How to Become an Athletic Trainer

Athletic trainers specialize in preventing, diagnosing, and treating muscle and bone injuries and illnesses. They work with athletes of all ages and sizes to keep them healthy and in top condition. Becoming an athletic trainer requires specific education and certification, but may be a highly rewarding career filled with opportunities to impact peoples lives.

Educational Requirements

The first step to becoming an athletic trainer is to earn a bachelor’s degree in athletic training. This degree will provide you with the knowledge and experience needed to begin a career in athletic training. Common classes taken in an athletic training bachelor’s program include anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, psychology, nutrition, pharmacology, and kinesiology. You may also be required to complete an internship performing fieldwork with experienced athletic trainers.

Certification and Licensure

Once you have earned your bachelor’s degree, you will be eligible to take the athletic training certification (ATC) examination. Passing this exam will allow you to become nationally certified as an athletic trainer, which is necessary to practice in many states. After achieving certification, it is important to stay current on your education by obtaining continuing education credits and remaining registered for the ATC exam. States have different requirements in order to obtain a license to practice.

AI Impact

Like any industry, advancements in technology will likely have an impact on the practice of athletic training. Artificial intelligence (AI) is expected to increasingly be used in clinical decision making and to provide personalized treatment plans. AI could also be utilized to analyze movement data on a larger scale to help diagnose and prevent injuries. As AI continues to develop, the need for human athletic trainers to understand, interpret, and deploy this technology will become essential.

Conclusion

Becoming an athletic trainer is a rewarding path that requires dedication and hard work. It is important to earn a bachelors degree in the field, take the athletic training certification examination, and stay current on your education. While the field is likely to be impacted by AI, it will also require athletic trains with updated knowledge of AI and its applications to properly use the technology in the practice.