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Athletic Training 101
What is athletic
training?
Athletic
training is practiced by athletic trainers, health care
professionals who collaborate with physicians to
optimize activity and participation of patients and
clients. Athletic training encompasses the prevention,
diagnosis, and intervention of emergency, acute, and
chronic medical conditions involving impairment,
functional limitations, and disabilities.
How is athletic training different
from personal training?
Athletic training is not the
same profession as personal training. And certified
athletic trainers work with more than just athletes –
they can be found just about anywhere that people are
physically active.
Athletic Trainers vs Personal Trainers
To become certified athletic
trainers, students must graduate with bachelors or
masters degree from an accredited professional athletic
training education program and pass a comprehensive test
administered by the
Board of Certification.
Once certified, they must meet ongoing continuing
education requirements in order to remain certified.
Where do athletic
trainers work?
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Hospital & Clinical
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Colleges & Universities
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Industrial/Occupational
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Military
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Performing Arts
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Physician Extender
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Professional Sports
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Public Safety
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Secondary Schools
How much education is required?
Students who want to become certified athletic trainers
must earn a degree from an accredited athletic training
curriculum. Accredited programs include formal
instruction in areas such as injury/illness prevention,
first aid and emergency care, assessment of
injury/illness, human anatomy and physiology,
therapeutic modalities, and nutrition. Classroom
learning is enhanced through clinical education
experiences. More than 70 percent of certified athletic
trainers hold at least a master’s degree.
The minimum entry point into the
profession of Athletic Training is at the baccalaureate
level; by 2014-2015, all accredited education programs
in Athletic Training will lead to a degree in Athletic
Training. Upon completion of a CAATE-accredited Athletic
Training education program, students become eligible to
obtain national certification granted by the Board of
Certification, Inc. (BOC).
Students must receive
formal instruction in the following specific subjects:
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Basic and Applied Sciences
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Professional Content
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Human anatomy
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Human physiology
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Biology
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Statistics and
research design
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Rehabilitation
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Exercise Physiology
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Kinesiology/Biomechanics
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Risk Management and
Injury Prevention
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Pathology of Injuries
and Illnesses
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Orthopedic Clinical
Examination and Diagnosis
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Medical Conditions and
Disabilities
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Acute Care of Injuries
and Illnesses
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Therapeutic Modalities
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Rehabilitative
Exercise & Conditioning
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Pharmacology
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Psychosocial
Intervention and Referral
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Nutritional Aspects of
Injuries & Illnesses
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Health Care
Administration
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Professional
Development & Responsibility
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Clinical Education
Students are required to
participate in a minimum of two years of academic
clinical education. Through these experiences, students
gain clinical experiences associated with a variety of
different patient populations defined but not limited
to: gender, varying levels of risk, utilization of
protective equipment, and general medical conditions
(e.g. diabetes, asthma) that address the continuum of
care. Clinical experiences provide students with
opportunities to practice, under the direct supervision
of qualified Clinical Instructors (i.e., Certified
Athletic Trainer [ATC®] or other credentialed health
care professionals).
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