Athletic Training

1. Athletic Training

2. What is Athletic Training • Specialized care given to athletes and those involved in exercise • Provided by a Certified Athletic Trainer • Includes • Prevention • Recognition • Evaluation • care/rehabilitation

3. History of Athletic Training • The National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) was founded in 1950. • It is the professional membership association for certified athletic trainers and others who support the athletic training profession. • The NATA has grown to more than 30,000 members worldwide today

4. History Continued • The American Medical Association recognized Athletic Training as an allied health profession in 1991.

5. Qualities of an Athletic Trainer • Enjoy exercise, sport and recreation • Work with people • Problem solve • Work under stress • Analyze • communicate

6. Workplace • Work outside of traditional work day • Nights • Weekends • Travel • Holidays • Often more than 40 hours a week • Work outside in all types of weather • lifting

7. Duties • Analyzing injuries • Taping and wrapping • Implement and design rehabiliation programs • Demonstrate movements • Use modalities and equipment • Record, organize and store information

8. Code of Conduct • Respect the rights, welfare and dignity of all individuals • Comply with the laws and regulations governing the practice of athletic training • Accept responsibility for the exercise of sound judgement • Mainntain and promote high standards in the provision of services

9. Conduct continued • Not engage in any form of conduct the constitutes a conflict of interest or that adversely reflects on the profession

10. Education • Minimum of a bachelor’s degree • Students must complete a program for athletic training that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training (CAATE)

11. Education continued • In this program, they must master course work in basic sciences: • anatomy and physiology • physics • exercise physiology • injury evaluation and rehabilitation • nutrition • risk management • healthcare administration

12. Students are required to get clinical experience practicing their assessment and treatment skills. This is usually obtained through acting as a student athletic trainer for their respective school's athletic teams under the supervision of an ATC which is often supplemented with the guidance of a more experienced student trainer.

13. Once one has successfully completed the program requirements (i.e. graduating), a successful applicant must pass the NATA’s (National Athletic Trainer’s Association) Board of Certification (BOC) certification exam in which students are evaluated in their knowledge of: • injury prevention • clinical evaluation • immediate care • treatment and rehabilitation • organization and administration • professional responsibility2

14. Once an athletic trainer is certified, he/she may need to be licensed by his/her respective state in order to practice which the ATC does by completing the appropriate forms. • Once practicing, an ATC must maintain certification by staying current in field related topics and completing continuing education requirements that are subject to audit every three years.

15. A vast majority of ATC’s further their education by earning master’s and/or doctorial degrees. In fact over 70% of certified athletic trainers have earned a master’s degree.1

16. Work Settings • High school: most have teaching credentials • College: most have master’s degrees • Professional: small number of jobs, low turn over, mostly for men • Clinical: work with physical therapist • Non-traditional • Industry • Rodeo • performance

17. Salary