What is an Athletic Trainer?

The Certified Athletic Trainer is a highly educated and skilled professional specializing in athletic health care.  Athletic Training is recognized as an allied health care professional by the American Medical Association.  In cooperation with physicians and other allied health personnel, the athletic trainer functions as an integral member of the athletic health care team in secondary schools, colleges and universities, sports medicine clinics, professional sports programs, and other athletic health care settings.

What Education does an Athletic Trainer Have?

Certified athletic trainers have, at minimum, a bachelor’s degree, usually in athletic training, health, physical education or exercise science. In addition, athletic trainers study human anatomy, human physiology, biomechanics, exercise physiology, athletic training, nutrition and psychology/counseling. Certified Athletic Trainers also participate in extensive clinical affiliations with athletic teams under appropriate supervision.

In the United States Athletic Training Education Programs are accredited by the [Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education] (CAATE). Athletic Trainers are required to pass an independently monitored Board Exam consisting of written, practical, and oral testing in order to obtain certification.  Entry level athletic training education uses a competency-based approach in both the classroom and clinical settings.  The student must be introduced to professional coursework that encompasses the following domains:

• Risk management
• Pathology of injury/illness
• Prevention and assessment of injuries/illness
• General medical conditions and disabilities
• Therapeutic modalities
• Strength and Conditioning
• Therapeutic massage
• Emergency medicine
• Weight management, nutrition, and body composition
• Psychosocial intervention and referral
• Medical ethics and legal issues
• Pharmacology
• Professional development and responsibilities

In addition all Certified Athletic Trainers are required to obtain continuing education / professional development to maintain their credentials.

Athletic trainers know and practice the medical arts at the highest professional and ethical standards.

Athletic training is practiced by athletic trainers, health care professionals who collaborate with physicians to optimize activity and participation of patients and clients. Athletic training encompasses the prevention, diagnosis and intervention of emergency, acute and chronic medical conditions involving impairment, functional limitations and disabilities. Members of the NATA must agree to abide by the Association’s Code of Ethics.

Athletic trainers are recognized allied health care professionals.

ATs are highly qualified, multi-skilled allied health care professionals and have been part of the American Medical Association’s Health Professions Career and Education Directory for more than a decade. Athletic trainers are assigned National Provider Identifier (NPI) numbers like all other health care professionals. The taxonomy code for athletic trainers is 2255A2300X. Additionally, the American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics and American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine - among others - are all strong clinical and academic supporters of athletic trainers.

ATs improve patient functional and physical outcomes.

Results from a nationwide Medical Outcomes Survey demonstrate that care provided by ATs effects a significant change in all outcomes variables measured, with the greatest change in functional outcomes and physical outcomes. The investigation indicates that care provided by ATs generates a change in health-related quality of life patient outcomes. (Ref: Albohm MJ, Wilkerson GB. An outcomes assessment of care provided by certified athletic trainers. Journal of Rehabilitation Outcomes Measure 1999; 3 (3):51-56.)

ATs provide the same or better outcomes in clinical settings as other providers.

Results of a comparative analysis of care provided by certified athletic trainers and physical therapists in a clinical setting indicated ATs provide the same levels of outcomes, value and patient satisfaction as physical therapists in a clinical setting (Ref: Reimbursement of Athletic Training by Albohm, MJ; Campbell, Konin, pp. 25). Patient satisfaction ratings are more than 96 percent when treatment is provided by ATs.