Sports medicine how many years of school

The first, called residency, will be in a primary specialty like internal medicine or orthopedic surgery. Earning a medical degree, plus residency and fellowship requirements, will require about years. As an aspiring physician, obtaining a four-year college degree will be your first step. You can major in any subject, but remember that med schools require certain classes prerequisites for admission.

These usually include a year each of biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and English. A yearlong sequence of classes that covers subjects like cell structure and function, genetics, basic biochemistry, evolution, and ecology. Study reactions between different types of compounds, including equilibrium, atomic and molecular structure, gases, and the effects of heat and electricity.

Apply the principles of chemistry to organic carbon containing compounds, which are the building blocks of living things. Learn how principles like motion, energy, momentum, electricity, and magnetism shape the universe around us. When choosing a four-year college, ask about medical school acceptance rates. Many schools have pre-medicine programs to help guide students through the medical school admissions process.

After college graduation, your next step will be medical school. You can apply to enter right after college. Or you can take some time to work, volunteer, take additional classes , conduct research, or travel. These activities may be helpful if you need to strengthen your application.

The first two years of med school are all about classroom and hands-on learning. Covers topics like gene biology and chemistry, genetic diseases, genetic testing, and pharmacogenetics. Explore human sexuality across the lifespan as well as the process of fertilization and stages of early embryonic development. Take a look at the structure and function of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves, plus how disease and injury affect this system.

This is often part of a series of classes, with one dedicated to each body system. Your second two years of medical school are taken up by clerkships, also known as clinical rotations.

These are intended to familiarize you with core specialties like family medicine, emergency medicine, and surgery. This can be a good time to gain experience treating athletes and networking with the sports medicine community. Residency is a period of supervised training focused on your chosen specialty. From this point, there are two pathways to becoming a sports medicine doctor:. Helps athletes boost performance, prevent injuries, and stay healthy. Requires a 3—4 year-residency in emergency medicine, family medicine, or internal medicine.

For a complete list, see additional credentials. Repairs sports-related injuries to the bones, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage. Requires a 5-year residency in orthopaedic surgery. When choosing a residency, look for a specialty you enjoy and one that fits your skills and temperament.

Residents rotate through a variety of settings, so look for a program that offers opportunities in sports medicine. No matter which pathway you choose, stay focused.

A firm foundation will help you compete for fellowships later. Residents can strengthen their fellowship applications by teaching, conducting research, attending professional conferences, and networking with the sports medicine community. This is where you really dive deep into the subspecialty of sports medicine. These two years expose doctors to different types of athletic-related injuries and methods of diagnosing and treating them.

Additionally, the fellowship provides experience with orthopedic surgeries, rehabilitative techniques, brain trauma, nutrition, and performance psychology. In order to be a sports medicine physician, one needs a medical degree. One must first graduate from college with a bachelor's degree. Most people who want to be a sports physician major in fields like exercise science, biology, chemistry, and physics. After graduating, one must go on to take the MCAT and apply to medical school.

Students can also go on to earn a doctor of physical therapy and become a licensed physical therapist. This occupation combines sports medicine with information technology. Health informatics use technology to provide better care and improve patient outcomes. Prior to starting their careers, graduates often earn the certified specialist in business intelligence certificate. Some graduates with a master's in sports medicine pursue executive leadership positions.

These professionals' responsibilities may include team management, strategic planning, and analyzing business strategies. Athletic trainers need specialized training to work with people recovering from sports injuries. They focus on injury prevention, common disabilities, and differentiating treatment for men and women. Kinesiologists study how anatomy, physiology, and lifestyle choices affect physical health. Kinesiologists who specialize in sports medicine can work as personal trainers and physical therapy assistants.

Sports medicine encompasses many industries and roles. Depending on their degree, graduates can pursue sports medicine careers as coaches, athletic trainers, physical therapists, physicians, and professors, among other roles.

The degree and concentration you select significantly impact your career choices. A bachelor's degree qualifies you for many entry-level roles, but a master's degree is typically needed for managerial and leadership roles.

To work as a physician or professor, you must obtain a doctoral degree. A bachelor's in sports medicine or a related field represents the minimum degree you need to work in most sports medicine careers. After earning your bachelor's degree, you can continue your education in a master's program or look for entry-level positions. As some master's programs require applicants to possess relevant professional experience, you may need to work for a few years before applying to graduate school. Athletic trainers work with athletes to identify and treat common sports injuries.

Much of their job involves observing athletes for signs of injury and implementing rehabilitation programs. Bachelor's programs prepare students for this profession by covering essential anatomy and physiology topics, including first aid.

Coaches train athletes at all levels to play sports competitively. They organize practice sessions, mentor athletes, and provide encouragement and positive reinforcement. They also recruit new talent. Coaches can use their bachelor's in sports medicine education to help protect athletes from injury. Exercise physiologists help patients with physical impairments and illnesses regain mobility and improve their overall health.

They meet with patients, take vital signs, and create exercise programs that their patients can perform independently. A bachelor's in sports medicine provides these professionals with essential medical knowledge and skills. Like exercise physiologists, recreational therapists help patients with physical impairments and illnesses. However, recreational therapists often take a more hands-on approach by leading patients through activities.

These professionals also focus on patients' mental health by holding group activities where patients with similar afflictions can bond with one another. Many sports medicine bachelor's graduates pursue careers as high school teachers in public or private schools. They often work as physical education or nutrition teachers, promoting healthier lifestyles through exercise and lessons on health and wellness.

Other job duties may include mentoring students and addressing students' behavioral issues. Sports medicine master's programs go into greater detail than bachelor's programs. They often include extensive, hands-on requirements and academic research that results in a thesis.

Master's programs frequently fall into one of two categories: career preparation or doctorate preparation. The former stresses practical knowledge and skills, while the latter emphasizes academic research skills. Due to the specialized nature of master's programs, these often prepare students for specific sports medicine careers.

Occupational therapists treat patients with injuries and disabilities through the therapeutic use of daily activities.

They evaluate patient conditions, develop treatment plans, and help people with varying abilities perform daily tasks. Most states require that occupational therapists possess a license and a master's degree in occupational therapy, sports medicine, or a related field. Physician assistants practice medicine under a licensed physician's guidance.

They examine patients, prescribe medicine, and track patient recovery. Many physician assistants possess experience as EMTs or paramedics, although some come from the sports medicine field. A master's in sports medicine, along with some supplemental education, can prepare students for this career.

Nurse practitioners possess a highly advanced skill set. They perform medical tests, diagnose patient health problems, prescribe medicine, and create treatment plans. A nursing license, master's in sports medicine, and relevant certificate can qualify candidates for this position.

A doctorate is the terminal sports medicine degree. Many professionals earn this degree to learn about sports medicine best practices and advance into senior management positions. Doctoral programs tend to emphasize academic research, which prepares students for sports medicine careers in academia or at government agencies.

Professionals who already possess terminal degrees in other fields may earn a second doctorate to modify or focus their career paths. For instance, surgeons may earn a doctorate in sports medicine to exclusively treat professional athletes. These medical specialists often earn higher salaries than physicians without a specialization.

Full-time students typically earn a doctoral degree in sports medicine in years, depending on their graduation requirements. Postsecondary teachers instruct students in college and university classrooms. Other job duties may include mentoring students and publishing research. These teachers often possess a doctoral degree and extensive experience.

A doctorate qualifies graduates for tenure-track positions, which come with job security and managerial responsibilities. Like many sports medicine careers, physical therapists help people with limited mobility regain function.

Their advanced education allows them to work alongside doctors and nurses to create treatment plans. A doctorate in sports medicine prepares these professionals to work with diverse patients with different diseases and abilities. Many physicians earn a Ph. For instance, a physician with a doctorate in sports medicine can work as a team doctor or surgeon who specializes in a particular sports injury, such as a torn ACL or slipped vertebrae.

Once you have earned a degree in sports medicine, there are several ways to further your career and increase your salary potential. Because many of these professionals work in clinical positions in the healthcare industry, the best way to advance your career largely depends on your current role and education level.

Healthcare professionals working as athletic trainers or exercise physiologists typically need to earn a master's degree to advance in their role. Continuing your education can position you for a career as an occupational therapist or sports kinesiologist. Many top careers in this field require a doctorate and licensure, as well. Team physicians and physical therapists, for example, both need a doctorate and a license to practice.

Additionally, continuing education units are required for many clinical positions in sports medicine. Many advanced careers in sports medicine — especially those in clinical settings — require additional licensing or certification. After earning a master's degree, occupational therapists need to gain state licensure, which includes passing the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy exam.

Most states also require aspiring athletic trainers to be licensed and take the Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer exam. Alternatively, while exercise physiologists are not required to be licensed by most states, employers typically require basic life support or advanced life support certification.