The Career Path to Becoming a Psychiatric Physician Assistant
.png)
APPs
Industry Insights
With mental health needs continuing to climb across the U.S., many Physician Assistants (PAs) are looking to specialize in psychiatry as a way to provide meaningful support in an underserved area of care. This path blends general medical expertise with deeper knowledge in psychiatric assessment, medication management, and long-term behavioral health support. If you’re already a practicing PA or preparing to become one, here’s how you can pursue a focused career in psychiatry
What Psychiatric PAs Do
Psychiatric PAs work alongside psychiatrists and other mental health professionals to diagnose and treat a wide range of behavioral health conditions. They play a hands-on role in both inpatient and outpatient care, helping evaluate patients, prescribe medications, and oversee treatment progress over time.
What Psychiatric PAs Do
Psychiatric PAs work alongside psychiatrists and other mental health professionals to diagnose and treat a wide range of behavioral health conditions. They play a hands-on role in both inpatient and outpatient care, helping evaluate patients, prescribe medications, and oversee treatment progress over time.
A typical day might include assessing a patient’s mental and physical history, identifying symptoms of psychiatric conditions, and helping rule out other medical causes that could be contributing to behavioral changes. Psychiatric PAs are also trained in psychopharmacology, giving them the ability to manage medications used to treat depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and more.
Their work often goes beyond direct clinical care. Psychiatric PAs are key contributors to care planning, coordination with other providers, and communication with families. Their presence increases capacity in mental health systems that are often short-staffed and overburdened.
Where Psychiatric PAs Work
Psychiatric PAs serve in a wide variety of clinical environments, such as:
Where Psychiatric PAs Work
Psychiatric PAs serve in a wide variety of clinical environments, such as:
- Psychiatric PAs work in a wide range of environments, including:
- Behavioral health clinics and private practices
- Psychiatric units in hospitals
- County and state mental health facilities
- Emergency rooms and psychiatric crisis units
- Correctional facilities such as jails and prisons
Education Requirements
Before pursuing a psychiatric specialty, you must complete a graduate-level Physician Assistant program accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). After graduation, they must pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE), offered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).
After obtaining your general Physician Assistant certification, from there psychiatric specialization involves gaining practical experience, pursuing optional fellowships, and, for some, obtaining advanced certification.
Optional Postgraduate Psychiatry Fellowships:
While not required, some PAs choose to complete a post-graduate fellowship. These programs usually last about a year and allow us to receive an additional 300 to over 500 hours of classroom instruction and between 1,500 and 2,000 hours of hands-on clinical training focused on assessing, diagnosing, and treating a wide range of psychiatric conditions.
Examples of clinical experiences during a fellowship might include:
- Geriatric psychiatry
- Child and adolescent psychiatry
- Substance abuse and mental health unit (dual diagnosis)
- Mood and psychotic disorders
Certificate of Added Qualifications (CAQ) in Psychiatry:
For PAs who want to formalize their psychiatric expertise, the NCCPA offers a Certificate of Added Qualifications (CAQ) in Psychiatry. To obtain this certification PAs must meet the following requirements:
- Hold a current PA-C credential
- Be licensed to practice in at least one U.S. jurisdiction
- Log a minimum of 2,000 hours of experience working as a PA in psychiatry
- Complete 150 Category I Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits in psychiatry, with at least 50 earned in the past two years
- Submit attestation from a supervising psychiatrist verifying your competencies
- Pass the Psychiatry CAQ exam, which covers topics such as psychiatric pharmacology, diagnostic interviewing, risk management, and specific mental health disorders
Once a candidates submitted requirements have been approved, they must take and pass the Psychiatry Specialty Exam which consists on 120 multiple choice questions targeted for physician assistants with experience in the practice of psychiatry.
According to the NCCPA Physician Assistants have seen experienced the following after receiving their CAQ:
- Over 75% found or anticipated finding a new job
- 60% achieved or expect to increase their job responsibilities
- Over 75% found the CAQ useful in documenting qualifications required for external accreditation
- Over 33% achieved or anticipate a broadening of their eligibility for reimbursement
- Almost 75% have received greater recognition or regard from physicians or other health care professionals
%20(960%20x%20200%20px)%20(960%20x%20300%20px)%20(3).png)
Specializing in psychiatry as a Physician Assistant offers a meaningful way to support patients facing mental health challenges, especially in communities where access to care is limited. Whether through direct patient care, telemedicine, or focused training, psychiatric PAs play a vital role in improving outcomes across diverse settings. With the right foundation, continued learning, and a commitment to the field, PAs can build a rewarding career while making a real impact in mental healthcare.
Searching for new Physician Assistant opportunities? Explore here
Sources:
Specialty Certificates - NCCPA. (2025, April 22). NCCPA. https://www.nccpa.net/specialty-certificates/#psychiatry
Specialty Certificates - NCCPA. (2025, April 22). NCCPA. https://www.nccpa.net/specialty-certificates/#psychiatry