A career in athletic training can take you from the locker room to the sidelines and beyond. Because athletic trainers are recognized as allied health professionals, they must undergo specialized training to provide care for athletes of all ages. Educational options include bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in this field of interest.
Significance
Athletic trainers are not to be confused with personal trainers, who lead fitness classes or instruct on fitness. Instead, athletic trainers work in a variety of medical capacities, including preventing, diagnosing, treating and assisting in the rehabilitation of athletic injuries. Often, they are the first responders to injuries on the playing field. More than 350 accredited undergraduate athletic training programs exist in the United States, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In addition to education, athletic trainers must be licensed or registered with their specific state board of certification. The only exceptions are the states of Alaska, California, West Virginia and the District of Columbia.
Undergraduate Degree
The undergraduate degree in athletic training requires comprehensive training in science, exercise physiology, physical therapy and more. Students typically learn both in the classroom and practical settings. Two years of clinical experience is often required. Examples of classes typically required for the undergraduate degree in athletic training include kinesiology/biomechanics, pathology of injuries, therapeutic modalities and acute care of injuries.
Master's Degree
Approximately 70 percent of certified athletic trainers have a master's or doctoral degree, according to the National Athletic Trainers' Association. While a master's degree is not necessarily required to become an athletic trainer, positions with large teams, such as for a professional sport or university, often require one. As with the undergraduate degree, earning a master's degree requires clinical experience. Students may rotate through a variety of team sports to learn how to best care for each. Specialized training in therapy equipment or research may be required to graduate with a master's degree, depending on the university.
Doctoral Degree
Those wishing to advance in the athletic training field -- to become an athletic director or clinic practice administrator, for instance -- may wish to pursue their doctoral degree. While requirements differ for each program, doctoral candidates may be expected to conduct a comprehensive research project in the athletic training topic of choice. A thesis paper heavily based in research also may be required. As with each collegiate step, hands-on experience also is necessary in obtaining the doctoral degree. Doctoral candidates are expected to have a strong basis of knowledge and clinical experience prior to beginning their program of interest.
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