Become a Sports Agent: Education and Career Roadmap

How to Become a Sports Agent
Sports agents act on behalf of athletes, negotiating contracts and endorsement deals so as to maximize value for their client. Agents also help to promote the athletes they represent by keeping them in the public consciousness and raising their value in the eyes of prospective employers. Sports agents might work directly for the individuals they are promoting or in an agency alongside other sports agents. As such, there are no formal sports agent education requirements, although degrees in business, law or sports management may be highly beneficial.

There are however, general steps to take to become a sports agent:

Earn a bachelors degree in an applicable field
Get licensed and registered in your state
Earn an advanced degree or take on professional development opportunities
Sports Agent Education and Requirements
Degree Level Master’s degree encouraged, but no specific degree required
Degree Fields Law, business, sports management
Licensure/Registration License and/or registration required in several states
Key Traits/Skills Charisma, professional attitude, persuasiveness; willingness to travel; strong communication and argumentation skills; knowledge of marketing and law
While there is not one specific degree required to become an agent for athletes, education in areas of law, marketing, and management are necessary, even if it is obtained outside of a conventional degree program. Experience playing in the sport you intend to represent can be an advantage, but is not considered mandatory.

Other key sports agent qualifications include charisma and charm – which can help win over potential sponsors and clients alike. They should be personable and professional with everyone they meet, as reputation plays an important role in their industry. Excellent communication skills are also a must, as contract negotiations have little room for ambiguity. Agents often have as little as a day to win over a potential client, so a talent for persuasiveness and the ability to argue effectively may serve them well. Travel is common for sports agents, who must visit schools or sports teams across the country to find new talent or travel with the client to games and promotional events.

Sports Agent Degree
There are a few primary college majors of relevance to those who intend to become sports agents:

Law
Business
Sports management
Finance
Since sports agents are heavily involved in contract negotiation, an understanding of contract law is considered essential, so at least some level of legal education is recommended. When looking at sports management degrees, consider those that are more oriented towards business, rather than facilities, equipment, or exercise. While a bachelor’s degree in one of these areas may help to get your foot in the door, most agents operate with a master’s degree, often one that complements their undergraduate education to cover as much of these three areas as possible.

Master’s degree programs in sports management often include internships with agencies or other sports-related organizations, which offer critical real-world experience and networking opportunities. A Master of Business Administration degree program can also be extremely useful, providing knowledge of leadership to forge ahead on your client’s behalf and the business acumen needed at the negotiating table.

Sports Agent Internships and Licensure
Whether in the context of a degree program or without the help of a school, internships with agencies are a common path to becoming a sports agent. Internships provide an opportunity to learn about the field while assisting an experienced agent, and they give the agency the chance to see what you have to offer their business.

Several states require that sports agents obtain a license or register with the state in order to operate. Licensure and registration requirements can vary substantially between states, but often consist of a background check and a simple application, with associated fees. After receiving any necessary license, you may begin working with clients already at the agency or seek out your own.

A sports agent and sports team stack hands
Career as a Sports Agent
Sports agents are likely to build up a stable of talent whom the agent will represent for the duration of their careers. Agents will still need to recruit new clients to replace those who retire or otherwise leave athletics as well as try to use their reputation to attract established professionals into switching agencies. After years of experience working for an agency, an agent might wish to go out on their own. While the head of an agency might see to a few of the major names that they represent, they may focus on operating the business at this point. Agents looking to advance their careers can also consider moving into related fields, such as scouting for teams.

Sports Agent Salary and Industry Information
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics determined that the median salary of a sports agent (and other business managers of artists, performers, and athletes) was $73,740 in May of 2019. Agents predominantly work in New York, Florida, Tennessee, and Texas, although any area with a large number of universities with athletics programs is likely to have sports agents working there in some capacity. Between 2019-2029, the BLS projects a 12% increase in sports agent jobs, which is much faster growth than average.