Description of the Profession

An ATC is a qualified health care professional educated and experienced in the management of health care problems associated with physical activity. In cooperation with physicians and other health care personnel, the athletic trainer functions as an integral member of the health care team in secondary schools, colleges and universities, professional sports programs, sports medicine clinics, and other health care settings. The athletic trainer functions in cooperation with medical personnel, athletic personnel, individuals involved in physical activity, parents, and guardians in the development and coordination of efficient and responsive athletic health care delivery systems.

The term sports medicine encompasses numerous professions involved in the health care of a physically active population. These professions include athletic training, medicine, nursing, physical therapy, nutrition, biomechanics, exercise physiology, pharmacy, and sports psychology. Athletic training is recognized by the American Medical Association (AMA) as an allied health profession that is practiced under the supervision of a physician. For additional information regarding the athletic training profession visit
http://www.nata.org/about_AT/index.htm.

The athletic trainer’s professional preparation is directed toward the development of specified competencies in the following domains: Risk Management and Injury Prevention, Pathology of Injuries and Illnesses, Orthopaedic Clinical Examination and Diagnosis, Medical Conditions and Disabilities, Acute Care of Injuries and Illnesses, Therapeutic Modalities, Conditioning and Rehabilitative Exercises, Pharmacology, Psychosocial Intervention and Referral, Nutritional Aspects of Injuries and Illnesses, Health Care Administration, and Professional Development and Responsibility. Through a combination of formal classroom instruction and clinical experiences, the athletic trainer is prepared to apply a wide variety of specific health care skills and knowledge within each of these domains. (http://www.nataec.org/ATEducatorsAcademy/12ContentAreas/tabid/143/Default.aspx).

The National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) is the national professional organization for ATCs since 1950. With the NATA’s leadership and guidance the role of the professional athletic trainer has changed dramatically. Education standards instituted in the late 1960’s along with the concept of certification have greatly increased the need for specific curricular content to meet the requirements for entry into the athletic training profession. Initially, NATA-PEC approved programs that met specified educational standards. The NATA was aligned with CAAHEP to provide an unbiased evaluation of ATEPs. CAAHEP is under the general authority of the AMA and provides accreditation standards for a number of allied health professions. As of July 1, 2006, all entry-level ATEPs are accredited by the Commission of Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE). The curriculum at California State University, Northridge (CSUN) is currently accredited by CAATE until 2011-2012.