By: Kaitlyn Keyser, PT, DPT, SCS, ATC, CSCS
PT Students or PTs looking to elevate your practice, have you considered residency? Don’t know how or where to start?
We have advice to help you. We spoke with Kaitlyn Keyser, PT, DPT, SCS, ATC, CSCS, to learn about her decision to pursue a Sports Residency and how that experience led her from working with the Saints NFL Organization to her current role as the clinic director of the Spooner Sports Institute.
What is the difference between a sports residency and a normal residency?
Kaitlyn: In PT, there are residencies for different specialties that give you advanced training and set you up to take the specialty board exam. Most are about a year long, though some might be a little shorter or longer.
Sports residencies are different because, besides the 2,000 hours of patient care, you also need on-field hours. That extra requirement makes it tougher, especially if you’re early in your career or have family commitments, since it’s a lot to pack into one year.
What I liked about residencies is how structured they are—kind of like PT school—with accreditation and local partnerships to help you meet the requirements. But some residencies might expect you to find your own mentors. Coming right out of PT school, I didn’t feel like I had the network for that. That’s why I appreciated programs where the support was already built in.
You mentioned a lot of people struggle between choosing a Sports Residency, or an Orthopaedic Residency. What advice would you give to PTs trying to decide which route to take?
Kaitlyn: Ortho is the largest PT specialty—many people have their OCS. It’s a great option and very marketable. I’ve even considered pursuing it myself because, especially in settings like Spooner, it opens doors and shows clients you’ve gone the extra mile.
The main difference with sports is the on-field experience and working with a higher-level athlete population. Interestingly, much of the material I studied during my sports residency overlaps with what’s used for the orthopedic specialty.
When someone asks me how to choose, I usually ask what they want from their career. Do you want to work with high-level athletes or be in a team setting? You don’t need a sports residency for that, but it can help get your foot in the door, connect you with the right people, and open opportunities in collegiate or professional sports.
What is the accreditation you received for doing a Sports Residency?
Kaitlyn: The SCS—Sports Clinical Specialist—is what I sat for after my residency. You don’t need a residency to take the SCS exam, but it helps. With a residency, you can just upload your certificate, and you’re approved to sit for the sports exam. Without it, you still have to meet the hour requirements, track how many athletes you’ve seen, log your on-field hours, and get approval.
An accredited residency makes it easier because it streamlines the process. But like PT school, passing the residency doesn’t mean you automatically get the credential. You still have to pass the exam to officially have the SCS after your name.
You are also an ATC (Athletic Trainer Certified). How does being dual-credentialed as an athletic trainer and physical therapist benefit your career, especially in professional sports?
Kaitlyn: My ATC—Certified Athletic Trainer—is a different credential. I earned it during my bachelor’s degree, which is when I realized I wanted to work with athletes. I loved the rehab component, which eventually pushed me toward PT school. In PT school, I stayed open to other specialties like neuro or inpatient care, but I kept coming back to sports and working with athletes.
Being dual-credentialed as an athletic trainer and physical therapist makes you very marketable, especially in professional sports. Teams often look for someone with both skill sets because it’s like getting two professionals in one. That doesn’t always translate to higher pay, but it does set you apart. Athletic training also gives you more hands-on, on-field experience than the SCS does.
What factors did you consider when choosing a sports residency program, and how did that decision impact your career growth?
Kaitlyn: There are many different sports residency programs, much like applying to PT school. The process involves filling out an online application for various programs, paying the application fee, and meeting specific deadlines. If you’re a student looking to apply directly after graduation, it’s important to start the process early. Ideally, early in your third year before graduation, you’ll have an idea of what your next step will be, which is helpful because you’ll know if you’re employed at a residency program even before passing your boards.
Residency applications often mirror the PT school application process, but sometimes your employer might offer specific residency programs, like sports residencies, which can be applied for directly through them.
For me, I applied to just one program and was fortunate enough to get in. My residency was at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, tied with Ole Miss, in Jackson, Mississippi. It lasted about 14 months, including time spent at Ole Miss and ended with working training camp for the New Orleans Saints. The in-person interview process was intense, where applicants met with residents and the program staff, which was both intimidating and rewarding.
Choosing the right residency is very personal. I wanted a program that exposed me to a variety of athletes, from high school to professional, and included the weekend warriors and older athletes. The residency I chose provided that, which made it worth the sacrifices of moving far from home and earning less than an entry-level PT. I appreciated the mentorship and the chance to experience all levels of sports medicine, which aligned with my goals.
Some programs have only one or two residents, while others may have more. I personally wanted a more individualized experience, which is why I chose a residency with fewer residents. But there are also benefits to a larger group, like having others to study with and bounce ideas off of. It really depends on what kind of mentorship and experience you’re seeking.
By the end of my residency, I had the opportunity to work in professional sports (in the NFL with the Saints), which was a great learning experience. It was especially exciting to work with the Saint’s Director of Sports Medicine, who was advocating for more women in the field, and to continue developing my skills in that environment.
How did the mentorship and hands-on experiences in your sports residency shape your career, and what advice would you offer to someone thinking about pursuing one?
Kaitlyn: One of the biggest benefits of a sports residency is the mentorship you get. It’s like having a family that supports you throughout your career. I know that if I’m struggling, I can call my mentors at 2 a.m., and they’ll help me out. I used to joke when I was in Mississippi that if I broke down on the side of the road, I could call any of them, and they’d come get me—it’s that level of support. You just can’t get that anywhere else. Plus, the opportunities you’re given in a residency are huge—things you wouldn’t have even thought of. Like presenting at a conference or working with a neuro or pediatric resident, things I never would have considered without the residency.
I also had some wild experiences that pushed me out of my comfort zone, like working a rodeo. I never imagined I’d be doing that, but I learned so much dealing with situations I’d never seen before—heat stroke, ACL tears, and more. It’s hands-on learning in a safe and guided way, which helped me grow so much faster than I would have otherwise. And even though I was exhausted working six days a week, it didn’t feel like work because I was so passionate about the experiences.
The downside is the pay isn’t great during the residency, and a lot of people don’t want to take that pay cut, especially with student loan debt. But there are different residency options—some are online, which makes it more doable if you have a family or other commitments. There’s even the option of just studying on your own to sit for exams, without doing a full residency.
Looking back, I wouldn’t change anything about my residency. It opened doors for me that I wouldn’t have had otherwise.
Want to connect with other sports med professionals and learn from the industry’s best? Learn more about the nation’s best sports medicine conference, The Huddle, hosted by Spooner Sports.
Interested in joining the Spooner team? View open job opportunities at Spooner.