Certification and Function of Athletic

Trainers
We have all heard of athletic trainers, but what exactly do they do? An athletic trainer is a trained health
care professional whose goal is to prevent and treat injuries. An athletic trainer is not a personal trainer
and they are not the person that pushes you past your comfort level. For a person to develop a fulfilling,
long-term career as an athletic trainer, they are required to bachelor’s degree in medical sciences. While
a bachelor’s degree as a minimum requirement, many athletic trainers hold a master’s or even a
doctoral degree in health sciences.

Upon completing their degree program, at least forty-six states have a requirement for students to pass
a rigorous examination to obtain certification. This certification allows them to obtain a license to
perform the work duties of an athletic trainer in the state they reside in.

After obtaining their license, they must continue to take classes in medical related topics if they wish to
keep their license active. In total, an athletic trainer must have at least 80 hours of continuing education
credits every three calendar years in order to keep their certification active.

An athletic trainer will need to work under the supervision of a doctor of medicine, and in combination
with other health care professionals, and even sports teams. The purpose of an athletic trainer is to help
athletes use their bodies in a way, that prevents illnesses. When injuries do happen, the athletic trainer
is tasked with the duty of evaluating the injury during games or practices, sometimes with minimal
resources. Once the injury is identified and treated, the athletic trainer will work with the player to
rehabilitate them and prevent further injury.

Athletic trainers can work in a large variety of settings. The most effective place one can find a career is
in a public or private school setting. The American Medical Association (AMA) recommends that every
elementary, middle, and high school with a sports team have an athletic trainer on staff.

Another place athletic trainers find work is at a college or university. They work as part of the athletic
staff, usually as an athletic trainer and a teacher.

Sports teams also hire athletic trainers for education and treatment purposes. However, professional
sports team positions are limited, and the work is seasonal. Therefore, they usually call the same athletic
trainer back in year after year because their players are used to working with them, and they have built
a strong rapport with players.

Athletic trainers may also find employment at a sports focused clinic. In these settings, the trainer will
have a chance to work with a wide range of patients with diverse backgrounds. Many schools use these
clinics as outreach programs to attend games and educate students on injuries as the season progresses.

Athletic trainers may also find a valuable position in the military to help train personnel coming in. They
can also be involved in rehabilitating soldiers after various injuries, and getting them back to their
everyday responsibilities.
The outlook for an athletic trainer is very bright. The career is expected to grow exponentially over the
next several years. This is in response to the increasing need for preventative health care, and the
increasing percentage of aging population.

An athletic trainer is considered to be an important person in any health care team. Technology is
constantly changing which makes the need for athletic trainers who are capable of utilizing it more
urgent.

RESOURCES

West Liberty University: Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training

http://westliberty.edu/prospective-students/bachelor-of-science-in-athletic-training/?gclid=CIfalP-
OircCFYPd4AodO3QAlA
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/athletic-trainers.htm

Metropolitan State University of Denver: Athletic Training

http://www.msudenver.edu/hps/athletictrainingmajor/

American medical Association: Athletic Trainer

https://www.nata.org/sites/default/files/ama_support.pdf

MayoClinic: Athletic Training

http://www.mayo.edu/mshs/careers/athletic-training

Tennessee Department of Health: Board of Athletic Trainers

https://tn.gov/health/article/AT-about