March is National Athletic Training Month.
Certified athletic trainers:
Certified athletic trainers (ATCs) are medical professionals who specialize in the prevention, assessment, treatment and rehabilitation of injuries and illnesses that occur to athletes and the physically active. As part of a complete health care team, the ATC works under the direction a licensed physician and in cooperation with other health care professionals.
Practice settings:
Certified athletic trainers can be found almost anywhere people are physically active. Whether it be on the playing field or in an industrial work setting, ATCs are in place to help active people prevent injuries and stay healthy. Here are some of the places you will find them:
- Secondary Schools: Public and private secondary schools offer abundant job opportunities for ATCs. Parents and administrators are discovering the benefits an ATC can offer in preventing and caring for injuries. Many ATCs teach classes at the high school level. The American Medical Association recognizes athletic training as an allied health care profession, and recommends certified athletic trainers be in every high school.
- Colleges and universities: Certified athletic training jobs in colleges and universities generally fall into two categories: athletic department staff assignment and combination teacher/athletic trainer.
Professional sports: Although teams operate only a few months per year, ATCs work year-round conditioning and rehabilitating athletes. Fewer jobs are available in this practice setting due to the limited number of teams.
- Sports medicine clinics: This growing setting provides ATCs the opportunity to work with a number of different health care professionals and a diverse patient population. In addition to athletic injury rehabilitation, many clinics provide athletic training services for secondary schools via outreach programs.
- Military: Each branch of the U.S. military is increasing its use of athletic trainers. ATCs can be found as part of the health care team for active-duty injured service people, on- and off-base fitness and wellness centers, new-recruit readiness programs and pre-enlistment readiness programs, in addition to established military school sports teams.
- Industrial and commercial: These settings both outreach clinics and full-time ATC employees to deliver services. Athletic trainers are a key component to the heath care team, and work with physicians and other allied health personnel. As well, ATCs are first-responder medical personnel who are experts in injury assessment and treatment, particularly in the orthopaedic and musculoskeletal disciples.
Education requirements:
ATCs must have, at a minimum, a bachelor's degree, usually in athletic training. ATCs also participate in extensive clinical affiliations with athletic teams under appropriate supervision. Students who want to become ATCs must earn a degree from an accredited athletic training curriculum.
Accredited undergraduate education programs include formal instruction in a variety of areas, including: injury/illness prevention; first aid and emergency care; assessment of injury/illness; human anatomy and physiology; therapeutic modalities; and nutrition. More than 70 percent of certified athletic trainers hold an advanced degree.
Certification:
Certified athletic trainers have fulfilled the entry level requirements for certification established by the National Athletic Trainers' Association Board of Certification (www.nataboc.org). The certification examination consists of: a written part with multiple choice questions; a practical section that evaluates the skill components of the domains within athletic training; and a written simulation test, consisting of athletic training related situations designed to approximate real-life decision making. In addition to the exam, ATCs must maintain continuing education, and meet individual state regulatory requirements in most states. To determine if these added requirements apply, ATCs must check with states in which they practice.
National Athletic Trainers' Association:
The National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA), headquartered in Dallas, Texas, was founded in 1950. Today, the NATA membership spans the globe and includes 30,000 members.
The mission of the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) is to enhance the quality of health care for athletes and those engaged in physical activity and to advance the profession of athletic training through education and research in prevention, evaluation, management and rehabilitation of injuries.
For more information, contact:
National Athletic Trainers' Association
www.nata.org
2952 Stemmons Freeway
Dallas, Texas 75247 USA
214-637-6282 voice
214-637-2206 fax
Last updated: March 2003
