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Athletic Training is an allied health profession that was recognized by the American Medical Association in 1991. Athletic Trainers, under the supervision of a licensed physician, provide care for patients within six areas of clinical practice: prevention; immediate care; clinical evaluation and diagnosis; treatment, rehabilitation, and reconditioning; organization and administration; and professional responsibility. Athletic Trainers are specialists in the area of sports medicine; sports medicine is a general term that refers to a very broad scope of care and services that are necessary to maintain the overall health and performance of those who are physically active or who participate in sports.
The National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) is the professional association for Athletic Trainers whose mission it is to promote the profession of Athletic Training. It was founded in 1950 when a core group of about 200 athletic trainers met in Kansas City to discuss the future. The growth of the athletic training profession has been on a moderate to fast increase. Today, the NATA membership spans the globe and includes more than 30,000 allied health care professionals.
According to the US Dept of Labor, most athletic training jobs are related to sports, although many also work in non-sport settings. About 1/3 of all athletic trainers work in hospitals, physician offices, and other health settings; 1/3 work in public and private educational settings. About 20% work in the fitness and recreational sports centers. Employment of athletic trainers is expected to grow much faster than the average of all occupations through 2014. Job growth will be concentrated in health care industry settings, such as ambulatory health care services and hospitals. Growth in sport-related positions will be somewhat slower.
The American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine, the Commission on the Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE), and the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) cooperate to establish, maintain, and promote the standards for the quality of CAATE-accredited educational programs in Athletic Training. The required content of those educational programs is defined by the profession of athletic training in the NATA Educational Competencies. Upon graduation from a CAATE-accredited Athletic Training program, graduates are eligible to sit for the national boards (Board of Certification) (BOC) examination. This national credential is recognized in all 50 states.
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