What classes do you need to take become a child psychiatrist?

To become certified child psychiatrist in the United States:

Undergraduate Studies

Before entering medical school, you will need to complete an undergraduate degree (typically taking 4 years). While there are no specific undergraduate majors required for medical school, you will need to take certain “pre-medical requirements,” which include courses in:

- Biology

- Chemistry

- Physics

- Math

Additional recommended pre medical requirements include:

- Psychology.

- Sociology

- English

Medical School (MD or DO)

After completing your undergraduate degree, you must attend medical school. Medical school typically takes 4 more years. It involves both classroom instruction and clinical experience. Some common courses taken in medical school include:

- gross anatomy

- biochemistry

- physiology

- pharmacology

- pathology

- pediatrics

- psychiatry

Residency Training (4 years)

After graduating from medical school, you must complete a residency in child and adolescent psychiatry. During residency, you will receive supervised clinical training in the diagnosis and treatment of mental health disorders in children and adolescents. You will work in various settings, such as hospitals, clinics, and schools.

Board Certification

After completing residency training, you may choose to become board certified by the American Board of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (ABCAP). To become ABCAP certified, you must pass a written examination and have documentation of clinical supervision and experience.

Continuing Education

Child psychiatrists are required to complete continuing education credits every year to maintain their board certification. These credits can be earned by attending conferences, workshops, and other educational activities related to child and adolescent psychiatry.