540 | 5% |
| Patient Treatment | 2,178 | 4% |
| Medical Records | 2,060 | 4% |
| Electronic Medical Record | 2,036 | 4% |
| Nursing | 1,944 | 4% |
| Primary Care | 1,913 | 4% |
| Psychiatric Care | 1,856 | 4% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Management | 3,563 | 7% |
| Teaching | 3,430 | 7% |
| Leadership | 3,164 | 6% |
| Communication | 3,075 | 6% |
| Research | 2,680 | 5% |
| Scheduling | 1,220 | 2% |
| Coordinating | 1,166 | 2% |
| English Language | 1,028 | 2% |
| Planning | 948 | 2% |
| Operations | 890 | 2% |
| Clerical Works | 859 | 2% |
| Written English | 797 | 2% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 787 | 2% |
| Spanish Language | 764 | 1% |
| Customer Service | 741 | 1% |
| Administrative Functions | 685 | 1% |
| Quality Assurance | 677 | 1% |
| Innovation | 673 | 1% |
| Writing | 664 | 1% |
| Sales | 661 | 1% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about adult psychiatrists? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for adult psychiatrists.
What do adult psychiatrists do?
How much do adult psychiatrists make?
All Occupations
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has compiled data for dozens of in-demand jobs. Explore our full catalog of occupation data by visiting the link below.