how to become a sports rehab therapist

1. Career Requirements
2. Earn a Bachelor's Degree. The minimum requirement for sports therapists is a bachelor's degree. Students take science and anatomy courses as well as exercise science and biomechanics.
3. Obtain a License. Almost all states require that athletic trainers have a license. The requirements vary by state, although most states require that individuals pass an exam.
4. Become Certified. The Board of Certification, Inc. offers optional certification for sports therapists and athletic trainers.
5. Earn Continuing Education Credits. In addition to maintaining certification, athletic trainers will likely be required to earn continuing education credits in a set time frame to maintain ...
6. Obtain a Master's Degree. It is not uncommon for sports therapists to pursue a master's degree in order to advance in the field.

Full Answer

How much does a sports rehabilitation therapist make?

Prepare yourself for a career as a Sports and Rehabilitation Therapist by enrolling in the Sports and Rehabilitation Therapy Program at Fremont University. You can earn an associate’s degree in just 15 months and be on your way to working for a professional sports team.

How long does it take to become a sports therapist?

What are the Requirements to Become a Sports Rehabilitation Therapist? Educational Requirements. To be a sports rehabilitation therapist, one must first complete a lengthy education that includes undergraduate and graduate degrees. Typical undergraduate programs include biology, anatomy and physiology, sports science, or another closely related field.

What is residency for sports rehabilitation therapists?

How do I become a sports rehabilitation therapist? Process for Becoming a Sports Physical Therapist Bachelor's degree. You will need to obtain a Bachelor's degree. ... Master's or Doctorate degree in Physical Therapy. You must have a bachelor's degree to apply for a Master's or Doctorate in Physical Therapy. ...

What is sports rehabilitation therapy?

Jul 23, 2021 · Explore the steps below to see how you can work toward practicing as a licensed sports physical therapist: 1. Complete your undergraduate degree. To begin your career as a physical therapist, you'll need to earn a bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as biology, exercise science or athletic training.

What degree do you need to become a sports rehabilitation therapist?

To be a sports rehabilitation therapist, one must first complete a lengthy education that includes undergraduate and graduate degrees. Typical undergraduate programs include biology, anatomy and physiology, sports science, or another closely related field. These four-year programs include general studies that introduce students to the basics ...

What is sports rehabilitation?

Sports rehabilitation therapists will educate athletes about their muscular and skeletal systems, offering information about common injuries and how to prevent them. Part of the prevention aspect of rehabilitation therapy is developing pre-game and post-game regimens that allow for proper warm-up and cool-down procedures.

How long does it take to become a physical therapist?

Graduate training usually includes a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program, which lasts for approximately three years after the completion of undergraduate studies .

What does a rehabilitation therapist do?

Rehabilitation therapists may also offer insight into proper nutrition, methods to stay hydrated, and ways to ensure proper rest and sleep. Improving athletic performance is another primary duty for sports rehabilitation therapists. In this capacity, they would work with an athlete on a one-on-one basis to assess and evaluate his ...

What skills do physical therapists need to be a sports therapist?

This involves having excellent listening and deductive reasoning skills in order to take the information presented by the client and determine the possible causes of pain.

What is a residency in physical therapy?

Usually a one-year placement, residency allows physical therapists to concentrate on acquiring knowledge and skills in a particular area, such as sports rehabilitation. Fellowship opportunities allow for even deeper specialization for therapists upon the completion of their residency requirement.

How many hours do you need to be a sports physical therapist?

The next step to begin a career as a sports physical therapist is to work in the field of sports therapy. You'll need to earn at least 2,000 hours of work experience caring for patients in a sports therapy facility or complete a recognized residency program in a similar medical center. Look for resources and career placement services ...

What is the difference between a physical therapist and a sports therapist?

The difference between a physical therapist and a sports physical therapist is the level of specialized training sports therapists complete. A sports physical therapist must first train and earn a license as a physical therap ist. After earning a graduate degree and a license as a physical therapist, a sports physical therapist must complete ...

How to become an EMT?

Emergency medical training is a more complex process. You can earn a certification in emergency medical care in the following ways: 1 By prior training as a certified EMT or Paramedic 2 Through a Red Cross training program 3 As a Certified Athletic Trainer licensed by the National Athletic Trainers Association

How to help an athlete recover from an injury?

Identify physical limitations in a patient's range of motion, balance and coordination. Plan the best course of treatment to help an athlete recover as quickly and safely as possible after an athletic-related injury. Lead patients through exercises to increase coordination, agility and strength.

How much do physical therapists make?

Salaries often vary based on location, experience and employer. Some therapists can earn over $100,000 a year in high-paying metropolitan areas and facilities. Texas, New York and California are among the states with the highest reported salaries for physical therapists.

Can you take the ABPTS test?

As a member of the APTA, you can take the test at a discounted rate. The ABPTS provides guidelines on test preparation and registration along with suggestions on how to prepare for the examination.

Is physical therapy a career choice?

With such a high predicted job growth rate, sports physical therapy is a career choice that can provide many opportunities for employment once you complete the necessary education and certification to practice as a sports physical therapist.

What We Do

Sports Rehabilitation Therapists work closely with athletes as physical trainers or physical therapists and help work on injuries and other negative physical affects that sports may have had on the body.

Work Environment

Most Sports Rehabilitation Therapists work out of private offices, but some travel directly with athletes and teams.

How to Become

In order to assist patients with any type of physical therapy a master's degree is necessary, although some candidates will be hired with a bachelor's degree in healthcare services, or sports psychology at a training level only.

Salary

The average national salary of jobs for Sports Rehabilitation Therapist was $ 88,000.00 with a high confidence ranking based on over 250 sources. Average Sports Rehabilitation Therapist salaries for job postings nationwide are 52% higher than average salaries for all job postings nationwide.

Training & Certification Requirements

Experience at a clinical level is necessary as well as licensure in the role of both trainer and therapist.

Education Requirements

Easily find and compare Bachelor's, Master's & PhD Psychology programs required for a Sports Rehabilitation Therapist.

How to become a sports therapist?

If your goal is to achieve the highest designation possible in sports therapy in order to work with high level and even professional athletes, this is the path to get there: 1 Complete 4 Years of Undergraduate Studies 2 Complete a 3 Year Doctor of Physical Therapy Program 3 Enroll in a 1 year Sports Therapy Residency (or complete 2,000 hours in a sports therapy practice) 4 Pass the ABPTS Sports Specialty Certification Exam 5 Maintain an emergency care certification/training (Athletic Training Certification, licensed EMT, or EMR or first responder).

How much does a sports physical therapist make?

The average physical therapist salary is around $85,000 annually, but a new graduate can expect to earn around $70,000 a year even with the SCS designation. While this may seem inconsistent due to the specialized training, ...

What is SCS in physical therapy?

A physical therapist with the designation “SCS” after their name has completed the highest recognized specialty training among therapists interested in sports therapy. While the SCS designation is not required to work with patients in a sports therapy clinic, it’s one of the ways physical therapists can stand out among other clinicians ...

What is a tennis elbow brace?

A sports physical therapist helps patients with these types of injuries by creating treatment plans to restore motion, improve strength, and to maintain conditioning during the recovery process. The PT may recommend specific equipment like a tennis elbow brace to provide support for a chronic injury like lateral epicondylitis ( tennis elbow).

Can a torn ligament cause ankle injuries?

Aside from major trauma such as a fractured ankle or torn ligament, ankle injuries can range from simple sprains to chronic issues like plantar fasciitis. For runners and athletes who rely on their ability to move quickly on the field, a foot or ankle injury can be a devastating event. Sports physical therapists provide stability training and strengthening exercises to help progress the patient through the healing process so they can return to their sport.

What does a sports PT do?

Sports PTs work closely with patients in evaluating and treating patients who have suffered from a concussion. Following a thorough evaluation, a PT will design a plan of care to progress a patient through recovery, managing symptoms related to post concussion syndrome or other neurological issues related to an acute injury.

How long does it take to become a sports medicine physician?

The path to becoming a sports medicine physician requires many years of schooling and extensive education training. After completing a 4 year undergraduate degree and 4 years of medical school, an additional 3 to 6 years of residency training is required depending on the type of sports medicine you choose.