Athletic Training
Field description
Athletic trainers play a significant role in the management, prevention, recognition and rehabilitation of injured athletes. Under the supervision of a licensed physician, athletic trainers administer immediate emergency and follow-up care. They develop athletic injury prevention and treatment programs using their knowledge of biomechanics, anatomy and pathology.
Athletic trainers also provide a vital communication link between the injured athlete, the physician, the coach, and sometimes the athlete's family, to determine when it's right to return to practice and competition.
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Career opportunities
Career opportunities for athletic trainers are good. Each year, the profession grows by approximately 10 percent, which is about average for most professions.
The certified athletic trainer is a highly educated and skilled health sciences professional specializing in athletic health care. In cooperation with physicians and other allied health personnel, the athletic trainer functions as an integral member of the athletic health-care team in secondary schools, colleges and universities, sports medicine clinics, professional sports programs and other health-care settings.
High Schools- athletic trainers work to prevent and treat athletic injuries, which may happen during practice or competition. Athletic trainers may also teach at the high school during the day.
Sports medicine clinic- Athletic trainers work with patient treatment and rehabilitation, provide athletic training coverage for a high school or college and conduct coaches' workshops and other sports medicine educational programs.
College level - athletic trainer covers practice sessions and home and away competitions, supervises the educational experiences of student trainers, and may teach sports medicine classes.
Professional level-athletic trainers work year-round with male and female professional sports teams, including football, basketball, baseball, and hockey.
Other Health Care- athletic trainers provide service to company employees. Employment can also be found in the armed forces, dance companies, sales and as physician extenders.
The field of athletic training has grown very large. In addition to sports teams, companies have started to hire athletic trainers as a service to employees. Employment can also be found in the armed forces, dance companies, sales and as physician extenders.
Earning potential
Salary is dependent upon many factors: level of education, employment setting, and experience. According to the 2005 National Athletic Trainer's Association salary survey, average salaries ranged from $28,495 to $63,568. The benefits you receive as an athletic trainer may include a paid vacation, health insurance and a pension plan.
Professional organizations
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