Psychiatric nurse practitioner vs Psychiatrist

A psychiatrist is a doctor of medicine (MD) or doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO), and has had four years of psychiatric residency. Psychiatrists also diagnose and treat mental disorders by providing psychotherapy and counseling to patients, and prescribing medication.

Though both psychiatric nurse practitioners and psychiatrists perform the same functions, there are several key differences between the roles:

• Psychiatric nurse practitioners can be certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioners, but must have Nurse Practitioner License

• Psychiatrists must have Board certification from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and a Medical Doctor state license

• Psychiatric nurse practitioners primarily work in hospitals and mental health clinics

• Psychiatrists can work in mental health facilities, but more than half of them have private practices

• On average a psychiatrist makes double the amount of money a psychiatric nurse practitioner does, +$200,000 vs. +$100,000