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Page 1: ATHLETIC TRAINER - Patrick Henry Community College · 2015-08-03 · ATHLETIC TRAINER Athletic Trainers (ATs) ... Apply protective or injury-preventive devices such as tape, bandages,

Updated July 2015

ATHLETIC TRAINER Athletic Trainers (ATs) Athletic Trainers (ATs) are health care

professionals who collaborate with physicians to provide preventative services, emergency care, clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions.

DUTIES Athletic trainers typically do the following:

Apply protective or injury-preventive devices such as tape, bandages, and braces

Recognize and evaluate injuries

Provide first aid or emergency care

Develop and carry out rehabilitation programs for injured athletes

Plan and implement comprehensive programs to prevent injury and illness among athletes

Perform administrative tasks such as keeping records and writing reports on injuries and treatment programs

Athletic trainers work with people of all ages and all skill levels, from young children to soldiers and professional athletes. Athletic trainers are usually one of the first healthcare providers on the scene when injuries occur. They work under the direction of a licensed physician and with other healthcare providers, and often discuss specific injuries and treatment options or evaluate and treat patients as directed by a physician. Some athletic trainers meet with a team physician or consulting physician regularly. An athletic trainer’s administrative responsibilities may include regular meetings with an athletic director or other administrative officer to deal with budgets, purchasing, policy implementation, and other business-related issues. Athletic trainers should not be confused with fitness trainers and instructors, including personal trainers. The job description and education are very different. Athletic training is often confused with personal training. There is, however, a large difference in the education, skillset, job duties and patients of an athletic trainer and a personal trainer. Athletic trainers provide physical medicine, rehabilitative and preventative services. Athletic trainers treat a breadth of patients, including but not limited to: professional, college, secondary school and youth athletes, dancers, musicians and military personnel. Athletic trainers can work in a variety of locations including schools, physician clinics, hospitals and manufacturing plants. Here are some differences between an athletic trainer and a personal trainer. ATHLETIC TRAINER An athletic trainer is an expert at recognizing, treating and preventing musculoskeletal injuries. ATs meets qualifications set by the Board of Certification, Inc., and adhere to the requirements of a state licensing board. ATs practice under the direction of a physician and are members of a health care profession recognized by the American Medical Association.

Requirements: • Must obtain, at minimum, a bachelor’s degree in athletic training • Must pass a comprehensive exam to earn the ATC credential • Must keep their knowledge and skills current by participating in continuing education • Must adhere to standards of professional practice set by one national certifying agency and to a national code of ethics

Daily Duties: – Provide physical medicine and rehabilitation services – Prevent, diagnose, treat and rehabilitate injuries (acute and chronic) – Coordinate care with physicians and other health care professionals – Work in schools, colleges, professional sports, clinics, hospitals, corporations, industry, military, and performing arts

Page 2: ATHLETIC TRAINER - Patrick Henry Community College · 2015-08-03 · ATHLETIC TRAINER Athletic Trainers (ATs) ... Apply protective or injury-preventive devices such as tape, bandages,

Updated July 2015

PERSONAL TRAINER A personal trainer develops, monitors and changes an individual’s specific exercise program in a fitness or sports setting; some personal trainers also make nutrition recommendations. Personal trainers can earn credentials through a number of agencies and can work as fitness trainers without formal instruction or certification. Requirements: • May or may not have higher education in health sciences • May or may not be required to obtain certification or state licensing • May or may not participate in continuing education • May become certified by any one of numerous organizations that set varying education and practice requirements Daily Duties: – Assess fitness needs and design appropriate exercise regimens – Work with clients to achieve fitness goals – Help educate the public on the importance of physical activity – Work in health clubs, wellness centers and other locations where fitness activities take place

IMPORTANT QUALITIES – ATHLETIC TRAINERS

Compassion. Athletic trainers and exercise physiologists work with athletes and patients who may be in considerable pain or discomfort. ATs and EPs must be sympathetic while providing treatments.

Decision-making skills. Athletic trainers and exercise physiologists must be able to make informed clinical decisions that could affect the health or livelihood of patients.

Detail oriented. Athletic trainers and exercise physiologists must be able to record detailed, accurate progress and ensure that patients are receiving the appropriate treatments or practicing the correct fitness regimen.

Interpersonal skills. Athletic trainers and exercise physiologists must have strong interpersonal skills and be able to manage difficult situations. They must be able to communicate well with others, including physicians, patients, athletes, coaches, and parents.

EDUCATION ALL certified or licensed athletic trainers must have a bachelor’s or master’s degree from an accredited college or university. More than 70 percent of certified athletic trainers hold at least a master’s degree. 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.

Accredited Schools in Virginia

Averett University

Bridgewater College

Emory & Henry College

George Mason University

James Madison University

Liberty University

Longwood University

Lynchburg College

Radford University

Roanoke College

Shenandoah University*

*Master’s Degree

Page 3: ATHLETIC TRAINER - Patrick Henry Community College · 2015-08-03 · ATHLETIC TRAINER Athletic Trainers (ATs) ... Apply protective or injury-preventive devices such as tape, bandages,

Updated July 2015

LICENSURE/CERTIFICATION To become an athletic trainer, candidates must graduate with a degree in Athletic Training from an accredited athletic training program and successfully pass the Board of Certification (BOC) Exam. To practice as an athletic trainer in most states, the individual must also be credentialed within the state. Degrees in physical therapy, exercise science, strength and conditioning or others DO NOT qualify the candidate to sit for the BOC examination. The independent Board of Certification Inc. (BOC) nationally certifies athletic trainers. Athletic trainers must pass an examination and hold a bachelor’s degree to become an Athletic Trainer, Certified (ATC). To retain certification, ATC credential holders must obtain 80 hours of medically related continuing education credits every three years and adhere to a code of ethics. The BOC is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies.

JOB OUTLOOK Employment of athletic trainers is projected to grow 21 percent from 2012 to 2022, faster than the average for all occupations. However, because it is a small occupation, the fast growth will result in only about 4,900 new jobs over the 10-year period. As people become more aware of sports-related injuries at a young age, demand for athletic trainers is expected to increase, most significantly in colleges, universities, and youth leagues. Recent research reveals that the effects of concussions are particularly severe and long lasting in child athletes. Although concussions are dangerous to athletes at any age, children’s brains are still developing and are at risk for permanent complications. Parents and coaches are becoming educated about these greater risks through community health efforts. Because athletic trainers are usually onsite with athletes and are often the first responders when injuries occur, the demand for trainers should continue to increase. Additionally, advances in injury prevention and detection and more sophisticated treatments are projected to increase the demand for athletic trainers. Growth in an increasingly active middle-aged and elderly population will likely lead to an increased incidence of athletic-related injuries, such as sprains. Sports programs at all ages and for all experience levels will continue to create demand for athletic trainers. Insurance and workers’ compensation costs have become a concern for many employers and insurance companies, especially in areas where employees are often injured on the job. For example, military bases hire athletic trainers to help train and rehabilitate injured military personnel. These trainers also create programs aimed at keeping injury rates down. Depending on the state, some insurance companies recognize athletic trainers as healthcare providers and reimburse the cost of an athletic trainer’s services.

WORKING CONDITIONS Certified athletic trainers work in physician offices as physician extenders. They also work in rural and urban hospitals, hospital emergency rooms, urgent and ambulatory care centers, military hospitals, physical therapy clinics, high schools, colleges/universities, commercial employers, professional sports teams and performance arts companies. They are multi-skilled health care workers who, like others in the medical community with science-based degrees, are in great demand because of the continuing and increasing shortage of registered nurses and other health care workers. The skills of ATCs have been sought and valued by sports medicine specialists and other physicians for more than 50 years. As the U.S. begins its fight against the obesity epidemic, it is important that people have access to health care professionals who can support lifelong physical activity for all ages.

Athletic trainers may spend much of their time working outdoors on sports fields in all types of weather. Those working with teams during sporting events may work evenings or weekends and travel often.

The following industries employed a majority of athletic trainers in 2012:

Colleges, universities, & professional schools; state, local, & private 25%

Offices of other health practitioners 15%

Hospitals; state, local, & private 13%

Fitness & recreational sports centers 13%

Spectator sports 4%

Page 4: ATHLETIC TRAINER - Patrick Henry Community College · 2015-08-03 · ATHLETIC TRAINER Athletic Trainers (ATs) ... Apply protective or injury-preventive devices such as tape, bandages,

Updated July 2015

AVERAGE SALARY The median annual wage for athletic trainers was $42,090 in May 2012. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $25,960, and the top 10 percent earned more than $64,140. Because some work with teams during sporting events, athletic trainers may be required to work evenings or weekends and travel often.

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATONS National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) 2952 Stemmons Frwy, Suite 200 Dallas, TX 75247 Phone: 214-637-6282 Fax: 214-637-2206 http://www.vata.us Email: [email protected]

Virginia Athletic Trainers Association (VATA) www.vata.us

Related Websites: http://www.bls.gov http://dhp.virginia.gov/Medicine www.NATA.org http://www.vata.us/regulations/index.htm http://www.vata.us/aboutvata/FactsaboutATCS.pdf http://www.caate.net/

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2014-15 Edition, Athletic Trainers and Exercise Physiologists, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/athletic-trainers-and-exercise-physiologists.htm (visited July 15, 2015).