How to Practice Sports Medicine

Sports medicine has become an increasingly important area in the practice of medicine as more Americans participate in athletics. At one time, the only physician employed by sports teams was an orthopedic surgeon. Now, the primary care specialties of internal medicine, family practice, pediatrics and emergency medicine may all earn "A Certificate of Added Qualifications in Sports Medicine" by meeting qualifications and passing an exam offered by the boards of these four specialties.

Difficulty:

Challenging

Instructions

1. Become board certified in one of the four specialty areas: internal medicine, family practice, pediatrics or emergency medicine as defined by the certification boards of each of these specialties.

2. Check for fellowships in sports medicine. You can also check for fellowships within your specialty as well as with organizations such as The American Society of Sports Medicine. Apply to a fellowship--fellowships are 1 or 2 years.

3. Network while you are doing your fellowship. Make contacts at meetings and conferences.

4. Sit for the exam from the Board of Family Practice for a Certificate of Added Qualification in Sports Medicine. This exam is applicable to candidates who are board certified not only in family practice, but also internal medicine, pediatrics and emergency medicine.

5. Acquire your Certificate of Added Qualification--this is the only equivalent of board certification in sports medicine. Use your experience, contacts and credentialing to find a position in the field of sports medicine.

Resources

• American Board of Emergency Medicine
• American Board of Pediatrics
• American Board of Family Practice
• American Board of Internal Medicine
• American Medical Society of Sports Medicine
• American College for Sports Medicine
• Webpage that describes exam for certificate of added qualification