Note: There are many pathways to work in a mental health career. CPHA has expertise in helping students apply to medical doctor programs to then go on to specialize in Psychiatry. While we don’t have expertise in the breadth of other pathways into mental health careers (ex. Master’s level grad programs), we hope this page can be a jumping off point to explore other resources on campus that can help in your career journey.
Talk with us if you have questions! We also encourage you to reach out to a Career Advisor in your school/college for additional assistance. Psychology major students can reach out to the Psychology Career Advisor and find more resources on the Psychology Advising Canvas.
About Psychiatry
Psychiatrists are doctors who attend medical school before specializing/completing a residency in Psychiatry. They can prescribe medication, which is something that differentiates them from other mental health professionals. Read about Psychiatry and how it differs from Psychology on the American Psychiatric Association website and learn more about preparing for medical school on CPHA’s Medicine page.
Campus Resources
Several UW-Madison Career Centers have helpful resources to help you learn about careers in mental health. We encourage you to explore the links below!
- Graduate School Guide for Careers in Psychology
- This resource guide was originally designed for Psychology major students, but it provides helpful information about clinical, research, and applied psychology pathways and application processes that will be useful for students from a variety of majors.
- SuccessWorks Guide to Graduate Programs in Mental Health Counseling, Social Work, and Schools & Mental Health Exploration Resources
- Includes resources for people interested in Psychology, Counseling, Social Work, and School Psychology.
- School of Education Resources for Health Careers
- Includes links to professional organizations related to counseling and rehabilitation psychology.
- School of Human Ecology Mental Health Career Ideas
- Explores differences in education, work setting, and treatment focus within mental health career options.