Geriatric Psychiatrists

Certification or Licensing

The American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) is the certifying board for all psychiatrists regardless of their specialty. To become an ABPN-certified psychiatrist you will need to pass a computer-administered psychiatry certification examination and meet other requirements. An ABPN-certified psychiatrist may treat geriatric patients. Those in the field, however, recommend that you complete a geriatric psychiatry fellowship program, which qualifies you to apply for the subspecialty certification of geriatric psychiatrist. To obtain this subspecialty certification, also available through ABPN, you must pass an examination exam covering topics such as psychological and social aspects of aging and diagnostic methods. This certification is highly recommended because it will enhance your professional standing as well as demonstrate to your patients and their families your extensive training in this field.

After receiving their M.D. or D.O. degree, all doctors must pass a licensing test in order to practice medicine in the state in which they will work. Depending on the requirements of your state, you may need to pass the United States Medical Licensing Examination (which is managed by the National Board of Medical Examiners) or an individual state licensing test. Because these requirements vary, you will need to check with your state's licensing board for specific information.