{"id":22856,"date":"2026-09-02T19:15:43","date_gmt":"2026-09-02T19:15:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.degreequery.com\/?page_id=22856---edb468e5-7caf-4e8d-9894-d1b71c84e17a"},"modified":"2026-09-28T18:10:54","modified_gmt":"2026-09-28T18:10:54","slug":"medical-degree-to-work-in-sports-medicine","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.degreequery.com\/sports-science-degrees\/medical-degree-to-work-in-sports-medicine\/","title":{"rendered":"Do I Need a Medical Degree to Work in Sports Medicine?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Attractive to many, a sports medicine career can bring a lot of joy to those who have spent their years loving, playing and investing in sports and exercise. The field of sports medicine can sound intimidating to many \u2013 you may be asking if you need to be a doctor to work within this field? The short answer is no! There are a variety of care providers and professionals who work in sports medicine. While a doctor is one kind of professional, there are many other avenues into a sports medicine career.<\/p>\n

The field of sports medicine is broad, including athletic performance and exercise, nutrition and healthy lifestyle management, and injury prevention and recovery. While athletes are common sports medicine patients, care providers and professionals in this field are capable of helping all individuals with their health and fitness needs.<\/p>\n

Sports Medicine Education<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Today, there are both bachelor\u2019s degrees and master\u2019s degrees available to the individual interested in a sports medicine career. Bachelor\u2019s degrees in the field are available in sports medicine, health science, health education and behavior, and exercise science.<\/p>\n

For the student desiring a higher level of education, there are also master\u2019s and doctoral degrees available to the sports medicine professional. If you desire a career as a physician, occupational or physical therapist, or a nutritionist, you will have to pursue graduate and\/or post-graduate education.<\/p>\n

Sports Medicine Degree Requirements<\/strong><\/h2>\n

This is a general discussion of bachelor\u2019s degree requirements and master\u2019s degree requirements for sports medicine degrees (or comparable degrees, like health sciences or exercise science). Note that should you choose secondary education with a specific track (MD, OT, PT), that education is going to look very different than what is discussed here. Also, note that you should always choose education from an accredited university or program.<\/p>\n

Sports Medicine Bachelor\u2019s Degree <\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

For a BS or a BA, sports medicine degree requirements are initially similar to those of many other bachelor\u2019s degrees. For those of you considering transferring into this field, this means you may have many of the bachelor\u2019s degree requirements already completed.<\/p>\n

The programs typically take four years. The first two years are usually spent completing general education requirements, like English, math, social studies, science, and psychology courses. These are usually the years a student may also pursue some electives.<\/p>\n

The final two years of these BA or BS programs are dedicated to the track or specialization you have chosen. You should expect to complete courses in anatomy and psychology, nutrition, principles of sports medicine, injury evaluation and treatment, culture and diet, and biomechanics. Many programs also require an internship or clinical practicum experience. This is completed in a student\u2019s final quarter or semester.<\/p>\n

Sports Medicine Master\u2019s Degree <\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Master\u2019s programs commonly take 2-3 years. Length of time is dependent on whether a student is part-time or full-time. There are often pre-requisites for these master\u2019s degree programs. A bachelor\u2019s degree is required; students should have a solid understanding of anatomy and physiology, biology, physiology and nutrition. It is also not uncommon to see a minimum GPA requirement related to the undergraduate education pursued (often 3.0 GPA). Lastly, some programs require professional experience or achievement of certain certifications for their applicants. Make sure you research the specific program you are interested in to ensure you are a qualified and competitive candidate.<\/p>\n

Once in a master\u2019s program, you should expect your education to grow upon the foundation your bachelor\u2019s program built. Common courses include advanced anatomy and physiology, exercise physiology, theories of strength and conditioning, kinesiology, and care, prevention, and rehabilitation of injuries.<\/p>\n

Most masters\u2019 programs also offer specializations. Courses may differ slightly based on your chosen specialization. Common specializations include kinesiology, strength and conditioning, sports nutrition, human movement and science, and injury prevention.<\/p>\n

Sports Medicine Careers <\/strong><\/h2>\n

The career options that are available to you are going to be dependent on your level of education and any additional certifications you have completed. The following are some common career paths that may be pursued after the completion of a sports medicine education.<\/p>\n

Athletic Trainer<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

These professionals treat and evaluate athletic injuries. They often work with doctors, coaches, and other care providers to keep an individual or a team healthy. It is not uncommon for athletic trainers to need additional certifications.<\/p>\n

Exercise Physiologist<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

These sports medicine professionals assist patients in injury recovery or chronic disease management. You would expect to be involved in the development of fitness or care plans meant to restore or rehabilitate function.<\/p>\n

Personal Trainer\/Aerobics\/Group Exercise Trainer<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

These professionals usually work with individuals or small groups to help them meet healthy lifestyle goals. Their focus is often on a healthy combination of exercise and diet in order to gain muscle and\/or lose weight. These professionals often have extra certifications (and may not have a bachelor\u2019s degree).<\/p>\n

Dietitian or Sports Nutritionist<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Nutritionists often work in collaboration with the whole care team, working to ensure that one who is injured or ill is meeting their nutritive needs as well as their mobility needs. The professionals are often responsible for developing food plans, diets, and or suggesting supplements. Most do not have prescriptive authority.<\/p>\n

Sports Medicine Physician<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Sports medicine MDs or Dos have significant specialized training in both illness and injury. Professionals interested in this career should expect 10-12 years of education, training, residency and fellowship. These providers specialize in non-operative management of musculoskeletal issues.<\/p>\n

Physical Therapist (PT)<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

PTs utilize their knowledge of movement to assist those who are sick, acutely or chronically, in order to overcome pain, injury, or illness. This career requires a master\u2019s degree and <\/em>a doctorate of PT. It will also require state licensure. That additional education typically takes another 2-3 years.<\/p>\n

Researcher<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

These professionals often have a Ph.D. They may spend their careers studying ways to enhance sports performance and abilities or the psychology of sports injury and recovery.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>Sports Medicine is a Promising Field<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Currently, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports promising increases in nearly every sports medicine career. From 2018-2028, the job outlook for fitness trainers is expected to increase by 13%<\/a>, for physical therapists \u2013 22%,<\/a> for athletic trainers \u2013 19%,<\/a> and for nutritionists \u2013 11%<\/a>. Each of these job outlooks is reported to be higher than average. So, if you are still unsure where you want to land in sports medicine, that\u2019s okay. Begin working towards that bachelor\u2019s degree. You\u2019ll likely be very pleased with all of the opportunities available to you once you complete your education.<\/p>\n

Laura Mansfield<\/em><\/p>\n

Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA)\u00a0| Sacred Heart University<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Associate’s Degree of Nursing (ADN)\u00a0| North Seattle Community College<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.), Marketing, Sales\u00a0| University of Washington (Seattle)<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

January 2020<\/em><\/p>\n

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