Categories of Sports Medicine Qualification

Sport and Exercise Medicine became a recognised speciality by the GMC in 2005. This means that a recognised training programme is in existence and doctors post qualification can be selected for training, complete a 5 year specialist programme resulting in entry on the specialist register. 

The training programme is administered by the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training  Board (PMETB).

Prior to the creation of the speciality and for much of the  history of BASEM many doctors worked in sport from many existing medical and surgical specialities and continue to do so, these include  Accident and Emergency, Orthopaedic surgery, Rheumatology and General Practice.

1. Consultant in Sport and Exercise Medicine

Holds an NHS or equivalent consultant level appointment and is on the GC Specialist register

2. General Practitioner with Special Interest in Sport

Holds an NHS or equivalent post and is on the GP Register. Often with considerable experience in sport medicine and a higher Degree such as MSc in Sport and Exercise Medicine or 

3. Sports/ Team Physician

Used interchangebly with the above terminology, not analagous to the training level attained

4. Musculosksletal Medicine doctor/Orthopaedic physician

May be on Specialist register or GP Register, with higher qualification in Musculoskeletal medicine.

5. Rheumatology and Rehabilitation Physician

A separate Medical Speciality where doctors often work in Sport. GMC and RCP trained.