How to Become a Sports Doctor

By: Andrew Colucci, MD

Last Updated: Dec 20, 2018

Beyond the personal and professional satisfaction of a career treating patients in both hospitals and clinics, sports medicine doctors also enjoy the opportunity of working for professional or college sports teams. In addition to enjoying the games from the sidelines, many of these physicians are even able to travel with the teams between venues. Not many careers boast such a varied professional landscape, but this variety is just one of the many appealing aspects of becoming a sports medicine physician.

Sports medicine doctors are medical professionals who focus on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of injuries related to athletic activities. These physicians generally focus on joint, bone and muscle health, although they also offer more generalized medical care to their patients. Sports medicine prepares these physicians for work in both traditional hospital and clinic settings, in addition to sporting events at both the professional and college levels. No matter where they choose to work, sports medicine doctors enjoy the deep gratification of helping active, often health-conscious people recover from sports-related injuries and return to the lifestyles that they love.

Workplace Details

The field of sports medicine is relatively new, and continues to evolve. As with all physicians, sports medicine physicians can be found in varied clinical settings, from hospital-based practice to private outpatient clinics. In addition to working with athletic teams, these doctors can also hold positions in fitness centers, large gyms, and at large athletic events such as marathons. Some further specialize on particular groups of patients and their specific needs as they relate to sports medicine (e.g. - geriatric populations or school-age children).

Hover over any state to explore local income and job growth data.

The BLS currently states that the mean salary for physicians broadly is $197,700. Additionally, Salary.com reports that the median salary for sports medicine physicians as of February 2017 is $216,706, with the top ten percent of earners making over $329,317.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, job growth for physicians, in general, is projected to be 14% from the years of 2014 to 2024. This faster-than-average growth provides a positive outlook for physicians, with sports medicine physicians becoming increasingly in demand as the population continues to discover the important health benefits of lifelong physical activity.

Students interested in become a physician must first complete a bachelor’s degree with a pre-med concentration that provides them with a solid foundation in biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry and physics. Gaining admission into medical school can be competitive, so students must complete the aforementioned courses and obtain excellent grades to be considered a viable applicant to medical schools.

Beyond this coursework, students will also be required to perform well on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) in order to secure a spot in medical school. While those interested in sports medicine are usually sports aficionados themselves (and therefore may take part in organized sports), this is in no way a requirement for admission into medical school or sports medicine.

Many students apply for med school just before senior year of undergraduate education, though it’s not uncommon for people to take a year off between college and med school either.

Most sports medicine doctors complete a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree or a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree. These programs both involve four years of academic coursework in biology, biochemistry, anatomy, pathology, psychology, physiology, medical ethics and pharmacology.

During medical school, students take parts one and two of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). Part one will be administered prior to their third year of medical school, while part two happens in the fourth year.

Also during their final year of med school, students apply for residency based on their choice of specialty.

Following the completion of medical school, students are awarded their respective degree (MD or DO). Next, the new physicians must go on to complete a clinical residency, which provides them with several years of hands-on practice in a variety of clinical settings under the supervision of fully trained, attending physicians. Three-year clinical residencies in internal medicine, family medicine, or emergency medicine (or a four-year residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation) all offer suitable training for an aspiring sports medicine physician. Other, more surgically inclined students may instead opt for a five-year residency in orthopedic surgery. During residency, it may be possible to secure an elective rotation in sports medicine to gain early exposure.

Part three of the USMLE happens at the very end of residency. Students need to pass this exam in order to practice medicine in the United States.

Since sports medicine is a subspecialty, doctors must get a certification of added qualification (CAQ) in sports medicine. To prepare for this, doctors complete a two-year fellowship in sports medicine at a hospital, rehabilitation facility or university athletic department. (Orthopedic surgeons can also apply for fellowships in this field, but added qualification certification is not required.)

All states require medical doctors to be licensed, so sports medicine doctors must check with their state’s licensing board for specific requirements.

Sports medicine doctors can establish their own practices or join existing groups with the ultimate aim of becoming a partner. Alternatively, a position in larger hospitals also provides the sports doctor with opportunities for advancement, depending on experience and continuing education. For example, after several years of productive performance, staff physicians may take on supervisory or management roles, potentially becoming head of a department.

Sports medicine is a subspecialty. That means that after medical school, you’ll need to complete two periods of supervised training. The first, called residency, will be in a primary specialty like internal medicine or orthopedic surgery. After that, you’ll complete an additional year of training (fellowship) focused on sports medicine.

Earning a medical degree, plus residency and fellowship requirements, will require about 12-14 years. That’s a lot of steps to remember, so let’s back up and start at high school graduation.

As an aspiring physician, obtaining a four-year college degree will be your first step. You can major in any subject, but remember that med schools require certain classes (prerequisites) for admission. These usually include a year each of biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and English.

Some subjects you’ll no doubt encounter as a pre-med:

When choosing a four-year college, ask about medical school acceptance rates. Many schools have pre-medicine programs to help guide students through the medical school admissions process.

After college graduation, your next step will be medical school. You can apply to enter right after college. Or you can take some time to work, volunteer, take additional classes, conduct research, or travel. These activities may be helpful if you need to strengthen your application.

The first two years of med school are all about classroom and hands-on learning. It’s a bit like college that way, but more intense. Here are a few classes you’ll probably find in your schedule:

Your second two years of medical school are taken up by clerkships, also known as clinical rotations. These are intended to familiarize you with core specialties like family medicine, emergency medicine, and surgery. During each rotation, you’ll present cases, round on patients, participate in scholarly activities, and practice your skills under supervision.

During your final year of medical school, you’ll have an opportunity to choose some of your rotations. This can be a good time to gain experience treating athletes and networking with the sports medicine community.

Residency is a period of supervised training focused on your chosen specialty. From this point, there are two pathways to becoming a sports medicine doctor:

When choosing a residency, look for a specialty you enjoy and one that fits your skills and temperament. Residents rotate through a variety of settings, so look for a program that offers opportunities in sports medicine.

No matter which pathway you choose, stay focused. While your ultimate goal is to work with athletes, it’s very important to develop strong skills in your primary specialty. A firm foundation will help you compete for fellowships later.

Residents can strengthen their fellowship applications by teaching, conducting research, attending professional conferences, and networking with the sports medicine community.

This is where you really dive deep into the subspecialty of sports medicine. These two years expose doctors to different types of athletic-related injuries and methods of diagnosing and treating them. Additionally, the fellowship provides experience with orthopedic surgeries, rehabilitative techniques, brain trauma, nutrition, and performance psychology. As a fellow, you might conduct casting and splinting workshops for medical students, train college athletes in the weight room, or cover mass sporting events like marathons.

Many fellowships also have a research component. Fellows work toward publishing papers or presenting at professional conferences.

Board certification in both your primary specialty and sports medicine is voluntary but has many advantages. Many employers and group practices favor it when hiring. If you’re a surgeon, you may need it to gain hospital privileges.

To become board-certified, you’ll need to obtain a medical license and pass a series of exams. Some specialties and subspecialties also have experience requirements.

There are three main credentialing organizations for physicians in the United States. For information on which are recognized in your area, check with your state board of medicine or board of osteopathic medicine:

• American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS)
• American Osteopathic Association (AOA)
• American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS) - primary orthopedic surgery certification only; no sports medicine subspecialty

The following is a list of primary specialties that have a sports medicine subspecialty. Organizations offering board certification for each pathway are listed in parentheses:

• Orthopaedic surgery (ABMS)
• Pediatrics (AOA, ABMS)
• Physical medicine and rehabilitation (AOA, ABMS)
• Emergency medicine (AOA, ABMS)
• Family medicine (AOA, ABMS)
• Internal medicine (AOA, ABMS)
• Neuromusculoskeletal medicine and osteopathic manipulative medicine (AOA)