What is the Difference Between a Psychologist and Psychiatrist?

Published: 25th October 2022.
Written by Melinda Irvine

Psychologists and psychiatrists are both mental health professionals who support patients with mental disorders, but there are a lot of differences between these two important job roles. In today’s blog we’ll walk you through the five key differences — including salary, prospects, qualifications — and unpack each in detail.

1. Job Description

The main difference between a psychiatrist and a psychologist lies in their level of training and what they can, and cannot do. The most important thing to remember is that psychiatrists are medical doctors (who have completed additional training in psychiatry), whereas psychologists are not.

To make things easier we’ve put the details in a table for you:

2. Qualifications

Psychology and psychiatry are demanding professions that require a lot of work and study. Let’s unpack each in detail.

Study requirements for psychologists

To become a registered psychologist in Australia you will need to complete 5-6 years of study, obtaining qualifications that are recognised by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council as follows:

1. Complete a 3 year Bachelors degree. Examples:

• Bachelor of Psychology
• Bachelor of Psychological Science

2. Complete a 1 year Honours program. Example:

• Bachelor of Psychology (Honours)

3. Complete a Masters program and/or PhD. Examples:

• Master of Psychology (Clinical)
• Master of Forensic Psychology
• Master of Psychology (Counselling)
• Doctor of Psychology

4. Register with the Psychology Board of Australia.

NOTE: there are also pathways to registration through relevant post-graduate work experience and completing the National Psychology Exam.

Study requirements for psychiatrists

In Australia it takes 11-13 years of study to become a registered psychiatrist. The pathway includes:

1. Becoming a qualified medical doctor. You will need as a minimum:

• Bachelor of Health Science or Bachelor of Medical Science
• Australian Medical School Admissions Test
• Doctor of Medicine
• Complete an intern year
• Register with the Medical Board of Australia

2. Complete 5 years of specialist training with the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP).

3. Career Paths

Registered psychiatrists are also medical doctors, so they work at health centres and hospitals, or in private practice. They may specialise in children and adolescents, correctional services, addictions, and clinical neurophysiology.

Nine types of Psychologists

In Australia there are nine different career paths for registered psychologists. They are:

• Health psychologists — promote healthy behaviours and diagnose the link between physical illness and bio-psycho-social factors. Often work in public health and advisory roles.
• Clinical psychologists — diagnose mental illnesses and psychological problems. They develop support programs and psychotherapy to facilitate a client’s recovery.
• Counselling psychologists — focus on client recovery through counselling services and psychotherapy.
• Sports and exercise psychologists — support and motivate athletes as they prepare for competition or recover from injury.
• Forensic psychologists — are part of the judicial system and work for prisons, police departments, and community justice agencies.
• Education and development psychologists — work at schools and educational institutions supporting students and teaching staff.
• Organisational psychologists — support the efficiency and wellbeing of an organisation’s human capital. They carry out behavioural interviewing, psychological testing, and counselling services.
• Neuropsychologists — study mental disorders of the brain and nervous system, in particular, brain injuries caused by illness and accidents. They conduct neurological testing and diagnosis for patients.
• Community Psychologist — support and empower minority groups from different parts of the community. This could be people living in isolated locations, indigenous Australians, or from foreign ethnic groups.

4. Salaries

There is a significant salary difference between psychologists and psychiatrists in Australia. Psychologists generally work around 43 hours per week and earn approximately $107,432 per annum, whereas psychiatrists generally work 45 hours per week and earn more than $176,124 per year.

5. Prospects

According to the latest labour market insights, there are approximately 53,000 psychologists working in Australia right now, with growth of 13.5% expected over the next 3-5 years. Alternately, there are approximately 3,900 qualified psychiatrists in Australia, with expected growth of 5.2%.