Sports Physician

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Work Tasks

• Prevent and treat injuries and health problems caused by sports and exercise
• Do physical exams of athletes before the start of the season
• Decide when an injured athlete can safely play again
• Keep records of their findings on sports disease and injuries
• Work for high schools, colleges and universities, and professional teams
• Work with athletes of all ages, x-rays, and other medical equipment

Salary, Size & Growth

• $171,500 average per year ($82.50 per hour)
• A medium occupation (97,800 workers in 2010)
• Expected to grow rapidly (2.2% per year)

Education/Training

• Minimum for Entry: A 4-year degree, plus 4 years of medical school, and 3 to 8 years of internship and residency, depending on the specialty chosen.
• Skills/Courses: Premedical college courses include physics, biology, math, English, and inorganic and organic chemistry.
• Certification/Licensing: All states require physicians to be licensed.