OCS vs SCS
OCS vs SCS: Which Board Certification Should You Get?
Both are ABPTS board certifications and both live in the musculoskeletal world. The difference is who you treat. The OCS covers the general orthopaedic population across every body region. The SCS is built around athletes, including emergency care on the field.
Side by side
| OCS (orthopaedics) | SCS (sports) | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Outpatient ortho, spine, post op and general MSK | Athletes, teams and event coverage |
| Clinical hours route | 2,000 orthopaedic hours in 10 years; for 2027, split by body region | 2,000 sports hours in 10 years, including 100 hours of venue coverage (50 in contact sports) |
| Extra requirements | None beyond hours or residency | Current in person CPR and proof of acute injury and illness training |
| Residency route | Accredited orthopaedic residency | Accredited sports residency |
| Exam focus | Weighted by body region, lumbar spine about 19% | Intervention 35% (including emergency management and performance), assessment 30%, knowledge 20% |
| Fees (APTA member) | $550 application, $810 exam | $550 application, $810 exam |
| 2025 pass rate | 84% clinical hours, 93% residency | 92% clinical hours, 99% residency |
How to choose
- Pick the OCS if most of your caseload is outpatient orthopaedics: low back pain, neck pain, post op knees and shoulders, older adults and weekend warriors.
- Pick the SCS if you work with teams, cover games and want emergency care, return to sport and performance in your scope.
- Check your hours first. SCS candidates on the hours route need 100 venue coverage hours. If you do not have them, the OCS may be the faster path.
- Think about where you want to be in five years. A sports residency, a team job or a performance clinic points to the SCS. A lead clinician role, residency faculty or your own outpatient practice points to the OCS.
My take
If you are not sure, start with the OCS. It covers the patients most of us see every day, and the studying makes you better with all of them. You can always add the SCS later if your career turns toward sports.
More OCS guides
Frequently asked questions
Which is harder, the OCS or the SCS?
Pass rates are similar lately. In 2025, 84% of OCS and 92% of SCS clinical hours candidates passed. In 2023 the SCS clinical hours pass rate was only 65%, so both can be tough in a given year.
Can you have both the OCS and SCS?
Yes. They are separate ABPTS certifications, and some physical therapists hold both. Each has its own application, hours and exam.
Do you need venue coverage hours for the SCS?
Yes, on the clinical hours route. 100 of your 2,000 hours must be athletic venue coverage, with at least 50 in contact sports. You also need current CPR and proof of acute injury and illness training.
Is the OCS or SCS better for outpatient ortho?
The OCS. It covers every body region in the patients most outpatient clinicians see, from the lumbar spine to the TMJ. The SCS makes more sense if you work with athletes and cover events.
Do the OCS and SCS cost the same?
Yes. Both use the same ABPTS fee schedule: $550 application and $810 exam for APTA members, $895 and $1,535 for non members.
Going the OCS route?
Try 5 free case based OCS questions with full explanations and a score by body region.
Sources: ABPTS minimum requirements; ABPTS orthopaedics eligibility for 2027; ABPTS sports exam outline; ABPTS pass rates; ABPTS fees and deadlines.
Pass the OCS is not affiliated with ABPTS or APTA.