Post job

Sports medicine physician education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a sports medicine physician. Sports medicine physicians usually study medicine, osteopathic medicine, or athletic training. 34% of sports medicine physicians hold a doctoral degree, and 34% hold an bachelor's degree. We analyzed 63 real sports medicine physician resumes to see exactly what sports medicine physician education sections show.

The most common colleges for sports medicine physicians are the Duke University and the Duke University.

There are also many online sports medicine physician courses to help get the education required to be a sports medicine physician.

There are certain sports medicine physician certifications that you should consider. These sports medicine physician certifications include Emergency Medicine and Family Medicine.

What education do you need to become a sports medicine physician?

What degree do you need to be a sports medicine physician?

The most common degree for sports medicine physicians is doctoral degree, with 34% of sports medicine physicians earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are bachelor's degree degree at 34% and bachelor's degree degree at 6%.
  • Doctorate, 34%
  • Bachelor's, 34%
  • Master's, 6%
  • Associate, 3%
  • Other Degrees, 23%

What should I major in to become a sports medicine physician?

You should major in medicine to become a sports medicine physician. 25% of sports medicine physicians major in medicine. Other common majors for a sports medicine physician include osteopathic medicine and athletic training.

Most common colleges for sports medicine physicians

Sports medicine physicians often get their degrees at Duke University, Virginia Commonwealth University, and Touro University Nevada. Here are the most common colleges for sports medicine physicians in the US based on their resumes.
Sports medicine physician common collegePercentages
Duke University9.52%
Virginia Commonwealth University4.76%
Touro University Nevada4.76%
University of Maryland - Baltimore County4.76%
Texas Chiropractic College4.76%

Best majors for sports medicine physicians

RankMajorPercentages
1Medicine25.0%
2Osteopathic Medicine14.3%
3Athletic Training10.7%
4Biology7.1%
5Public Health7.1%

Best colleges for sports medicine physicians

The best colleges for sports medicine physicians are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania.

A sports medicine physician with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for sports medicine physicians. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become sports medicine physicians.

1. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

2. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$15,262

Enrollment

30,079

3. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

4. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

In-state tuition

$53,740

Enrollment

5,567

5. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$59,430

Enrollment

8,216

6. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

7. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

8. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$55,695

Enrollment

6,596

9. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$50,420

Enrollment

7,582

10. SUNY Stony Brook

Stony Brook, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$9,625

Enrollment

17,407

20 best online courses for sports medicine physicians

Advertising disclosure

1. Health After Cancer: Cancer Survivorship for Primary Care

coursera

This course presents basic principles of cancer survivorship to primary-care physicians. Developed by a team of experts in caring for cancer survivors, and narrated by a primary-care physician, this course provides practical tips and tools that can be easily integrated into medical practice. You will learn about the complex physical and psychosocial needs and concerns of the growing number of cancer survivors, along with the key role that primary care physicians have in guiding these patients...

2. Traditional herbal medicine in supportive cancer care: From alternative to integrative

coursera

Please join us for an exciting and innovative journey, examining one of the most important and often overlooked aspects of the oncology setting: Traditional Herbal Medicine in Supportive Cancer Care. This course is presented with short lectures offering a wide range of issues related to the principles and practice of herbal medicine in cancer care. The course includes interviews with leading world experts from the field of Integrative Oncology, from the U.S. and Canada, as well as Europe, the...

3. Introduction to Longevity Medicine

udemy
4.4
(344)

A Medical Guide to Longevity Medicine for Physicians...

4. Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine Advanced Diploma

udemy
4.3
(1,105)

A complete program in one course, This Diploma is an Encyclopedia in The Natural Medicine field...

5. Everyday Chinese Medicine

coursera

This course aims to serve as an education platform on Chinese medicine (CM) for the general public. Our primary goal is to empower healthcare choices by promoting awareness and practical application on CM diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, as well as regulation on CM services and herbal products using international examples. In the first part of this course, learners will develop skills in applying basic theory of Chinese medicine (CM) for understanding health and illnesses, and be able to...

6. Health for All Through Primary Health Care

coursera

This course explores why primary health care is central for achieving Health for All. It provides examples of how primary health care has been instrumental in approaching this goal in selected populations and how the principles of primary health care can guide future policies and actions. Two of the most inspiring, least understood, and most often derided terms in global health discourse are “Health for All” and “Primary Health Care.” In this course, we will explore these terms in the context...

7. Doctor of Natural Medicine

udemy
4.4
(624)

This course is a mini encyclopedia in natural medicine field...

8. Herbalism:: Medicinal Mushrooms Certificate

udemy
4.4
(429)

Learn the top mushrooms used in holistic and natural medicine that are most effective, safe and easily available...

9. Case Studies in Personalized Medicine

coursera

Learn how advances in biomedicine hold the potential to revolutionize drug development, drug treatments, and disease prevention: where are we now, and what does the future hold? This course will present short primers in genetics and mechanisms underlying variability in drug responses. A series of case studies will be used to illustrate principles of how genetics are being brought to bear on refining diagnoses and on personalizing treatment in rare and common diseases. The ethical and...

10. Introduction to Dental Medicine

coursera

The mouth is the window into human health. This course provides an overview of dental medicine to engage, educate, excite and assist you in improving the oral health of your patients and members of your community. We will review topics in dental medicine including scope of the field, what to expect in function, and some of the many ways that dysfunction may present for different patients. This will include discussions of mouth, jaw, and tooth anatomy, pathology, and treatment. We will talk...

11. Herbalism:: Introduction & Medicine Making Certificate

udemy
4.7
(13,479)

Take charge of your health with herbal medicine. Using herbs and natural holistic medicine is easy, effective and safe...

12. Herbalism:: Medicinal Kitchen Herbs & Spices Certificate

udemy
4.8
(1,168)

Discover how common kitchen herbs and spices are used as herbal medicine and natural medicine for ultimate health...

13. COVID-19 Training for Healthcare Workers

coursera

COVID-19 is rapidly spreading across the globe and all providers must be prepared to recognize, stabilize and treat patients with novel coronavirus infection. Following completion of this short course physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals will have a unified, evidenced-based approach to saving the lives of patients with COVID-19, including those who are critically ill. Learning modules are broken into short videos presented in a richly illustrated and compelling manner. The...

14. Herbalism:: Growing Top Medicinal Plants Certificate

udemy
4.8
(687)

Growing your own herbal medicine is easy and allows you to have quick access to medicinal plants when you need them...

15. Herbalism:: Identify & Harvest Medicinal Plants Certificate

udemy
4.8
(2,299)

Identify, harvest and use easy to find herbs from the wild that are commonly used in herbal, holistic, natural medicine...

16. Fully Accredited Certificate in Natural Medicine & Herbalism

udemy
4.4
(2,170)

An Introduction to Natural Medicine and Herbalism Learn how to use these skills for yourself and others...

17. Internationally Accredited Diploma in Sports Nutrition

udemy
4.5
(2,250)

Learn About The Fundamentals Of Sport Nutrition Science And How To Fuel Your Athlete Client...

18. Sport Psychology for Athletes

udemy
4.7
(297)

Master the fundamentals of sport psychology to improve performance and gain a mental edge...

19. Introductory Sport Psychology

udemy
4.5
(325)

Developing sport psychology skills that you can use when you train, compete or coach...

20. Sports Nutrition for Athletes and Fitness Enthusiasts

udemy
4.5
(353)

Learn all about sports nutrition with 7 hours of online video content and start training SMARTER instead of HARDER...

Top 10 most affordable universities for sports medicine physicians

The most affordable schools for sports medicine physicians are University of Florida, hunter college of the city university of new york, and california state university - long beach.

If the best universities for sports medicine physicians are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for sports medicine physicians.

1. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

2. Hunter College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,182

Cost of attendance

13,998

3. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

4. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

5. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,240

Cost of attendance

13,991

6. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,749

Cost of attendance

14,823

7. University of South Florida

Tampa, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,410

Cost of attendance

20,456

8. California State University - Fullerton

Fullerton, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,886

Cost of attendance

17,645

9. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

10. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,556

Cost of attendance

19,434

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for sports medicine physicians

The hardest universities for sports medicine physicians to get into are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania.

Some great schools for sports medicine physicians are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for sports medicine physicians based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

4%

SAT average

1,497

2. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

3. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

4. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,512

5. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions rate

5%

SAT average

1,520

6. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

7. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

Admissions rate

9%

SAT average

1,516

8. Yale University

New Haven, CT • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,517

9. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

10. Dartmouth College

Hanover, NH • Private

Admissions rate

9%

SAT average

1,488

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for sports medicine physicians

The easiest schools for sports medicine physicians to get into are D'Youville College, barry university, and curry college.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a sports medicine physician without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for sports medicine physicians.

1. D'Youville College

Buffalo, NY • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,072

2. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

3. Curry College

Milton, MA • Private

Admissions rate

93%

SAT average

1,026

4. Felician University

Lodi, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

81%

SAT average

999

5. University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio, TX • Private

Admissions rate

88%

SAT average

1,044

6. AdventHealth University

Orlando, FL • Private

Admissions rate

87%

SAT average

1,016

7. Saint Joseph's College of Maine

Standish, ME • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,069

8. University of North Texas at Dallas

Dallas, TX • Private

Admissions rate

83%

SAT average

992

9. Life University

Marietta, GA • Private

Admissions rate

94%

SAT average

979

10. La Roche College

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

99%

SAT average

1,008

Average sports medicine physician salary by education level

Sports medicine physician education levelSports medicine physician salary
Doctorate Degree$208,630

Sports medicine physician education FAQs

Search for sports medicine physician jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Browse healthcare practitioner and technical jobs