Athletic Training Option
The program provides students interested in the prevention, care, and evaluation of athletic injuries the necessary course work and clinical experience to qualify to sit for the examination leading to certification by the National Athletic Trainers Association Board of Certification.
What is an athletic trainer?
A certified Athletic Trainer is a highly educated and skilled healthcare professional who specializes in athletic healthcare. The athletic trainer is most directly responsible for all phases of healthcare in an athletic environment including preventing injuries from occurring, providing initial first aid and injury management, evaluating injuries and designing and supervising a timely and effective program of rehabilitation that can facilitate the safe and expeditious return of the athlete to activity. The athletic trainer must be knowledgeable and competent in a variety of specialties encompassed under the umbrella of "sports medicine".
Certified Athletic Trainers must exhibit a mastery of skills and knowledge in the following domains:- Prevention of athletic injuries
- Recognition, evaluation, and assessment of injuries
- Immediate care of injuries
- Treatment, rehabilitation, and reconditioning of injuries
- Health care administration
- Professional development and responsibility (Arheim, 2003)
