Background to specialist training
In order to train in psychiatry,
you are required to have a medical degree and to have completed two
years of foundation training (or equivalent). There may be an
opportunity to undertake a four month psychiatry post as a
foundation trainee. Following this, you can then enter specialist
training.
There are three years of basic
specialty training or core training (CT1-3 posts) which is
equivalent to the 'old' senior house officer grade. During this
time, you would work towards obtaining your membership
examinations. Following successful completion of three years
of core training, you can then choose from six different
subspecialties for higher training:
- General adult
- Old age
- Child and adolescent
- Learning disabiltiy
- Psychotherapy
- Forensic
Higher training generally takes a
further three years, although some trainees choose to take
time out of their programme to complete research or their training
programme may be extended as they wish to 'dual train' in two of
the subspecialist areas, for example forensic psychotherapy. Higher
trainees are called specialist trainees (ST4-6) or specialist
registrars (SpR) - the difference in names refers to when trainees
began their higher training as there were a number of changes made
in 2007.
After completion of higher
training, you are able to apply for consultant posts.
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Page last updated on 16
May 2010