I think that providers of psychiatry need to be certified or a specialist in this field. I have an MSN in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, I am an ANCC Board Certified Adult Psychiatric Clinical Nurse Specialist. I am a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. I have worked in psychiatry for 30 years. Employers don't seem to care about education and will hire a PA with 3 weeks of training in psychiatry or an NP with no experience in psychiatry--at the same rate of pay that I make. No one seems to care about psychiatry and the expertise it requires.
I am saddened that a PA with 3 weeks of clinical training can do child psychiatry in Michigan. These PA's can also prescribe Ritalin,etc. without a psychiatrist's signature. NP's cannot in Michigan, even with a child and adolescent psych specialty.
I would like to see any psychiatric provider, certified in psychiatry, before practicing this specialty. Right now, NP's from other disciplines can work in psychiatry without additional training. The same is true for PA's.
I think that any provider working in psychiatry needs to have a certification in that area (child or adult). Why have the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner license and ANCC Board Certification if anyone can do psychiatry, no matter what educational background???