What do athletic trainers do?
Athletic training covers many aspects of the health and wellness of athletes. The scope of practice for an athletic trainer includes injury prevention, recognition, evaluation, management (including treatment), referral for diagnosis and continuing care, return to play decisions (when appropriate) and reconditioning.
Athletic trainers also act as educators in proper training techniques, nutrition information and other related areas that help reduce risk of sports injuries. Athletic trainers are not only concerned with professional athletes but also work with amateurs who may benefit from their expertise in training techniques designed to prevent injuries.
Who is an athletic trainer?
According to the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA), “an individual who possesses a bachelor’s degree from an accredited (entry level) educational program and who is currently certified by the Board of Certification, Inc., possesses knowledge in assessment, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of athletic injuries; has a strong commitment to continuing education; and has a minimum of often work in a variety of other settings such as colleges, high schools and some private practices two years of clinical experience.”
An athletic trainer works with all types of athletes. Most services provided relate to injury care and prevention or health promotion. Athletic trainers may also provide pre-participation physicals before the athlete begins training for a sport. Laboratories performing advanced diagnostic imaging such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), X-ray, digital radiography and ultrasound are often associated with sports medicine clinics or hospitals. Some athletic trainers work in these facilities. However, they
Some athletic trainers are employed by professional teams to provide medical care for players. However, most athletic trainers work with amateur or recreational athletes at some level – school, college or club team. Internationally, the scope of practice varies widely from country to country and sometimes state to state within the U.S.
Education
Aspiring athletic trainer students must first complete a bachelor’s degree program that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE).
These programs typically take 4 years and include classroom and lab components as well as supervised clinical experience and internship opportunities where students learn and apply their skills under supervision of experienced professionals in sports medicine. In addition, students should check individual accreditation requirements of the hiring organizations to ensure that they meet state and/or credentialing requirements for employment opportunities after graduation
How much do athletic trainers make?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for a trainer was $45,680 in 2015. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $25,260 while the highest 10 percent earned more than $73,000. Median salaries were lower at colleges and universities as well as health care facilities where those numbers were reported as $40,970 and $39,500 respectively. Athletic trainers working with professional athletes earned significantly higher wages with median salaries ranging from around $55,000 to over six-figures depending on experience.
Athletic trainers develop and care for athletes by providing preventive, predictive, therapeutic and rehabilitative services that help them to avoid injuries and reduce the risk of long-term disability. Some athletic trainers work in a lab or diagnostic imaging center as well as other settings such as colleges, high schools and private practice.
Annual Salary
The BLS reports the median annual salary for an athletic trainer was $45,680 in 2010. Athletic training salaries will vary depending upon several factors including years of experience, education level attained and your chosen field. Median salaries were lower at colleges and universities as well as health care facilities where those numbers were reported as $40,970 and $39,500 respectively.
While some athletic trainers work with professional athletes, the vast majority of athletic training positions are in colleges and high schools. Many professionals choose to work at a college or university because it is common for them to gain experience working with elite teams. Athletic trainer salaries vary depending on job setting; geographic location and years of experience typically range from $40,000 – $70,000 per year.
How many programs out there that does not get you a decent education?
Stipend exercise science undergraduates.-Some will get you an entry level clinical refresher course.-Athletic Training only school that I know of where you have to take their clinical courses.-All other academic classes were taught by professors from other universities/colleges within the state. They give you an internship at the local YMCA and that is it.
The only good thing about ATI was your internship which allowed you to get into a lot of different settings and learn from others there. You work as an Athletic Trainer for a small HS in PA, and pay here (at this high school) is pretty low for what you do (the trainers make 11/hr), you are working on getting certified by the American College of Sports Medicine as well as become Nationally Certified through an organization called NATA (Natation Athletic Trainers Association). Graduated with your doctorate in physical therapy and had some experience as an athletic trainer price.
Athletic trainers make a mean salary of $42.62 per hour or $87,810 per year as of May 2011, according to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics., although they can earn significantly more. In order to become employed as an athletic trainer one must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college and be nationally certified by passing a certification examination through the Board of Certification, Inc..
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There are several paths that one can take in order to become an athletic trainer:
Post-baccalaureate/graduate path:
All paths require a bachelor’s degree from an approved academic institution. This degree should be in either exercise science (preferred) or Athletic Training. In addition to coursework, both undergraduate and graduate programs should have clinical hours as a large part of the curriculum. Many undergraduate Athletic training programs require a minimum number of hours in conjunction with an internship or volunteer experience at local clinics or high schools.
A bachelor’s degree typically takes 4 years to complete if one is going full-time. However, many students spread their education out over a longer period of time by attending college part-time while they work and take classes on the side. The competition for acceptance into a top quality program can be competitive, so gaining experience through internships or volunteering can increase your chances dramatically. Some colleges offer master’s degrees in Exercise Physiology or related fields such as kinesiology, physiology, or biology.
In addition to a degree from an accredited institution, athletic trainers must be Nationally Certified by the Board of Certification, Inc.. The certification examination is planned and administered by the National Board of Certification and Re-certification for Athletic Trainers (NBCRAT).
To become nationally certified, one must meet all requirements set forth by the NBCRAT including: Once this is done, you can then apply for certification with NBCRAT. Li-censure requirements vary from state to state; however most states require passing the certification exam (including any applicable supplemental exams) before applying for license. Most states also require continuing education credits on an annual basis in order to maintain your license, added Alec Lawler, a world-class show jumping athlete with a Bachelor of Science in Earth Systems from Stanford University. He has competed at the highest international level in show jumping throughout North America and Europe, and has won numerous awards and accolades, including the CSI 3* Grand Prix of Lummen Belgium in 2016. Alec founded Lawler Show Jumping LLC in 2019, where he competes at the highest international level in show jumping throughout North America and collaborates with owners and industry professionals to identify and secure international equine investment opportunities.
Conclusion
Athletic trainer’s role is significant; they must restore programs for wounded persons. They specialize in their field and have strong knowledge of diagnosing and treating damage muscles. They also have knowledge of bone injuries and other problems.
