About Certified Athletic Trainers

Certified Athletic Trainers (ATCs) are healthcare professionals who work in collaboration with physicians to provide prevention, emergency care, examination and assessment, therapeutic treatment intervention, and rehabilitation for acute, subacute and chronic athletic injuries and other medical conditions. 

Athletic Training is recognized by the American Medical Association (AMA), Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as an allied health care profession. 

Education

Certified Athletic Trainers must earn a degree from an accredited university-level athletic training education program. In addition to a comprehensive basic and applied sciences foundation, athletic training education encompasses the following practice domains and educational competencies:

Clinical Practice Domains:

  1. Injury and Illness Prevention and Wellness
  2. Clinical Evaluation, Assessment and Diagnosis
  3. Immediate and Emergency Care
  4. Treatment and Rehabiliation
  5. Organizational and Professional Health and Well-being

Educational Competencies:

  1. Evidence-Based Practice
  2. Prevention and Health Promotion
  3. Clinical Examination and Diagnosis
  4. Acute Care of Injury and Illness
  5. Therapeutic Interventions
  6. Psychosocial Intervention and Referral
  7. Health Care Administration
  8. Professional Development and Responsibility 

Each athletic training student is educated, trained and evaluated on these educational competencies within each domain in both classroom and clinical settings.

Certification

Upon successful completion of an accredited athletic training education program, athletic training candidates are eligible for national certification upon passing a comprehensive examination administered by the Board of Certification. 

To maintain certification status, Certified Athletic Trainers are required to complete continuing education courses. This requirement promotes continued competence and development of knowledge and skills and ensures ATCs remain on the leading edge of therapeutic techniques, research and best practices.  

Regulation

Athletic trainers are licensed or otherwise regulated in 49 states as well as the District of Columbia. 

For more information on Certified Athletic Trainers, please visit the National Athletic Trainers' Association.

ReGen Athletic Medicine

To view ReGen Athletic Medicine's specific practice policy, please visit our Forms page.