Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify the training needs of the next generation of psychiatrists, and barriers in prescribing first-generation antipsychotics (FGAs), long-acting injectable (LAIs) antipsychotics and clozapine. Design/methodology/approach An electronic survey was sent to psychiatry residents (N= 75/288, 26 percent) at four Canadian residency programs in late December 2017. The survey was based on an instrument originally developed at the University of Cambridge and consisted of 31 questions in 10 content domains. Findings Nearly 80 percent of residents were aware that FGAs and second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) have similar efficacy. However, extra-pyramidal symptoms and lack of training experience were the leading concerns associated with the prescribing of FGAs. Although over 90 percent of residents felt confident about initiating an oral SGA as a regular medication, only 40 percent did so with FGAs. Confidence with initiating LAIs and clozapine was 60 and 61 percent, respectively. Practical implications The survey highlights the need for better training in the use of FGAs, clozapine and LAIs. These medications can be effectively used in providing patients with the most appropriate evidence-based treatment options to improve treatment outcomes, while ensuring that these resources are not lost to the future generations of psychiatrists. Originality/value The survey may be the first of its kind to assess antipsychotic prescribing attitudes in Canadian psychiatry residents in multiple sites.