Psychiatry in the UK
Psychiatry is the medical specialty which deals with the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of people with mental health conditions.
The career of a Psychiatrist in the UK is diverse and flexible. As a rapidly growing specialty within the NHS, there are excellent career opportunities available across the UK in a variety of sub-specialties, such as:
- Child and adolescent psychiatry (CAMHS)
- General Adult psychiatry
- Forensic psychiatry
- Old age psychiatry
- Addiction psychiatry
- Learning disability psychiatry
Working as a Psychiatrist in the UK: What’s required?
Psychiatrists wanting to secure a position in the NHS must register with the General Medical Council (GMC). The criteria for GMC registration will be dependant on where you have trained and which qualifications you hold:
Psychiatrists from outside of the EAA (European Economic Area) will need to need to evidence their knowledge and skills to to the GMC by having either MRCPsych, PLAB or an alternate GMC recognised postgraduate qualification.
Doctors from within the EEA (European Economic Area), who have completed a postgraduate qualification in their home country, may be able to use this qualification to attain GMC registration. You can check whether your qualification will allow you to register with the GMC, click here.
Note that the GMC do also require doctors from countries where English is not the native language to provide evidence of their English language skills by passing either the OET or IELTS.
