The difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist is easily confused by the average person. The question arises because the two professions both deal with mental health research and issues. Yet the two fields are vastly different from one another.

The basic difference is in the educational requirements needed for qualification. All psychologists, for example, must attend graduate school after successfully completing undergraduate training. While some pursue a master's degree in psychology, the standard of the industry is a doctoral degree in psychology or a closely related field. The doctoral degree requires four to five years of full-time study. Many schools also require clinical practicum, which combines clinical fieldwork with classroom education. The degrees available to these professionals are designated Ed.D., Ph.D. or Psy.D., depending on their field of study. Most states require an internship before the psychologist is allowed to practice alone. Alternatively, they are required to practice in a supervised setting with a trained psychologist as an on-site supervisor. Only upon completion of all requirements will they be granted licensure by the state in which they choose to practice.

On the other hand, a psychiatrist is a medical doctor who is required to attend medical school for four years, the same schooling that all physicians receive. Upon reaching their third or fourth years of study, they begin taking clinical electives in their chosen field and choose a psychiatric rotation during their residency programs. Some go on to specialize in subsets of the profession in specialty areas such as addiction, child and adolescent behavior, criminal aberrations and geriatrics. A psychiatrist does not require two separate licenses; rather, they are licensed through the state medical board as physicians. Additional board certification may be preferred so they can show proof of additional training in their specialty.

Another important difference between the two mental health professionals is that a psychiatrist is allowed to prescribe medications, while a psychologist cannot. Some states are moving toward allowing psychologists to write prescriptions after a consultation with a psychiatrist.

The last area of comparison is in the services provided. Psychologists provide counseling and psychotherapy in individual or group settings. They are schooled in the administration, interpretation and scoring of psychological tests, and are the only qualified mental health professionals with the ability to properly interpret psychological tests, focusing on factors such as intelligence, relationships, stress and brain dysfunction. They tend to view psychological problems as a manifestation of life stress, resulting in maladjusted behavior patterns.

Psychiatrists can provide the same therapies but are more apt to handle severe mental disorders and have treating privileges at area hospitals and clinics. They are more inclined to view psychological problems as the result of medical or biological processes, rather than life stress situational issues. And because of the increased availability of medications with fewer adverse side effects, and the growing patient demand for them, psychiatrists are more likely to treat the maladaptive psyche by prescribing medications.

For someone seeking mental health assistance, knowledge of these two professions will give them the expertise they need to make an informed decision.