Hello,

In India, after completing a PhD in Clinical Psychology , you cannot directly pursue an MD in Psychiatry or Diploma in Psychological Medicine (DPM) because:

1. MD Psychiatry Eligibility – Requires an MBBS degree from an MCI-recognized institution and NEET-PG qualification. A PhD in Clinical Psychology is not an alternative pathway .
2. DPM Eligibility – Also requires an MBBS degree and NEET-PG.
3. Alternative Options – You can practice as a clinical psychologist or pursue postdoctoral research .
4. If You Want to Become a Psychiatrist – You must complete MBBS first and then qualify for MD Psychiatry/DPM .

Hope it helps !

To pursue MD in Psychiatry or DPM in Karnataka after PhD in Clinical Psychology:

- You'll need an MBBS degree, which your PhD won't exempt.

- Consider pursuing MBBS, then DNB or MD in Psychiatry.

- Verify eligibility criteria with Karnataka Medical Council, National Board of Examinations (NBE), and medical institutions.

ALL The Best!!

No, after completing a PhD in Clinical Psychology, you cannot directly pursue MD in Psychiatry or DPM (Diploma in Psychiatric Medicine) in Karnataka or anywhere in India. These medical courses require an MBBS degree as the primary qualification. If you wish to become a psychiatrist, you must first complete MBBS, followed by MD Psychiatry or DPM. However, with a PhD in Clinical Psychology, you can work as a clinical psychologist, conduct research, and provide therapy. If you still wish to study psychiatry, you may consider pursuing an MBBS through NEET and then specialize in psychiatry.

hi ,

in india , pursuing MD in psychiatry or DPM requires an MBBS degree followed by qualification in NEET-PG or DNB-PDCET (for DPM) .

since you are pursuing PhD  in clinical psychology you can practice as a clinical psychologist and may consider other other advanced programs like ;-'

• M.Phil or Post-Doctoral Fellowships in Neuropsychology / Rehabilitation Psychology / Child Psychology
• Certificate courses in Psychopharmacology (if interested in psychiatric medication management in collaboration with psychiatrists)
• PsyD (Doctor of Psychology) programs for advanced clinical training.

hope this helps

Hello there,

No, you cannot pursue MD in Psychiatry or DPM after a PhD in Clinical Psychology in Karnataka or anywhere in India. These courses require an MBBS degree as the minimum eligibility.

However, after your PhD, you can work as a Clinical Psychologist in hospitals, research institutions, or private practice. If you want to specialize further, you can opt for post-doctoral programs or certifications in psychotherapy, neuropsychology, or forensic psychology.

For medical-based psychiatric courses like MD Psychiatry or DPM , you must first complete MBBS and then qualify for NEET-PG.

I hope this answer helps you. If you have more queries then feel free to share your questions with us we will be happy to assist you.

Thank you and wishing you all the best for your bright future.