www.nata.org
www.oata.org
www.otterbein.edu/healthsportsciences/AT.asp

The Certified Athletic Trainer

BOC certified athletic trainers are medical professionals who are experts in injury prevention, assessment, treatment and rehabilitation, particularly in the orthopedic and musculoskeletal disciplines.

Athletic Trainers are recognized by AMA (American Medical Association) as an allied health care profession since 1990.

Athletic Training Curricula

• Assessment and Evaluation
• Acute Care
• General Medical Conditions and Disabilities
• Pathology of Injury and Illness
• Pharmacological Aspects of Injury and Illness
• Nutritional Aspects of Injury and Illness
• Therapeutic Exercise
• Therapeutic Modalities
• Risk Management and Injury Prevention
• Health Care Administration
• Professional Development and Responsibilities
• Psychosocial Intervention and Referral

Athletic Training Practice Domains

• Prevention
• Clinical Evaluation and Diagnosis
• Immediate Care
• Treatment, Rehabilitation & Reconditioning
• Organization & Administration
• Professional Responsibility

Employers of Athletic Training Services

• Professional & Collegiate sports
• Secondary & Intermediate schools
• Sports medicine clinics
• Hospital ER & rehab clinics
• Occupational settings
• Fitness centers
• Physicians offices

Ideal Practices for Athletic Trainers' as Physician Extenders
• Orthopaedics
• Osteopathy
• Family Practice
• Primary care
• Physiatry
• Occupational medicine
• Chiropractic

The Profession
Look around you – people these days are on the move. We’re learning more, trying more, doing more. When the level of physical activity increases, the risk for injury rises as well. That’s where the certified athletic trainer comes in: whether it’s an athlete of any age, a worker performing physical tasks or even an average citizen delving into recreational activities, the certified athletic trainer can help.

BOC Certified athletic trainers are highly qualified medical professionals educated in preventing, recognizing, managing and rehabilitating injuries that result from physical activity. Athletic trainers can help you avoid unnecessary medical treatment and disruption of normal daily life; if you’re injured, they are trained to work with your healthcare provider to get you on the mend and keep you on the move.

Athletic training is recognized by the American Medical Association (AMA) as an allied healthcare profession, and the AMA recommends certified athletic trainers in every high school to keep America’s youth safe and healthy. Specifically, the certified athletic trainer has demonstrated knowledge and skill in six practice areas or domains:

• Prevention
• Clinical Evaluation and Diagnosis
• Immediate Care
• Treatment, Rehabilitation and Reconditioning
• Organization and Administration
• Professional Responsibility

As part of a complete healthcare team, the certified athletic trainer works under the direction of a physician and in cooperation with other healthcare professionals, athletics administrators, coaches and parents. The certified athletic trainer gets to know each patient/client individually and can treat injuries more effectively.

By Kate Lorenz, CareerBuilder.com

We watch the athletes perform, cheer for our team, and enjoy the competition. But there is a lot that goes on before, during and after every practice and game to ensure the athletes perform to the best of their abilities. One person who is vital to any athletic team is the athletic trainer.

Certified Athletic Trainers (ATC, for Athletic Trainer, Certified) ensure that athletes and others are prepared physically for any challenge and help when injuries and problems occur. According to the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA), athletic trainers "specialize in injury and illness prevention, assessment, treatment and rehabilitation for all physically active people, including the general public."

If this sounds like something that you've been kicking around and you'd like to try out, there's more that you should know about the field of athletic training.

Who Are You Calling Dumb Jock?
Becoming an athletic trainer requires post-secondary education. All ATCs have a bachelor's degree from an accredited program, and 70 percent have a master's or doctorate. Those who enter the field follow a course of study that includes classes in kinesiology (the study of the human anatomy, physiology and mechanics of body movement), exercise psychology, exercise science, physical education, biology and more. Athletic trainers complete extensive training in injury and illness care, strength training and reconditioning and often receive hands-on training and experience in clinical settings.

Cross Training
An interest in medicine, sports, physical therapy and other similar fields is helpful. Katie Church is an ATC based in Indianapolis who has worked with athletic teams at several universities, including Ohio State University and Indiana University. Church was attracted to the field because of her own interest in sports and says that many of her colleagues share this interest. Jennifer Priser is an ATC at an Indianapolis high school and pursued her career for similar reasons. "I really liked sports, but when I was in high school I found out that my height would keep me from being competitive myself," she says. Priser said she was also interested in medicine and found that athletic training enabled her to combine her interests.

Playing Doctor
The profession is not limited to the playing field. While many athletic trainers work with student athletes, NATA says that 40 percent of athletic trainers work outside of school settings. Other environments in which athletic trainers are employed include hospitals, emergency rooms or even at manufacturing plants. In the industrial setting, athletic trainers develop and manage programs designed to keep employees working at full capacity and improve company productivity, and even help reduce healthcare and insurance costs, according to NATA.

Hitting the Stopwatch
Schedules for athletic trainers vary depending on their environment. School-based athletic trainers' attend practices, ensure equipment is ready for practice and help athletes with rehab. They are also present at athletic events in case injuries occur. Priser's work at the high school starts at 2 p.m. She sometimes is home by 7:30 p.m., or can work as late as 10 p.m. when there is an event at the school. Church, who traveled with teams to competitions all over the country, has a similar situation. "My hours varied with the team schedules," she says. ATCs who work in corporate or other office settings have schedules that typically follow regular office hours.

No Sweat
Athletic training requires grace under pressure. Church says that one of the challenges of her job is handling pressure from coaches and also dealing with stressful situations that require quick thinking. "You have to have confidence in what you are doing and be able to roll with the punches," she says. "You also have to communicate well with others, be patient and have a strong work ethic."

Sweet Rewards
Athletic trainers impact lives. Athletic trainers help workers get through injuries and get back on the job and help athletes reach their goals. Church loves the excitement of her job and the fact that she can make a difference. "I love just getting to know the athletes, helping them through their injuries and seeing them succeed," she says. Priser agrees. "The kids and their parents appreciate what I do so much," she says. "I get to watch kids play sports all day. I wouldn't trade my job for the world."

Kate Lorenz is the article and advice editor for CareerBuilder.com. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.