JUSTICE ATHLETIC TRAINING

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 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. The American Medical Association (AMA) recognizes athletic training as an allied health care profession, and recommends certified athletic trainers be in every high school to keep America’s youth safe and healthy. Athletic trainers are sometimes confused with personal trainers. There is, however, a large difference in the education, skillset, job duties and patients of an athletic trainer and a personal trainer. The athletic training academic curriculum and clinical training follows the medical model. Athletic trainers must graduate from an accredited baccalaureate or master’s program, and 70% of ATs have a master’s degree. Certified athletic trainers have fulfilled the requirements for certification established by the Board of Certification (BOC) for athletic trainers. Once certified, ATs must meet ongoing continuing education requirements in order to remain certified. In the state of Virginia, ATs are required to be licensed by the Virgnia Board of Medicine