Sports Medicine Career Pathway
Is your student passionate about fitness and nutrition? Would they find it rewarding to prevent and treat sports injuries so that athletes, whether amateur or professional, can get back to the sport they love? A career in sports medicine may be the right choice!
There are a variety of different opportunities in sports medicine. Those interested in fitness itself may be best suited to a career as a personal trainer or fitness instructor. Those more interested in working with their hands might be interested in becoming a massage therapist. And those planning on getting a bachelor’s degree can pursue a career working with athletes as an athletic trainer, working with individuals recovering from injury as an exercise physiologist, or revamping individual patients’ diets as a nutritionist.
For those who choose the Sports Medicine pathway, we offer a rigorous, project-based learning curriculum that gives students the essential skills in sports medicine. These include fitness assessments, conditioning, injury management, nutrition, and ethical and legal considerations in sports medicine.
Our curriculum gives students the credentials they need to embark on a career as a certified personal trainer right after graduation—without the hassle or expense of additional training or degrees. The tuition-free program includes exam prep for the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) Certified Personal Trainer exam, a highly regarded industry credential. We also jumpstart your job search by helping you create a professional résumé, cover letter, and profile on Tallo—the leading professional networking platform for Gen Z. Plus, you connect virtually to working professionals in sports medicine through Nepris .*
Our Sports Medicine Curriculum in Detail
All of our students take the core courses required for high school graduation in their state. The chart below shows the additional classes that Sports Medicine Pathway students take, and the industry-recognized certification exams they can prepare to take. You can see the rest of the curriculum by viewing the full course list.
Great News
Stride Career Prep programs with the Sports Medicine Pathway are available in our tuition-free K12-powered, fully accredited, public online schools in the following states: California, Colorado, Michigan, Pennsylvania
Don’t see your state? There are also tuition-free options in related fields like the Certified Nursing Assistant pathway
Occupational Spotlight
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Athletic Trainer
Athletic trainers specialize in preventing, diagnosing, and treating muscle and bone injuries and illnesses that can be caused or exacerbated by physical activity. Athletic trainers may work with college or university sports teams, for professional sports leagues, or in a hospital or private medical practice.
2020 Median Starting
Salary1
$56,384
Projected New Jobs, 2019-20292
5,200
Expected Percentage Growth in No. of Jobs, 2019-20292
16% (much faster than average)
Typical Entry-Level Education
Bachelor’s degree
Exercise Physiologist
Exercise physiologists develop fitness and exercise programs that help injured or sick patients recover. Many are self-employed, while others work in hospitals or other healthcare settings.
2020 Median Starting
Salary1
$50,060
Projected New Jobs, 2019-20292
2,200
Expected Percentage Growth in No. of Jobs, 2019-20292
11% (much faster than average)
Typical Entry-Level Education
Bachelor’s degree
Massage Therapist
Massage therapists massage and manipulate the muscles and other soft tissues of the body. While often performed to assist in relaxation, whether in a spa, clinic, hotel, or fitness center, massage therapists’ services are increasingly becoming integrated into therapeutic services, which means that demand is increasing in hospitals and other healthcare settings.
2020 Median Starting
Salary1
$56,563
Projected New Jobs, 2019-20292
34,400
Expected Percentage Growth in No. of Jobs, 2019-20292
21% (much faster than average)
Typical Entry-Level Education
Postsecondary license or certificate; requirements vary by state
Nutritionist
Nutritionists advise clients on what and how much to eat to improve health, maintain or attain a healthy weight, and manage any chronic health conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, or gluten sensitivity. They often work in hospitals or nursing homes, but they may also work in a private medical practice or directly with their own clients.
2020 Median Starting
Salary1
$58,850
Projected New Jobs, 2019-20292
5,900
Expected Percentage Growth in No. of Jobs, 2019-20292
8% (much faster than average)
Typical Entry-Level Education
Bachelor’s degree
Trainer/Instructor
Fitness trainers and instructors lead, instruct, and motivate individuals or groups in exercise activities, including cardiovascular exercises, strength training, and stretching. They need to be able to modify exercises for different ability levels, correctly modify the technique, and monitor participants to ensure they are performing the exercises correctly and safely.
2020 Median Starting
Salary1
$41,442
Projected New Jobs, 2019-20292
57,600
Expected Percentage Growth in No. of Jobs, 2019-20292
15% (much faster than average)
Typical Entry-Level Education
High school diploma or GED, plus a certification like the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) Certified Personal Trainer
FAQs
Do you need a college degree to practice sports medicine?
You’ll need a college degree if you want to be a physician specializing in sports medicine, an exercise physiologist, a physical therapist, a nutritionist, or an athletic trainer. However, there are other professions related to sports medicine that don’t require a college degree. Emergency medical technicians/paramedics typically only need to earn a certificate which requires less than one year of specialized training. Fitness instructors, personal trainers, and massage therapists also typically do not need a college degree, although most have one or more relevant certifications and any required license depending on the specialty and location.
How can you prepare for a career in sports medicine? What classes should you take in high school?
You can prepare for a career in sports medicine while still in high school by taking courses in medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, and—if the high school offers this option—specific classes in sports medicine. Other recommendations include getting certified in CPR, shadowing or assisting your school’s athletic trainer, or volunteering in a local hospital or medical clinic.
We offer a Sports Medicine Pathway in which students take classes in medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, plus three semesters of sports medicine. We also provide test prep for the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) Certified Personal Trainer exam.
Do you need a college degree to be a personal trainer?
No, you do not need a college degree to become a personal trainer. All that is required is a high school diploma or GED, plus a certification like the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) Certified Personal Trainer. Exam prep for this certification is part of our tuition-free program. And, of course, you’ll need to be physically fit, have great people skills, and be able to network to find clients!
Learn more about course offerings in the other Stride Career Prep career fields.
1Burning Glass Labor Insights, accessed October 16, 2020. Data is median salary for job postings with that job title, with typical minimum education requirements for that job title (as shown in chart on this page) and 0-2 years of experience, from October 1, 2019, to September 20, 2020.
2Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook. Website last modified date: Wednesday, September 1, 2020.
*Opportunities vary by school; please visit your school page or check with your school counselor.
**Stride Career Prep is a program for grades 9–12. At some schools, career exploration is offered in middle school.
†Many Microsoft®️ Office certificates can be earned after completing one course. Other certificates require more classes to be better prepared, and students who participate in the program for at least two years will have further preparation for certification testing.
