How to Become a Sports Medicine Specialist
A sports medicine specialist usually refers to a doctor who works with athletes. Some work privately for a specific team, while others handle surgical procedures or rehabilitation after an injury. Those working in this field have completed a residency and fellowship to gain as much experience as possible in sports medicine. To become a sports medicine specialist, you’ll need to sit for your exam qualifications and get as much experience as you can working with athletes.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Decide how involved you want to be in sports medicine. This field was once only open to those who had a medical license, but there are now nurses, therapists and assistants working in this world. Most, though, still view sports medicine specialists as being doctors.
-
2
Attend a licensed school and study sports medicine. Schools across the country provide coursework and degrees in this area. Until you at least have a bachelor's degree in sports medicine, you can’t work as a specialist. Take a variety of classes other than sports medicine, such as psychology, anatomy and even sociology. You’ll need to work with patients directly and it’s easier to do if you know how to work with people.
-
-
3
Complete a residency in a specific field following medical school. Most doctors choose rehabilitation or physical medicine, though it depends on what you plan to do. Those who want to work with children should focus on pediatrics, while those interested in working for a sports team can do emergency medicine.
-
4
Do a fellowship following medical school in sports medicine. This fellowship will give you the chance to work directly in the field alongside the patients you’ll handle in the future and provide you the experience you need.
-
5
Take the qualification exam to get your license to practice sports medicine. Once you sit for your board and pass the exams, you’ll be officially licensed and can begin looking for jobs as a sports medicine specialist.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Consider joining a sports medicine society. Since these societies comprise those practicing in the field, you can network, meet new friends and learn about advances in the field, as well as find job opportunities.
Don’t hesitate to decide on a specialty early on in your college career. The sooner you decide on sports medicine, the more classes and experience you can gain.
