Athletic trainers (AT) are well-known, recognized, qualified health care professionals, and are under the allied health professions category as defined by Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). ATs work under the direction of physicians, as prescribed by state licensure statutes. They work with people of all ages and all skill levels, from young children to soldiers and professional athletes. ATs are usually one of the first healthcare providers on the scene when injuries occur on the field. As a part of the health care team, services provided by ATs include:
- primary care,
- injury and illness prevention,
- wellness promotion and education,
- emergent care,
- examination and clinical diagnosis,
- therapeutic intervention and
- rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions.
ATs are licensed or otherwise regulated in 49 states, and the District of Columbia. California National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) has ongoing efforts to update obsolete state practice acts that do not reflect current qualifications and practice of ATs under health care reform.
Difference between Athletic Training and Personal Training
Many people think athletic trainers and personal trainers are the same career, but they are not. There is a significant difference in the education, skill set and job duties of an athletic trainer versus that of a personal trainer. Athletic training uses a medical model for professional education that includes both didactic and clinical education. Athletic trainers must graduate from an Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) accredited program (Over 70 percent of ATs possess a master’s degree). Currently, 48 states and the District of Columbia require ATs to hold the Board of Certification credential of “AthleticTrainer, Certified” (ATC).
