So You Want To Be An Athletic Trainer?

1. So You Want To Be An Athletic Trainer? Rich Bomgardner, LAT, ATC, CSCS Athletic Training Education Coordinator Wichita State University

2. Does this interest you?

3. Where to begin: • Which AT program is best for me? • Where do I want to go to school? • How much money does it cost? • How much experience will I get? • When do I start my clinical expediencies? • How many students are in the program? • Is the program accredited? • When will accreditation be finalized?

4. AT Program Accreditation • Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) • Joint Review Committee on Education Programs in Athletic Training (JRC-AT) • Committee on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) - Begins July 2006

5. The importance of proper education!

6. AT Program Accreditation • Three Phase Process: • Program application: • Programs must apply for the accreditation process • Candidacy phase: • Two year phase leading site visit • Site Visit and accreditation: • Site visit from JRC-AT • JRC-AT makes a recommendation to CAAHEP for accreditation

7. AT Program Accreditation • AT programs must be accredited by CAAHEP in order for a student to be eligible to sit for the BOC certification exam • “Candidacy Programs” must obtain accreditation before students can sit for BOC certification exam • *Critical issue when selecting a program of choice*

8. How to get into an AT Program: • Formal application process: • Application, letters of recommendation, letter of interest, etc. • Experience • GPA: ACT, SAT, College credits • Sincere interest in the profession

9. Letter of interest Completed application Recommendations Health examination Immunization record Volunteer hours Technical standards Personal Background Check Liability Insurance Health Insurance Prep courses: CPR/First Aid Medical Terminology Intro. to AT Taping/Bandaging Care and Prevention AT Education Program Admission Requirements

10. Athletic Training Education • Based upon the learning of: • Educational Competencies - Class base setting • Cognitive (knowledge and intellectual skills) • Psychomotor (manipulative and motor skills) • Affective (attitudes and values) • Clinical Proficiencies - Lab base setting • decision-making and skill application • Clinical Applications – Clinical base setting • Skill performance

11. You must be prepared for anything!

12. Academic Requirements: Approx. 550 Ed. Com. Approx. 1,230 Clinical Proficiencies 20 formal content areas Formal major Course cred. for cl. exp. Labs for skill develop. 20 hr. limit/week 2 year clinical exp. AT Courses Introduction to AT Taping and Bandaging Care and Prevention Upper Body Assess.w/l Low. Body Assess.w/l Therapeutic Modal.w/l Therapeutic Ex. w/l Administration of AT Pharmacology 4-6 AT Practicums Athletic Training Education

13. Education in the clinical facility: various clinical experiences athletic training room affiliated sites: physician’s office clinic high school hospital PT and/or PA One semester in: equipment intensive upper extremity lower extremity general medical: medical facility learning over time (LOT) NO sport assignment Must have both genders AT Clinical Education

14. Learn in an allied health setting!

15. AT student studies the physiology of body temp. AT student studies the difference between oral, rectal, tympanic, and axillary body temp. AT student studies how to obtain a body temp. reading AT student takes an exam over body temp. Class base setting Example of AT Education

16. AT student learns how to use body temp. reading equipment AT student learns how to perform body temp. readings AT student is evaluated on performing body temp. reading AT student takes a practical (oral, skill) exam on body temp. reading Lab base setting Example of AT Education

17. Example of AT Education • AT student performs a body temp. reading • AT student is evaluated on body temp. reading • Clinic base setting • AT student must pass class and lab setting before authorized to perform skill in the clinic setting

18. Program Director Clinical Coordinator/Clinical Instructor Educator (CIE) Approved Clinical Instructors (ACI) Clinical Instructors (CI) Medical Director ACI - formal evaluation on AT student skill CI - observe AT student skill must be certified for one year before an ATC can be a ACI only ATC can be ACI Athletic Training Education Personnel

19. Learn from professionals!

20. ACI: head athletic trainer assistant athletic train. second year GA’s program director clinical coordinator CI: physicians PA’s PT’s nurses faculty (PhD, EdD) adjunct faculty (MD) Athletic Training Education Personnel: CAAHEP

21. Standard for AT Education • Formal instruction, formal performance, formal evaluation, formal examination • Change focus from “on the job training” • Teach ATS to make rationale and prudent decisions

22. Formal Content Areas: Assessment of injury Upper & Lower Extrem. Exercise physiology 1st Aid & Emergency Care General medical conditions Health care admin. Human A & P Statistics and research Wt. and body comp Kinesiology/Biomech. Medical ethics and leg. Nutrition Pathology of injury Pharmacology Professional develop. Psychosocial intervent. Risk management (C&P) Strength and recond. Therapeutic modalities Therapeutic exercise Athletic Training Education

23. Be a part of the cycle of injury!

24. Athletic Training Student: Present • Must be SUPERVISED • Must be AUTHORIZED to apply skill (can perform after evaluation and exam) • 1st responder-NO travel required • 20 hour work week-MAXIMUM AVG. • Name change (ATS)

25. Employment Settings: • High School • School Districts • Sports Medicine/Hospital Clinics • University/College: Academics • University/College: Head AT/Assistant AT • Graduate Assistant • Industrial/Corporate • Professional Sports • International