I am going to school to be a psychologist. I am in my second year. I realized there is not much money (average of about 64grand a yr) in psychology. So i have been considering psychiatry. I realize psychiatry is more medical based especially considering they can prescribe medication.
I am not 100% sure on what i want to do but just in case, here is my question.
can i obtain my bachelors in psychology but go to graduate school for psychiatry? I do not know much about psychiatry considering i never looked into it. Any information would be helpful. thanks!
Update:Yes, i know i need to go to graduate school lol. I plan on getting my PsyD in psychology..im talking about what i should do for undergraduate. if i continue to get my undergrad in psych if i could do psychiatry as well. i know i need more than a bachelors...
Answers & Comments
Verified answer
To actually be considered a psychologist you would need to go to get your doctorate. Basically, according to my intro psych class, the longer you go to school, the more you can make in professional psychology. I've also heard that you don't technically need a degree of any kind to be a therapist or counselor (though its a good idea to know what you're talking about) , but that could just be in my state.
There are also so many applications for a psych degree outside of therapy, for instance working for an advertising agency because you know enough about how people think that you know how to make something appeal to them. I'd say if you are enjoying the psychology, stick with the psychology.
The only difference between a psychiatrist and a gynecologist or surgeon is the last two years of medical school. You can get a BA in psychology as your main degree but to be pre-med you would also have to take certain classes (such as Biology, Chemistry, Systems Physiology, Organic Chemistry). Also, while psychiatrists can easily make well into the six figures range, they typically just do medication checks all day and do not do much direct services (therapy or assessments). I once saw a psychiatrist's schedule and they worked only three days a week but they had 15 minute medication check appointments back to back from 8am to 7pm. Your right, while I feel that a psychologist makes a pretty good living, for the amount of years invested (4 years undergrad, 2 years Masters, 3 years doctorate, 2 years internship, competency exams, licensing exams, dissertations), the pay is fairly crappy. No psychologist does it for the money, they do it for the enjoyment of the job and the perks (being your own boss, setting your own hours). You can make more money depending on where you live (I would expect you would make 80K plus in NJ or NYC) and what your specailty is (I/O psychologists can make 90K plus).
Psychiatry requires a Medical Degree, am M.D., So you'd need to go for a pre-med curriculum for your Bachelor's. There's much more difference between a Psychologist and a Psychiatrist than just one can write prescriptions and the other not. Also, to be a liscenced Psychologist requires a PhD or PsyD, not just a Bachelors or Masters.