{"id":22392,"date":"2020-09-10T10:31:49","date_gmt":"2020-09-10T17:31:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/?p=22392"},"modified":"2025-09-29T14:57:41","modified_gmt":"2025-09-29T21:57:41","slug":"sports-medicine-degree","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/sports-medicine-degree\/","title":{"rendered":"What You Can do With a Sports Medicine Degree"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>If you have a keen interest in sports and medicine, you might be wondering: What is a sports medicine degree? With a sports medicine degree, you can treat sports injuries and help athletes reduce their pain.&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These injuries will usually be musculoskeletal injuries, like sprains and strains, joint dislocations, and simple fractures. Then there are more chronic issues like tendonitis, arthritis, and trauma to the brain, such as concussions.&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This article will explore what you can do with a degree in sports medicine, the salary for those careers, and how to get into sports medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n<!-- load the widget code --><div class=\"esy_widget_container esy_type_search\" style=\"min-height:175px\"><\/div><script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">document.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\", function(event) {ESY.Widget({category_id: '',domain_id: 'careerkarma.com',widget_id: '945946',custom_options: '',tags: '',intro: '',type: 'search'});});<\/script><!-- END load the widget code -->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-is-sports-medicine\">What Is Sports Medicine?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1020\" height=\"681\" src=\"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/john-arano-h4i9G-de7Po-unsplash.jpg\" alt=\"A woman lifting weights in the gym.\" class=\"wp-image-22394\" srcset=\"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/john-arano-h4i9G-de7Po-unsplash.jpg 1020w, https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/john-arano-h4i9G-de7Po-unsplash-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/john-arano-h4i9G-de7Po-unsplash-770x514.jpg 770w, https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/john-arano-h4i9G-de7Po-unsplash-20x13.jpg 20w, https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/john-arano-h4i9G-de7Po-unsplash-385x257.jpg 385w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1020px) 100vw, 1020px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"> As an athletic trainer, you can support an athlete or athletic team. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Sports medicine is for someone looking to help athletes prevent injuries and treat those who have suffered an injury. Professionals working in sports medicine can directly work with athletes at games and competitions, but can also help regular patients who are physically active.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are many different sectors you can go into with a sports medicine degree, all centered around helping a patient&#8217;s mobility, reducing pain, and building strength.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-careers-with-a-sports-medicine-degree\">Careers With a Sports Medicine Degree<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are some of the potential careers you can pursue with a sports medicine degree.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-physical-therapist-nbsp\">Physical Therapist&nbsp;<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>A physical therapist helps patients with exercise plans to aid recovery from muscle, joint, and nerve injuries. They usually take a physician&#8217;s diagnosis and then work to create a therapy plan best suited for the patient. To be a physical therapist, you will need a bachelor\u2019s degree, a doctor of physical therapy degree, and a license.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-athletic-trainer-nbsp\">Athletic Trainer&nbsp;<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>As an athletic trainer, you will be supporting an athlete or athletic team to ensure top athletic performance. You will be outlining nutrition plans, safe and effective exercise routines, and you will help prevent injury and help with recovery.&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To be an athletic trainer, you need an athletic training bachelor\u2019s or master\u2019s degree and must pass a board certification exam in athletic training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-orthopedic-surgeon\">Orthopedic Surgeon<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>An orthopedist works both surgically and non-surgically to treat muscle, tendon, joint, and bone afflictions. To be an orthopedic surgeon, you will need a bachelor\u2019s degree, a doctor of medicine degree, and an orthopedic surgery residency (four to five years).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-primary-care-sports-medicine-physician\">Primary Care Sports Medicine Physician<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>A primary care sports medicine physician works alongside physical therapists and other healthcare providers to diagnose and treat injuries. They can help athletes and non-athletes by recommending nutrition plans and athletic conditioning.&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You will need a bachelor&#8217;s degree, a doctor of medicine degree, a family medicine specialty, and a non-degree certification in sports medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-sports-medicine-nurse\">Sports Medicine Nurse<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>A sports medicine nurse helps the physician by co-designing treatment plans and relaying information about the patient\u2019s recovery to them. To become a sports medicine nurse, you will need a nursing bachelor\u2019s degree, possibly a nurse practitioner master\u2019s degree, and then Orthopedic Nursing Certification.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-essential-sports-medicine-practitioner-skills\">Essential Sports Medicine Practitioner Skills<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-patient-rapport-nbsp\">Patient Rapport&nbsp;<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Your written and oral communication skills will be invaluable when working with your patients. If you have a keen interest in sports, that will further help you talk to your patients about their fitness goals. Most of all, a sense of compassion for athletes or amateur athletes will go a long way in delivering the best care possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-knowledge-of-the-body-nbsp\">Knowledge of The Body&nbsp;<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Much like a doctor or surgeon, you will need to study anatomy. If you find yourself fascinated by biology, chemistry, and anatomy, then this could be the perfect career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-treatment-planning\">Treatment Planning<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>A big part of your role will be creating treatment plans for your patients. This could include an exercise plan for injury prevention, a nutritional plan for optimal athlete performance, or a therapy plan for restoring wellness in the patient&#8217;s body post-injury.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-sports-medicine-salaries-and-job-outlook\">Sports Medicine Salaries and Job Outlook<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1020\" height=\"721\" src=\"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/josh-nuttall-uNQ-TTg_qNY-unsplash.jpg\" alt=\"black and white photo of a cyclists arms and leg.\" class=\"wp-image-22395\" srcset=\"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/josh-nuttall-uNQ-TTg_qNY-unsplash.jpg 1020w, https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/josh-nuttall-uNQ-TTg_qNY-unsplash-768x543.jpg 768w, https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/josh-nuttall-uNQ-TTg_qNY-unsplash-320x225.jpg 320w, https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/josh-nuttall-uNQ-TTg_qNY-unsplash-770x544.jpg 770w, https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/josh-nuttall-uNQ-TTg_qNY-unsplash-20x14.jpg 20w, https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/josh-nuttall-uNQ-TTg_qNY-unsplash-385x272.jpg 385w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1020px) 100vw, 1020px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"> You can treat sports injuries and help athletes reduce their pain with a sports medicine degree. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Your salary as a sports medicine specialist can depend on a lot of factors, such as what specialty you choose, your years of study, and how many years you\u2019ve worked. Below is an overview of some healthcare sectors and their average salary per year, according to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/ooh\/healthcare\/home.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" rel=\"nofollow\">US Bureau of Labor Statistics<\/a> and Salary.com.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Physical Therapist:<\/strong> Average annual salary was $89,440 in 2019<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Athletic Trainer:<\/strong> Average annual pay was $48,440 in 2019<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Orthopedic Surgeon: <\/strong>Annual pay is $490,330 in 2020<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Primary Care Sports Physician:<\/strong> Average annual salary was $181,250 in 2019<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Sports Medicine Nurse:<\/strong> Average annual salary was $47,480 in 2019<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Sports medicine careers are projected to grow 11 percent in the next 10 years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which is above average. Of course, it depends on the specialty, but this is still great news for those who are interested in sports medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-to-become-a-primary-care-sports-physician-a-step-by-step-guide\">How to Become a Primary Care Sports Physician: A Step by Step Guide<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1020\" height=\"680\" src=\"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/braden-collum-9HI8UJMSdZA-unsplash.jpg\" alt=\"a close up of a runner's feet on the running track and his arms on the floor as he is about to race.\" class=\"wp-image-22396\" srcset=\"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/braden-collum-9HI8UJMSdZA-unsplash.jpg 1020w, https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/braden-collum-9HI8UJMSdZA-unsplash-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/braden-collum-9HI8UJMSdZA-unsplash-770x513.jpg 770w, https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/braden-collum-9HI8UJMSdZA-unsplash-20x13.jpg 20w, https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/braden-collum-9HI8UJMSdZA-unsplash-385x257.jpg 385w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1020px) 100vw, 1020px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"> Becoming a licensed sports physician takes around 12 to 13 years. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In this step-by-step guide, we will focus on how to become a sports physician. The total time it takes from your undergraduate degree to your first job as a licensed sports physician is around 12 to 13 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-step-1-college-degree-in-pre-med-4-years-nbsp\">Step 1: College Degree in Pre-Med &#8211; 4 years&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This is where you will gain an undergraduate degree that will prepare you for your medical degree. Make sure to pick a college that has a curriculum that meets the standards for medical school and prepares you for the MCATS (renowned as the most challenging professional exam out there). The things you will likely be studying in your pre-med are:<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Biology<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Anatomy\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Chemistry<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-step-2-mcat-exam\">Step 2: MCAT Exam<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The MCAT is your Medical College Admission Test. As your pre-medical degree comes to an end, you will take the MCAT exam to give you time to apply for medical school.&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Make sure to use the free materials that the <a href=\"https:\/\/students-residents.aamc.org\/applying-medical-school\/taking-mcat-exam\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" rel=\"nofollow\">Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC)<\/a> has in preparation for this exam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-step-3-medical-school-graduate-degree-4-years\">Step 3: Medical School (graduate degree) &#8211; 4 Years<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This is a tricky choice as all medical schools are different; some focus on medical technology and others range from practical knowledge to purely academic studies. Here, you will be getting your Doctor of Medicine degree or a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Which one you choose depends on you, what scholarships are available to you (if needed), and whether they have a primary specialization of either orthopedic surgery or primary care, with a sub-specialty in sports medicine.&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The last two years of your medical school will be a clinical rotation. This is where you will get to interact with patients, provide patient care, and get some hands-on training in various fields of medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-step-4-residency-3-years\">Step 4: Residency &#8211; 3 Years<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>With residency, none focus on sports medicine, but rotations can include sports medicine treatments. Look to do a residency in family medicine, emergency medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, neuromusculoskeletal, or rehabilitation medicine.&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you want to take the surgical route, then do your residency in orthopedic surgery medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-step-5-sports-medicine-program-fellowship-1-to-2-years\">Step 5: Sports Medicine Program\/ Fellowship &#8211; 1 to 2 Years<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Those looking to become a primary care sports physician will then do a one- to two-year fellowship in sports medicine.&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here you will work with a local high school or college sports team to learn more about sports injuries while completing further studies on your chosen specialty (i.e. family medicine or pediatrics).&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are pursuing a career in orthopedic surgery, it is best to do your fellowship in surgical sports medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-best-sports-medicine-degree-programs-and-schools\">Best Sports Medicine Degree Programs and Schools<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Searching for the right sports medicine degree program and school can be a lengthy and complicated process. Of course, the decision should always be based on further research, your career goals, and what works best for you and your circumstances.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Below are some recommended graduate schools based on <a href=\"https:\/\/study.com\/best_sports_medicine_schools.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" rel=\"nofollow\">Study.com<\/a>, which has a list of some of the best schools for sports medicine, as well as other guides and information on different levels of education.&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>University of Virginia<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>University of North Carolina<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>University of Miami<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>University of Georgia<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ohio State University<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Utah State University<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>What influences these school rankings is affordability, student retention rates, graduate salaries, and overall reputation. Check their website and also check <a href=\"https:\/\/www.topuniversities.com\/university-rankings-articles\/university-subject-rankings\/top-medical-schools-2020\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" rel=\"nofollow\">topuniversities.com<\/a> for its list of top medical schools as you complete your research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-should-you-pursue-a-sports-medicine-degree-in-2020\">Should You Pursue a Sports Medicine Degree in 2020?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Sadly due to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S2666061X20300262\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" rel=\"nofollow\">COVID-19<\/a> and the cancellation of many sporting activities, this is a difficult question to answer. Like most careers, sports medicine is having to adapt to new changes and find ways to practice in the community safely.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although it may take a while to adapt to sporting events and be able to work with athletes, there will always be a need to help with musculoskeletal issues. So, if you have a real passion for helping people with such injuries then it may be worth it, especially with such good career prospects over the next 10 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-sports-medicine-faq\">Sports Medicine FAQ<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1599758618451\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>Who would be seen first: a primary care sports medicine doctor or an orthopedic sports medicine doctor?<\/strong> <\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">It depends on whether the injury is surgical or not. If it seems like it is definitely surgical, then seeing an orthopedic surgeon first is fine (if your insurance allows it). And if it seems like a common fracture or injury, then a primary care sports physician is the first go-to as they can also refer patients to an orthopedic surgeon if surgery is required.<br\/> <\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1599758630526\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>Is there a difference between having a DO and an MD?<\/strong> <\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">No, these are thought of as equivalent degrees. However, a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine is more focused on things like manipulation of the body and musculoskeletal injuries.<br\/> <\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1599758642012\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>Do I need any additional certificates for becoming a primary care physician?<\/strong> <\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Yes. You will need to do the Certificate of Added Qualifications (CAQ) in Sports Medicine. Make sure they are accredited by the American Board of Medical Specialties (AMBS) or the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists. <\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1599758654322\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>Can a primary care doctor take the CAQ exam if they don\u2019t do a fellowship in Sports Medicine?<\/strong> <\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">No. The fellowship is required to do the examination.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"If you have a keen interest in sports and medicine, you might be wondering: What is a sports medicine degree? With a sports medicine degree, you can treat sports injuries and help athletes reduce their pain.&nbsp; These injuries will usually be musculoskeletal injuries, like sprains and strains, joint dislocations, and simple fractures. Then there are&hellip;","protected":false},"author":90,"featured_media":22393,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[25395],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-22392","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-degrees"},"acf":{"post_sub_title":"","sprint_id":"","query_class":"Best {subject} {course type}","school_sft":"","parent_sft":"","school_privacy_policy":"","has_review":"","is_sponser_post":"","is_guest_post":""},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.4 (Yoast SEO v27.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>What Is a Sports Medicine Degree? | Career Karma<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"If you&#039;re interested in sports, you may be wondering what a sports medicine degree entails. Find out what careers you can pursue with this degree and how much you will be paid in this step-by-step guide from Career Karma.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/sports-medicine-degree\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What You Can do With a Sports Medicine Degree\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"If you&#039;re interested in sports, you may be wondering what a sports medicine degree entails. Find out what careers you can pursue with this degree and how much you will be paid in this step-by-step guide from Career Karma.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/sports-medicine-degree\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Career Karma\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"http:\/\/facebook.com\/careerkarmaapp\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2020-09-10T17:31:49+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-09-29T21:57:41+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/jesper-aggergaard-CEM52sAHR80-unsplash.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1020\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"680\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Jacqueline Renouard\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@career_karma\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@career_karma\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Jacqueline Renouard\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"9 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/sports-medicine-degree\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/sports-medicine-degree\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Jacqueline Renouard\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/5bd7a649d1ea55166b7884ed6648a87d\"},\"headline\":\"What You Can do With a Sports Medicine Degree\",\"datePublished\":\"2020-09-10T17:31:49+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-09-29T21:57:41+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/sports-medicine-degree\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1692,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/sports-medicine-degree\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/09\\\/jesper-aggergaard-CEM52sAHR80-unsplash.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Degrees\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/sports-medicine-degree\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":[\"WebPage\",\"FAQPage\"],\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/sports-medicine-degree\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/sports-medicine-degree\\\/\",\"name\":\"What Is a Sports Medicine Degree? | Career Karma\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/sports-medicine-degree\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/sports-medicine-degree\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/09\\\/jesper-aggergaard-CEM52sAHR80-unsplash.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2020-09-10T17:31:49+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-09-29T21:57:41+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/5bd7a649d1ea55166b7884ed6648a87d\"},\"description\":\"If you're interested in sports, you may be wondering what a sports medicine degree entails. Find out what careers you can pursue with this degree and how much you will be paid in this step-by-step guide from Career Karma.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/sports-medicine-degree\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"mainEntity\":[{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/sports-medicine-degree\\\/#faq-question-1599758618451\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/sports-medicine-degree\\\/#faq-question-1599758630526\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/sports-medicine-degree\\\/#faq-question-1599758642012\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/sports-medicine-degree\\\/#faq-question-1599758654322\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/sports-medicine-degree\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/sports-medicine-degree\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/09\\\/jesper-aggergaard-CEM52sAHR80-unsplash.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/09\\\/jesper-aggergaard-CEM52sAHR80-unsplash.jpg\",\"width\":1020,\"height\":680,\"caption\":\"A man with his back being examined by a sports medicine professional with diagrams of the human body on the wall.\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/sports-medicine-degree\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Blog\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Degrees\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/degrees\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"What You Can do With a Sports Medicine Degree\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"name\":\"Career Karma\",\"description\":\"Latest Coding Bootcamp News &amp; Career Hacks from Industry Insiders\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/5bd7a649d1ea55166b7884ed6648a87d\",\"name\":\"Jacqueline Renouard\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/09\\\/me_480-150x150.jpg\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/09\\\/me_480-150x150.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/09\\\/me_480-150x150.jpg\",\"caption\":\"Jacqueline Renouard\"},\"description\":\"Jacqueline is a writer at Career Karma, where she draws on her skills as a wordsmith to cover topics like higher education, technical skills, and occupations. After earning her BA in Television and Film Production from the University of Portsmouth, she worked for Wellbe, where she wrote extensively about health, wellness, and fitness. She joined the Career Karma team in September 2020, bringing expertise in digital marketing and content creation.\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/in\\\/jacquelinerenouard\\\/\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/author\\\/jacqueline-renouard\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/sports-medicine-degree\\\/#faq-question-1599758618451\",\"position\":1,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/sports-medicine-degree\\\/#faq-question-1599758618451\",\"name\":\"Who would be seen first: a primary care sports medicine doctor or an orthopedic sports medicine doctor?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"It depends on whether the injury is surgical or not. If it seems like it is definitely surgical, then seeing an orthopedic surgeon first is fine (if your insurance allows it). And if it seems like a common fracture or injury, then a primary care sports physician is the first go-to as they can also refer patients to an orthopedic surgeon if surgery is required.<br\\\/> \",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/sports-medicine-degree\\\/#faq-question-1599758630526\",\"position\":2,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/sports-medicine-degree\\\/#faq-question-1599758630526\",\"name\":\"Is there a difference between having a DO and an MD?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"No, these are thought of as equivalent degrees. However, a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine is more focused on things like manipulation of the body and musculoskeletal injuries.<br\\\/> \",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/sports-medicine-degree\\\/#faq-question-1599758642012\",\"position\":3,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/sports-medicine-degree\\\/#faq-question-1599758642012\",\"name\":\"Do I need any additional certificates for becoming a primary care physician?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Yes. You will need to do the Certificate of Added Qualifications (CAQ) in Sports Medicine. Make sure they are accredited by the American Board of Medical Specialties (AMBS) or the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists. \",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/sports-medicine-degree\\\/#faq-question-1599758654322\",\"position\":4,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/sports-medicine-degree\\\/#faq-question-1599758654322\",\"name\":\"Can a primary care doctor take the CAQ exam if they don\u2019t do a fellowship in Sports Medicine?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"No. The fellowship is required to do the examination.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"What Is a Sports Medicine Degree? | Career Karma","description":"If you're interested in sports, you may be wondering what a sports medicine degree entails. Find out what careers you can pursue with this degree and how much you will be paid in this step-by-step guide from Career Karma.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/sports-medicine-degree\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"What You Can do With a Sports Medicine Degree","og_description":"If you're interested in sports, you may be wondering what a sports medicine degree entails. Find out what careers you can pursue with this degree and how much you will be paid in this step-by-step guide from Career Karma.","og_url":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/sports-medicine-degree\/","og_site_name":"Career Karma","article_publisher":"http:\/\/facebook.com\/careerkarmaapp","article_published_time":"2020-09-10T17:31:49+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-09-29T21:57:41+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1020,"height":680,"url":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/jesper-aggergaard-CEM52sAHR80-unsplash.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Jacqueline Renouard","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@career_karma","twitter_site":"@career_karma","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Jacqueline Renouard","Est. reading time":"9 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/sports-medicine-degree\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/sports-medicine-degree\/"},"author":{"name":"Jacqueline Renouard","@id":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/5bd7a649d1ea55166b7884ed6648a87d"},"headline":"What You Can do With a Sports Medicine Degree","datePublished":"2020-09-10T17:31:49+00:00","dateModified":"2025-09-29T21:57:41+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/sports-medicine-degree\/"},"wordCount":1692,"commentCount":0,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/sports-medicine-degree\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/jesper-aggergaard-CEM52sAHR80-unsplash.jpg","articleSection":["Degrees"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/sports-medicine-degree\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":["WebPage","FAQPage"],"@id":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/sports-medicine-degree\/","url":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/sports-medicine-degree\/","name":"What Is a Sports Medicine Degree? | Career Karma","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/sports-medicine-degree\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/sports-medicine-degree\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/jesper-aggergaard-CEM52sAHR80-unsplash.jpg","datePublished":"2020-09-10T17:31:49+00:00","dateModified":"2025-09-29T21:57:41+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/5bd7a649d1ea55166b7884ed6648a87d"},"description":"If you're interested in sports, you may be wondering what a sports medicine degree entails. Find out what careers you can pursue with this degree and how much you will be paid in this step-by-step guide from Career Karma.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/sports-medicine-degree\/#breadcrumb"},"mainEntity":[{"@id":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/sports-medicine-degree\/#faq-question-1599758618451"},{"@id":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/sports-medicine-degree\/#faq-question-1599758630526"},{"@id":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/sports-medicine-degree\/#faq-question-1599758642012"},{"@id":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/sports-medicine-degree\/#faq-question-1599758654322"}],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/sports-medicine-degree\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/sports-medicine-degree\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/jesper-aggergaard-CEM52sAHR80-unsplash.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/jesper-aggergaard-CEM52sAHR80-unsplash.jpg","width":1020,"height":680,"caption":"A man with his back being examined by a sports medicine professional with diagrams of the human body on the wall."},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/sports-medicine-degree\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Degrees","item":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/degrees\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"What You Can do With a Sports Medicine Degree"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/","name":"Career Karma","description":"Latest Coding Bootcamp News &amp; Career Hacks from Industry Insiders","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/5bd7a649d1ea55166b7884ed6648a87d","name":"Jacqueline Renouard","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/me_480-150x150.jpg","url":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/me_480-150x150.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/me_480-150x150.jpg","caption":"Jacqueline Renouard"},"description":"Jacqueline is a writer at Career Karma, where she draws on her skills as a wordsmith to cover topics like higher education, technical skills, and occupations. After earning her BA in Television and Film Production from the University of Portsmouth, she worked for Wellbe, where she wrote extensively about health, wellness, and fitness. She joined the Career Karma team in September 2020, bringing expertise in digital marketing and content creation.","sameAs":["https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/jacquelinerenouard\/"],"url":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/author\/jacqueline-renouard\/"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/sports-medicine-degree\/#faq-question-1599758618451","position":1,"url":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/sports-medicine-degree\/#faq-question-1599758618451","name":"Who would be seen first: a primary care sports medicine doctor or an orthopedic sports medicine doctor?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"It depends on whether the injury is surgical or not. If it seems like it is definitely surgical, then seeing an orthopedic surgeon first is fine (if your insurance allows it). And if it seems like a common fracture or injury, then a primary care sports physician is the first go-to as they can also refer patients to an orthopedic surgeon if surgery is required.<br\/> ","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/sports-medicine-degree\/#faq-question-1599758630526","position":2,"url":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/sports-medicine-degree\/#faq-question-1599758630526","name":"Is there a difference between having a DO and an MD?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"No, these are thought of as equivalent degrees. However, a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine is more focused on things like manipulation of the body and musculoskeletal injuries.<br\/> ","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/sports-medicine-degree\/#faq-question-1599758642012","position":3,"url":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/sports-medicine-degree\/#faq-question-1599758642012","name":"Do I need any additional certificates for becoming a primary care physician?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes. You will need to do the Certificate of Added Qualifications (CAQ) in Sports Medicine. Make sure they are accredited by the American Board of Medical Specialties (AMBS) or the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists. ","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/sports-medicine-degree\/#faq-question-1599758654322","position":4,"url":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/sports-medicine-degree\/#faq-question-1599758654322","name":"Can a primary care doctor take the CAQ exam if they don\u2019t do a fellowship in Sports Medicine?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"No. The fellowship is required to do the examination.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22392","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/90"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22392"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22392\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22393"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22392"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22392"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22392"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}