1. The Athletic Trainer
Charged with injury prevention and health care provision for the athlete
Athletic trainer deals with the athlete and injury from its inception until the athlete returns to full competition

2. Roles and Responsibilities: Performance Domains
Prevention of athletic injuries
Clinical evaluation and diagnosis
Immediate care of injuries
Treatment, rehabilitation and reconditioning of athletic injuries
Health care administration
Professional responsibilities

3. Athletic Training Education Competencies
Twelve Content Areas
Risk management
Pathology of injuries and illnesses
Assessment and evaluation
Acute care
Pharmacological aspects of injury and illness
Therapeutic modalities

4. Athletic Training Education Competencies
Therapeutic exercise
General medical conditions and disabilities
Nutritional aspects of injury and illnesses
Psychosocial intervention and referral
Organization and administration
Professional responsibilities

5. Personal Qualities of the Athletic Trainer
Stamina and the ability to adapt
Empathy
Sense of humor
Communication
Intellectual curiosity
Ethical practice

6. Employment Settings for the Athletic Trainer
Employment opportunities are becoming increasingly diverse
Dramatic transformation since 1950
Due largely in part to the efforts of the NATA
Started out primarily in the collegiate setting, progressed to high schools and are now found primarily in hospital and clinic settings

7. Settings include: Secondary schools Colleges and universities
Professional teams
Sports medicine clinics
Corporate/Industrial settings
Military
Physician extenders
Medical supply & equipment sales
Research
Administration

8. Accredited Athletic Training Education Programs
Entry-level athletic training education programs
Undergraduate and graduate
Advanced graduate athletic training education programs
Designed for individuals that are already certified ATC’s

9. Specialty Certifications
NATA is in the process of developing specialty certifications
Further enhance professional development
Aid in expanding scope of practice
Specialty certifications build on entry level knowledge

10. Seven proposed areas
Business practice, medical care management, occupational health, wellness, pediatric/adolescent health, adult/geriatric health, special health populations
Candidates will have to complete experiential requirements and pass a standardized examination

11. Requirements for Certification as an Athletic Trainer
Must have extensive background in formal academic preparation and supervised practical experience
Guidelines are set by the Board of Certification (BOC)
Graduation from an accredited AT Program is required (CAATE)

12. BOC certification is a prerequisite for licensure in most states
Upon meeting the educational guidelines applicants are eligible to sit for the examination
Upon passing the certification examination = BOC certification as an athletic trainer
Credential of ATC
BOC certification is a prerequisite for licensure in most states

13. Continuing Education Requirements
Ensure ongoing professional growth and involvement
Requirements that must be met to remain certified
80 CEU’s over the course of three years

14. Purpose:
To encourage ATC to obtain current professional development information
To explore new knowledge in specific areas
To master new athletic training related skill and techniques
To expand approaches to effective athletic training
To further develop professional judgement
To conduct professional practice in an ethical and appropriate manner

15. CEU’s are awarded for: Attending symposiums, workshops, seminars
Serving as a speaker or panelist
Certification exam model
Participating in the USOC program
Authoring a research article; authoring/editing a textbook
Completing post-graduate work
Obtaining CPR and first aid certification

16. State Regulation of the Athletic Trainer
During the early-1970s NATA realized the necessity of obtaining some type of official recognition by other medical allied health organizations of the athletic trainer as a health care professional
Laws and statutes specifically governing the practice of athletic training were nonexistent in virtually every state

17. Athletic trainers in many individual states organized efforts to secure recognition by seeking some type of regulation of the athletic trainer by state licensing agencies
To date 49 of the 50 states have enacted some type of regulatory statute governing the practice of athletic training
Rules and regulations governing the practice of athletic training vary tremendously from state to state

18. Regulation may be in the form of:
Licensure
Limits practice of athletic training to those who have met minimal requirements established by a state licensing board
Limits the number of individuals who can perform functions related to athletic training as dictated by the practice act
Most restrictive of all forms of regulation

19. Certification Registration
Does not restrict using the title of athletic trainer to those certified by the state
Can restrict performance of athletic training functions to only those individuals who are certified
Registration
Before an individual can practice athletic training he or she must register in that state
Individual has paid a fee for being placed on an existing list of practitioners but says nothing about competency

20. Exemption
State recognizes that an athletic trainer performs similar functions to other licensed professions (e.g. physical therapy), yet still allows them to practice athletic training despite the fact that they do not comply with the practice acts of other regulated professions
Legislation regulating the practice of athletic training has been positive and to some extent protects the athletic trainer from litigation

21. Future Directions for the Athletic Trainer
Will be determined by the efforts of the NATA and its membership
Ongoing re-evaluation, revision and reform of athletic training education
JRC-AT will become an accrediting agency
Third party billing will gradually become the rule not the exception for ATC’s
Standardization of state practice acts
ATC’s will seek specialty certifications
Expanding breadth and scope of practice

22. Increase in secondary school employment of ATC’s
Increase in recognition of ATC as a physician extender
Potential for expansion in the military, industry, and fitness/wellness settings
With general population aging = increased opportunity to work with aging physically active individuals
Continue to enhance visibility through research and scholarly publication

23. Continue to be available for local and community meetings to discuss healthcare of the athlete
Increase recognition and presence internationally
Most importantly, continue to focus efforts on injury prevention and to provided high quality healthcare to physically active individuals who are injured while participating in sport