How to Become a Sports Medicine Physician

If you're thinking about going into the medical field and want to specialize in an area that puts you in contact with the sports world, you can achieve that by becoming a sports medicine physician. A sports physician specializes in physical injuries related to athletic activity and provides treatment and educates patients on preventive measures they can take to avoid further injury.

Instructions

       
       1. Get an undergraduate degree and maintain a high grade-point average (GPA). Study chemistry, biology, physics, social sciences, English and math.
       
       2. Take a medical school admission exam, compile letters of reference and apply to medical school.

    
      3.  Complete medical school.
       
       4..Decide if you want your specialty to be in primary care sports medicine or orthopedic surgery.
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      5.  Complete your residency at a hospital or medical facility that specializes in sports medicine.
       
       6. Pass examinations for licensing by either the AOA (American Osteopathic Association) or ABMS (American Board of Medical Specialists). Primary care physicians must pass an additional exam to earn a Certificate of Added Qualifications in sports medicine.
       
       7. Apply for a sports medicine fellowship if you want to be a primary care sports medicine physician, or a surgical sports medicine fellowship if you want to be an orthopedic surgeon.
       

       8. Get a job working for a professional sports team.