Psychiatric Training in the United Kingdom

A career in psychiatry is challenging and rewarding. Psychiatric training in the United Kingdom is well structured and run by twenty-one deaneries across England and Wales. The Royal College of Psychiatrists who also conduct the MRCPsych examination, sets standards for training and approves the hospitals for training purposes. Training includes basic specialist training at the grade of a senior house officer for a period of at least three years and helps obtain the MRCPsych examination. Higher specialist training is at the grade of a specialist registrar and is also for at least three years. The emphasis is on competence based learning which helps realize a trainees potential to the hilt. At the end of training, a trainee would be awarded a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) and enables one to work independently as a consultant. There are various specialties of psychiatry one can train in which is a unique opportunity.