What Athletic Trainers Do

Athletic Training is recognized as an allied health care profession by the American Medical Association. It encompasses the prevention, diagnosis, and intervention of emergency, acute, and chronic medical conditions involving impairment, functional limitations, and disabilities.

The athletic trainer’s professional preparation is directed towards the development of specified competencies in the following domains:

1. Injury and Illness Prevention and Wellness Promotion
2. Examination, Assessment, and Diagnosis
3. Immediate and Emergency Care
4. Therapeutic Intervention
5. Healthcare Administration and Professional Responsibility

The Athletic Training Program prepares students for a career as a Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC) but also builds a solid foundation for students interested in medicine, sports medicine, physical therapy, occupational therapy, or other allied health care professions. See our careers page for additional information.

Typical employment settings for graduates of the program include college and university athletics, high schools, clinics and hospitals, professional sports teams, and corporate and industrial healthcare settings.

Many students also continue their education in graduate, medical, or allied medical schools.

An athletic trainer has a different skillset from emergency medical technicians, physical therapists, personal trainers, and coaches. If you are interested in coaching as a profession, we recommend investigating our department’s Applied Movement Science program.

The National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) website has additional information about the athletic training profession.