Specialists

Psychologists and psychiatrists both work in the area of mental health, and often work together. However, there are some significant differences between the two professions.

Psychologists study human behaviour in their undergraduate and postgraduate degrees before undertaking supervised experience and gaining registration. They do not have a medical degree, however many study for a similar number of years to specialise in various aspects of psychology. For example, clinical psychologists study for at least six years to attain their qualifications. Psychologists are not medical doctors and hence they cannot prescribe medicines.
See http://www.psychology.org.au for more detail

Psychiatrists are first trained as doctors and undertake six years of university study and training to gain their basic medical qualifications. Some teaching and experience in psychiatry is included in their basic medical qualifications.

These doctors must then work as interns in a general hospital for a further 12 months to gain experience in medicine and surgery in order to become fully registered as medical practitioners. Following this doctors must complete at least a further year as Resident Medical Officers before they apply for selection to the Psychiatric Training Program.

In Australia and New Zealand, specialist training for doctors to qualify as psychiatrists is conducted by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP). See http://www.ranzcp.org/ for further information