Emily Clarke

How to Become a Sports Medicine Physician

Is marketing for sports medicine education catching your eye? Becoming a sports medicine physician is a compelling career choice for many sports lovers. These health care professionals treat injuries to the musculoskeletal system, helping patients reach peak physical health.

While most associate this specialty with athletes, physicians treat patients of all ages and lifestyles. It's a rewarding career with impressive earning potential, but how do you become a sports medicine physician?

Education Requirements

Like most health care providers, becoming a physician specializing in sports medicine requires considerable education.

During your undergraduate studies, it's important to focus on chemistry, life sciences, biology, physics and anatomy courses. Consider enrolling in a pre-med program to follow an appropriate track for graduate studies.

After obtaining a Bachelor's degree, you can take the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) and start applying to med school. Becoming a sports medicine physician requires four to five years of medical school training.

There are two routes to take. You can enroll in a Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) program. Both focus on treatment and broad healthcare practices, but the latter emphasizes osteopathic manipulative medicine.

For most of your medical school education, you'll work alongside budding physicians who will go on to work in many distinct specialties. It's not until the latter half of the program that you'll work with other health care professionals to hone in on your sports medicine specialty.

Completing Your Residency Training

One thing that marketing for sports medicine doesn't tell you is that your education and training don't stop after getting your degrees. After becoming a doctor, you must complete three to five years of residency.

During residency, you'll work alongside seasoned sports medicine physicians to hone your skills and prepare for a fulfilling career. This period can be grueling, but it's when health care professionals truly get their footing.

Sports medicine is a subspecialty, so there are additional requirements. After residency, you must complete a two-year fellowship and obtain a Certification of Added Qualification (CAQ) in sports medicine.

Author Resource:-

Emily Clarke writes about tailoring your strategy for on-page, off-page and technical SEO to fit the goals of your business. You can find her thoughts at physical therapy SEO blog.