Athletic Training
A certified athletic trainer is defined by the National Athletic Trainers' Association Board of Certification (NATA BOC), the NATA and its 30,000 members, as an allied health professional who has a minimum of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college/university, has fulfilled the requirements for certification established by the NATA BOC, and has passed the NATA BOC certification examination. The certified athletic trainer works under the direction of a licensed physician when practicing the art and science of athletic training.
Athletic trainers are utilized to enhance the quality of health care for the physically active through five defined domains: (1) prevention, (2) clinical evaluation and diagnosis, (3) treatment, rehabilitation, reconditioning, (4) organization and administration, (5) professional responsibilities. These domains of athletic training are the basis for the athletic training educational program.
All programs include a specific core of course work in athletic training, as well as contact hour requirements to gain the hands on practical experience in application of the art and science of athletic training.
OCCUPATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
Administrator
Clinical supervisor
College and university athletes
Counselor
Educational
High school athletics
Olympic athletes
Professional sports athletes
Secondary school athletes
Special Olympic athletes
Sports injury prevention
Sports injury rehabilitation
Some positions may require additional education and/or training.
EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK
Employment of athletic trainers is expected to grow 24 percent from 2006 to 2016. Job growth will be concentrated in the health care industry, including hospitals and offices of health practitioners. Fitness and recreation sports centers also will provide many new jobs, as these establishments become more common and continue to need athletic trainers to care for their clients. (http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos294.htm)
POTENTIAL EMPLOYERS
Athletic facilities
Business/industry
Colleges and universities
Government agencies
High schools
Hospitals
Major league baseball
National Basketball Association
National Football League
National Hockey League
Olympics Secondary schools
Special Olympics
Sports camps
Sports medicine clinics
SOURCES FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Books (* denotes books available in the Career Center Library)
- *Encyclopedia of Careers and Vocational Guidance, Vol. 4, Chicago, IL: Ferguson Publishing Co., 2000.
- *Fogg, Neeta, et.al. The College Majors Handbook, Indianapolis, IN: JIST Works, Inc., 2004.
- Heitzmann, W.R. Careers for Sports Nuts and other Athletic Types, Lincolnwood, IL: VGM Career Books, 2004.
- Heitzmann, W.R. Opportunities in Sports and Fitness Careers, Lincolnwood, IL: VGM Career Books, 2003.
Professional Associations
National Athletic Trainers Association, 2952 Stemmons Freeway, #200, Dallas, TX 75247, http://nata.org.
Web sites