Becoming an Athletic Trainer
Athletic Trainers are highly qualified healthcare professionals who recognize, prevent and manage injuries apart from taking steps towards rehabilitation. They also help the people understand how to avoid unnecessary medical treatment. The Athletic Trainers also work with your health care service providers to understand your injuries and come up with best possible solutions to heal those quickly.
Working Environment:
The AMA (American Medical Association) has recognized athletic training as an allied health care profession. Athletic trainers work in various professional settings. Sometimes they work in a team under the direction of a physician and other healthcare professionals, but they mostly work in individual capacity. They work in:
- Professional sports arena
- Secondary and intermediate schools
- Hospitals
- Nursing Homes
- Healthcare Facilities
- Sports Medicine Clinics
- Law Enforcement Agencies
- Military Facilities
- Offices of Physicians
Education Requirements:
- Earn a Bachelor’s Degree: Athletic Trainers must have a bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training. Students must get enrolled into a degree program that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE). Coursework includes human sciences, first aid care, anatomy and physiology and injury prevention. Apart from that, courses such as chemistry, physics, psychology and mathematics are also must for aspiring Athletic Trainers.
- Earn a Master’s Degree: Although it’s not mandatory, many Athletic Trainers go for Master’s Degree programs, which will include a lot of research work and experience at clinical settings.
- Certification: Many states in the U.S. require license or certification while hiring Athletic Trainers. The certification can be obtained from the Board of Certification (BOC).
Salary & Job Outlook: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the job outlook for this profession remains excellent. Most jobs are found in the fields of Youth Sports and Professional Sports. The Athletic Trainers generally earn $35,000 to $75,000 per year.