AT Info

Athletic trainers (ATs) are highly qualified, multi-skilled health care professionals who render service or treatment, under the direction of or in collaboration with a physician, in accordance with their education, training and the state's statutes, rules and regulations.  As a part of the health care team, services provided by athletic trainers include primary care, injury and illness prevention, wellness promotion and education, emergent care, examination and clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions

1. Attend and graduate from a CAATE-accredited athletic training education program
   • Majority of programs have moved into an entry level master's degree
   • A list of accredited programs can be found on the CAATE's website (found under the links tab)
2. Pass a national certification test (BOC)
3. Obtain State Credentials
   • Most states require a license to practice
   • Some states have other forms of regulation (registration, certification, etc.)
4. Attend Continuing Education to maintain certification
   • ATs must participate in 50 hours of CE every 2 years
   • Renew CPR/AED Certification every 2 years

Domains are the general areas in which athletic trainers are responsible for providing care. They encompass everything an athletic trainer does on a daily basis and much more. Some examples are given below each domain but if you are interested, each domain is broken down further by the NATA and BOC (see links tab for links to those organizations' websites)

Athletic Trainers work in a variety of settings besides high schools. Some places you might find athletic trainers providing health care include:

• Secondary Schools
• College Athletics
• Professional Sports (Traditional Sports, NASCAR, Rodeo, etc.)
• Performing Arts (Dance, Marching Bands, Cirque du Soleil, etc.)
• Tactical Medicine (Military, Police Academies, Firefighters)
• Physician Offices (As physician Extenders)
• Physical Therapy/Sports Rehabilitation Clinics
• Research/Education
• Health Care Administration
• Industrial/Ergonomics (Factories, Assembly Lines, UPS, etc.)

All home in-season practices and competitions that are on-site are conducted with an athletic trainer present on school grounds. Out of season sports are not covered (unless they occur while an in season sport is present). Away events (except high school varsity football in which a UHS athletic trainer travels to) are covered by the host schools' athletic trainer. Off campus sports (swimming, golf, etc.) and club sports (i.e. hockey, rugby, rowing) do not typically have an AT provided from UCFSD, but student-athletes in those sports are welcome to come into the athletic training room for evaluation of injuries. All athletes (in-season, out-of-season, and club) must follow UCFSD athletics guidelines and policies. A physician and EMS is present for all home high school varsity football games.

The athletic trainer on site will initiate care and evaluate the injury. If in the athletic trainer's opinion the injury can be treated at school, the athletic trainer will reevaluate and treat the injury until the athlete can return safely to sport. If the athletic trainer thinks the injury needs to be seen by another provider, the AT will alert the parents and provide recommendations moving forward.

*Certain injuries (i.e. concussions, skin lesions, etc.) must be referred based on school policy and/or NFHS/PIAA guidelines.

Yes! Anytime you visit a physician or specialist (dentist, eye doctor, etc) for an injury sustained in school or out of school, a note is required to return to athletics. The injury should if possible have a diagnosis and a timetable for returning to sport. In some cases (such as skin lesions) a note is required on a specific form. Please ask the ATs if you have any question on what form is needed for a specific injury.

*Please note, in some cases (such as a concussion, skin lesion, etc.) specific guidelines and protocols must be completed before returning to sport. For example, even with clearance following a skin infection, the NFHS requires a student-athlete be on medication for a certain amount of days. For diagnosed concussions, students must complete a 5-step return to play protocol with the athletic trainers or submit proof of completing this protocol elsewhere.

Items such as braces, walking boots, crutches, etc. are commonly loaned out by the athletic trainers to injured student-athletes. In the event one is borrowed, student-athletes will be asked for fill out a sign-out form acknowledging that they received the item in the listed condition and will return it at the end of the sports season. Once the item is no longer needed or the season has ended, the item must be returned to the athletic training room. If the item is needed beyond the end of a season, arrangements must be made with an athletic trainer and will be decided on a case-by-case basis. If you do not return it or it is significantly damaged (normal wear and tear is expected) the student-athlete may be charged for a replacement.

The letters stand for different degrees, certifications, or licenses held by athletic trainers. The most common abbreviations are below.

• ATC- Certified Athletic Trainer
• LAT- Licensed Athletic Trainer
• MS- Masters of Science
• CSCS- Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist