What is Athletic Training?
Athletic Training is an allied health profession that is responsible for the prevention, evaluation, management and rehabilitation of athletic injuries. It also includes the education and counseling of athletes, parents and coaches along with administration and organizations of athletic medicine programs. The Certified Athletic Trainer is a qualified professional who is an integral part of an athletic program at the high school, university, professional or club level. Certified Athletic Trainers also work in clinical settings such as sports medicine clinics, military based clinics, and industrial sports medicine centers. The profession is recognized by The American Medical Association.
Since the founding of the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) in 1950, the role and skills of the athletic trainer have advanced dramatically. The increased emphasis on formal education and the implementation of a national certification exam have increased the standard of athletic trainers in the medical and health communities. Students wishing to sit for the Board of Certification (BOC, Inc.) examination, must graduate from a nationally accredited entry-level athletic training education program (ATEP). The accreditation process is based on identified standards recommended by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE). ATEP’s must meet these standards and build a sound curriculum of both academic focus and hands-on clinical experiences. San Diego State University received initial accreditation in 2000 and remains in good standing with the CAATE.
