What does a consultant psychiatrist have to learn?

What is the journey, stage by stage?

1. 1Pre-university1–2 yrs · age ~17–19SPM science stream, then matriculation, foundation-in-science, STPM or A-levels. Builds the biology, chemistry, physics and maths base that medical school expects.
2. 2Medical school: pre-clinical yearstypically Yr 1–2 · age ~19–21First part of the 5-year MBBS/MD: how the healthy body works and how disease begins, mostly in lecture halls, labs and small groups, with early patient contact.
3. 3Medical school: clinical yearstypically Yr 3–5 · age ~21–24Ward and clinic rotations through the main specialties, including a psychiatry posting. Ends with the final professional examination.
4. 4Housemanship (house officer)2 yrs · age ~24–26Supervised work in public hospitals, rotating through major departments (typically six postings of about four months). Leads to full registration with the Malaysian Medical Council.
5. 5Medical officer (MO)typically 1–3+ yrs · age ~26–29Independent doctor under specialist supervision. Doctors aiming for psychiatry usually work as MOs in a psychiatry department before applying for specialist training.
6. 6Psychiatry specialist trainingtypically 4 yrs · age ~28–33Typically a four-year Master of Medicine (Psychiatry) at a Malaysian public university, with Part I and Part II examinations and a dissertation. Some doctors also sit the UK MRCPsych examinations; how these count in Malaysia is decided by the National Specialist Register. Rotations cover general adult psychiatry and the subspecialties.
7. 7Specialist, gazettement and consultantongoing · age ~33+After the specialist qualification: a supervised gazettement period, registration on the National Specialist Register, then years of specialist practice. Consultant level brings leadership, teaching and often a subspecialty fellowship (typically 2–3 yrs).

Ages and durations are typical and vary. Specialist training can be through a Malaysian master's programme; some doctors also sit the UK MRCPsych examinations — check how each is recognised with the National Specialist Register.

What do the awareness levels mean?

• Not expected — Not part of this stage.
• Aware — Knows the subject exists, its main terms and why it matters. Can recognise it, not use it.
• Understands — Can explain the core ideas and pass written exams on them. Knows when they are relevant.
• Applies — Uses it in real patient care, safely, with supervision available. Can make routine decisions.
• Masters / Teaches — Works independently at expert level, handles complex or unusual cases, teaches and supervises others.

On cards, the seven small bars show the level at each stage, left to right: Pre-U → Pre-clinical → Clinical → Housemanship → Medical officer → Psych trainee → Specialist / consultant.

How do I use this site?

1. Start with the journey below to see the seven stages and roughly how long each takes.
2. Open any subject card to read a plain-language overview, the key topics, how it is taught and examined, and the books people use.
3. Each subject shows an awareness level for every stage, on a four-step scale: Aware, Understands, Applies, Masters / Teaches.
4. Use the Matrix for the at-a-glance view of all subjects against all stages, and filter or sort it.
5. Read Background required for entry requirements, personal qualities, costs, alternative routes and a short self-check.

Subject map