Choosing a career in Sports and Exercise Medicine (SEM) offers doctors a unique opportunity to blend a passion for health with a love for sport and physical activity. Whether you’re drawn to working with elite athletes or want to promote exercise as a form of medicine in the general population, SEM provides a diverse and rewarding career path. In this article, we’ll explore what SEM involves, the training pathways available, how to get started, and useful resources to guide you on your journey.
Contents
What is Sports and Exercise Medicine?
Sports and Exercise Medicine (SEM) is a broad and dynamic field that covers everything from managing sports teams to promoting exercise for public health. According to the Faculty of Sports and Exercise Medicine (FSEM), the curriculum is divided into three main pillars: Team Care, Musculoskeletal (MSK) Medicine, and Exercise Medicine.
- Team Care: This is what most people first think of when they hear SEM—working with sports teams, often as a generalist, providing medical care, injury prevention, and management during training and competition. It involves close collaboration with coaches, physiotherapists, and other healthcare professionals to ensure athletes perform at their best.
- Musculoskeletal (MSK) Medicine: MSK medicine is a substantial part of SEM, both in sports settings and more traditional healthcare environments like the NHS or private practice. SEM physicians play a crucial role in diagnosing and managing MSK injuries and conditions, helping patients return to activity, whether they’re professional athletes or the general public.
- Exercise Medicine: While less established in the UK healthcare system, Exercise Medicine focuses on promoting physical activity for health and preventing chronic diseases. It incorporates elements of public health, physical activity, and managing chronic conditions through exercise.
SEM is a field that allows you to make a significant impact on individuals’ health and wellbeing, whether by helping an athlete recover from injury or encouraging a sedentary patient to start moving.
Career Pathways
The Formal Pathway
To become a consultant in SEM, the formal pathway involves specialty training, which can be competitive and requires commitment. Sports and Exercise Medicine (SEM) is classified as a Group 2 specialty in the UK, meaning it is entered at the ST3 level after completing initial postgraduate training. To be eligible for SEM training, you must first complete one of the following:
- Two years of Internal Medicine Training (IMT)
- Three years of General Practice (GP) Training
- Three years of Acute Care Common Stem Emergency Medicine/Internal Medicine (ACCSEM/IM)
After this, you can apply for an ST3 position in SEM, where you’ll embark on a four-year higher specialist training program. This training is designed to provide comprehensive exposure to the key areas of SEM, leading to the Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT). This pathway covers the full SEM curriculum, including rotations in relevant specialties like orthopaedics, rheumatology, and general practice. The training culminates in the Membership exam of the Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine (MFSEM), a crucial milestone that marks the transition from trainee to specialist.


Schematic from JRCPTB SEM Training Curriculum
Alternative Pathways
For those who haven’t followed a traditional route, there’s also the CESR (Certificate of Eligibility for Specialist Registration) route. This allows doctors with relevant experience and qualifications in SEM to apply for specialist registration, even if they haven’t completed the standard training program.
If you’re already a General Practitioner, you might consider working as a GP with Extended Role (GPwER) in SEM. This option allows you to develop expertise in SEM without committing to full-time specialist training. Many GPs undertake diplomas through the Faculty of SEM or other educational organisations to enhance their skills in this area.
How to Get Started
If you’re interested in SEM, it’s never too early to start building experience and qualifications. Here are some steps to help you get started:
- Join Professional Bodies: Start by joining BASEM or the Faculty of SEM. These organizations offer access to a wealth of resources, networking opportunities, and professional development courses.
- Gain Experience: Look for opportunities to work with doctors, physiotherapist and sports therapists within local sports teams, MSK clinics or community fitness initiatives. This hands-on experience is invaluable and will give you a real taste of what working in SEM is like.
- Pursue Relevant Qualifications: Book a place on a Faculty of Pre-Hospital Care accredited pitch side course. Consider taking introductory courses in SEM such as the BASEM Foundation skills course. You can also explore free online resources like the RFU Headcase course or the FIFA Diploma in Football Medicine.
Resources
To further your knowledge and skills in SEM, there are several excellent resources available:
Team Care Resources
- FIFA Diploma in Football Medicine
- RFU Headcase Online eLearning Modules
- Pre-Hospital Care Qualifications
- Oxford Handbook of Sports and Exercise Medicine
Exercise and Health Resources
- Motivate to Move: An educational resource to encourage physical activity in your patients.
- Moving Medicine: Offers evidence-based advice on incorporating physical activity into clinical practice.
- RCGP Physical Activity Hub: Practical resources for GPs to promote exercise.
MSK Resources
- Kenhub: An online platform for learning anatomy.
- BASEM E-Learning Library: Offers a range of modules on various SEM topics.
- British Journal of Sports Medicine (BJSM): A leading journal for the latest research in SEM.
Formal Education Resources
- MSc/Diploma in SEM: Multiple UK universities offer courses in Sports and Exercise Medicine, MSK Medicine, Football Medicine and others. Consider whether a face-to-face or online program suits your needs, look at the opportunities each course offers and how well these align with the experiences you want to gain.
- FSEM Exams: The MFSEM exams are crucial milestones in formal SEM training, these currently are 2 parts involving a written and subsequent OSCE. Recent changes make membership to FSEM possible through passing three FSEM diploma exams in Team Care, MSK Medicine and Exercise Medicine.
Conclusion
Sports and Exercise Medicine offers a diverse and fulfilling career, allowing you to work at the intersection of health and sport. Whether you choose the formal training pathway or develop your expertise through alternative routes, there are plenty of opportunities to make a significant impact in this field. By starting early, gaining experience, and utilising the resources available, you can build a successful career in SEM that aligns with your passions and professional goals.
Written by Saurav Kataria
MBCHB BSc(Hons) MSc SEM (Dist)
GPST3 Bradford Scheme
Club Doctor at Rotherham United FC
Match Doctor at Castelford Tigers RLFC
Visiting Lecturer at the University of Leeds
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