Athletic training is an allied health profession. Many entry-level programs require volunteer experience, medical observation hours, GPA standards and personal interviews. An entry-level program leads to a four-year bachelor's degree in athletic training or a similar allied health field. Athletic training students follow a rigorous program and internship to qualify for graduation and registration for the national exam. The program is a combination of classroom, laboratory, clinical instruction and clinical internships. More than 70 percent of athletic trainers continue on to graduate school in athletic training or a related field.
The Profession
Students in athletic training education programs must meet Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) requirements to practice as a certified athletic trainer (ATC). Athletic trainers work with or under the advisement of physicians. Athletic trainers may work in settings treating students, employees, patients and clients. Athletic trainers may be employed in public or private schools, colleges, recreational clubs, professional athletics, sports medicine clinics, hospitals and even corporate settings. Programs prepare athletic trainers for on-site risk management, injury prevention, acute medical care, etiology and pathology of injuries and diseases, and evaluation and diagnosis of orthopedic conditions. Medical care provided by the athletic trainer may include rehabilitation by therapeutic exercise and modalities, nutrition counseling, psychological referrals, injury documentation and filing of medical claims.
Course Work
Athletic training programs emphasize science and lab work. Required areas of knowledge include human anatomy, human physiology, human biology, exercise physiology, kinesiology, pharmacology, nutrition, chemistry, psychology and physics. Programs include hands-on laboratory work in emergency medical care, therapeutic exercise, therapeutic modalities, medical education, and orthopedic and health assessments. Health care administration, statistics and research design are also required to prepare those for graduate work or careers in research.
Clinical Experience
Students are required to complete approximately 900 to 1,500 hours of supervised clinical work. The student will experience high-contact/risk, low-contact/risk, team and individual sports in the school settings. The student can expect to work with different populations outside the sports setting. The student will have an instructor present to oversee diagnosis and treatments, and intervene if necessary. Students will complete internships in high schools, college settings, sports medicine clinics, hospitals or industrial settings. Expect clinical experiences to vary by site to allow for exposure to different conditions and rehabilitation programs. During clinicals, students can expect to travel overnight and weekends with sports teams.
National Exam
Eligibility for the board of certification (BOC) exam includes completion of all course work and clinical experience in a CAATE-accredited athletic training education program. Proof of academic course work and documentation of clinical hours are required prior to registering for the BOC examination.
State Regulations
Athletic trainers practice under the direction of physicians similar to physical therapists, occupational therapists and other health care professionals. Each state has its own regulating and licensing requirements for athletic trainers, in addition to passing the national exam. Athletic training licensure and regulation exist in 46 states, and the NATA is pursuing licensure in the remaining four states.
Job Outlook
Athletic trainers represent the 10th-fastest growing profession from 2008 to 2018, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. It estimates a job-growth increase of 37 percent, resulting in 6,000 new jobs. The annual median salary in 2008 for an athletic trainer was $39,640. Athletic training is expected to grow with the United States' effort to promote preventive health care.
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