SPORTS MEDICINE EXAMINATION FOR A CERTIFICATE OF ADDED QUALIFICATIONS

The Sports Medicine Examination program for a certificate of added qualifications is conjointly developed by interested osteopathic specialty boards and the American Osteopathic Academy of Sports Medicine. A Sports Medicine Conjoint Examination Committee has representation from each participating specialty board and academy.

This program is designed to recognize excellence among those who provide care to persons who participate in athletics or exercise programs. The examination evaluates an understanding of the scientific basis of the problems involved in sports medicine, the familiarity with the current advances in sports medicine, the possession of sound judgment and of a high degree of skill in the diagnostic and therapeutic procedures involved in the practice of sports medicine.

DEFINITION

Sports medicine is a branch of medicine focusing on preventing, diagnosing, and treating injuries related to sports and exercise for all people.  It is a multidisciplinary field involving various healthcare professionals who treat conditions affecting the musculoskeletal system, such as bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Sports medicine also encompasses performance optimization, injury prevention, nutrition, psychology, and rehabilitation to help individuals return to physical activity and achieve their performance goals.

The specialty of sports medicine consists of the following:

• The comprehensive medical management of the athlete which requires an understanding across a broad scope of specializations.
• An understanding of performance aids, coaching techniques and training skills.
• The science of injury prevention and recognition, advanced rehabilitation techniques and epidemiology.
• The application of wellness through cardiovascular training of the general public as well as athletes with disability.
• The application of sports science in improving the health care of athletes.
• The recognition of the special medical problems of athletes.
• The application of osteopathic principles to athletes.
• The term athlete refers to an individual who is engaged in sport, exercise or physical activity at the recreational, competitive, industrial, professional or elite level.

ELIGIBILITY

The requirements include approved training and/or practice experience. Applicants must meet the following minimum requirements:

• Hold an active AOA primary board certification
• Hold an active license to practice medicine in the United States. Applicants who don’t have their license at the time of application will not be admitted to the exam.
• Conform to the ethical and moral standards of the AOA Code of Ethics
• Satisfactorily complete a one-year AOA- or ACGME-approved fellowship in Sports Medicine as shown by a copy of a sports medicine certificate and letter of recommendation from the program director. After you complete fellowship training, you have a six-year eligibility window to take the Sports Medicine certification exam.

EXAMINATION

Dates/Location
The application for the Sports Medicine exam opens FEBRUARY 4, 2026

Initial Certification and OCC Exam for subspecialty certification in Sports Medicine was held on July 11-12, 2025, online via the MonitorEdu testing platform.  The Sports Medicine written exam is given once each year and contains 200 questions. 

Fees/Deadlines
The examination fee will be $1100 and payment is due by a published postmark deadline date of at least 45 days prior to the examination date. There is a nonrefundable penalty fee of $100 for withdrawal later than at least three weeks prior to the examination date.

Format:

The examination will be a proctored half-day examination consisting of 200 multiple-choice questions of the “one best answer” type. Questions will cover the following four major categories:

Treatment

A. Pharmacological
B. OMT
C. Rehab modalities (acute and reinjury prevention)
D. Psychological

Preparation

No specific recommendation about study methods or review courses may be made. However, extensive self study of sports medicine in texts and journals and participation in continuing medical education programs and review courses in sports medicine should be useful.

Results
Candidates will be informed of the results of the examination within 90 days following the examination date. Successful candidates will receive a certificate for Certification of Added Qualifications in Sports Medicine. The certificate will be awarded after the AOA Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists gives final approval of the exam process for each candidate. This approval process may take about six months following the notification of successful completion of the examination. Upon written request and payment of a fee of $50, candidates may obtain rescoring of the examination within a year of receiving the results. The answer sheets of candidates will be destroyed three years after administration.

Reexamination
If you don’t pass your exam, you may apply for reexamination on the next available exam date. You’ll need to complete another application and submit the $1,100 exam fee. You will also need to submit CME hours based on the application guidelines in place at the time of your application.

APPLICATION PROCESS

To apply:
https://certification.osteopathic.org/sports-medicine/

AOA – Certifying Board Services
sportsmedicine@osteopathic.org
(312) 202-8274