Athletic Trainer Career & Jobs: Training, Salary & Certification Requirements

Almost everyone enjoys watching or participating in sports at one time or another during their lives. Whether you can’t wait for the Monday night football game to come on television, or you’ve been playing competitive sports since you were in elementary school, you already know how important player health is to enjoyment of the sports themselves. Athletic trainers are the people responsible for teaching players of all levels about injury prevention and, when an injury does occur, they are responsible for treating it correctly and supervising the rehabilitation process. Although injuries are the main concern of the athletic trainer, knowledge of nutrition, hygiene, exercise and sports psychology is essential to maintaining overall player wellness. Trainers are usually part of a comprehensive athletic program or department, and must report to physicians, specialists and coaches.

Salary Outlook

Average Annual Salary
$42,300
Salary Range
$30,500 - $53,900

Work Environment

It is typical for most athletic trainers to be employed by sports organizations, either competitive or non-competitive, as well as educational institutions like schools, universities and colleges that operate team or individual sports programs. Other employment opportunities exists at health clubs, community sports leagues, corporations that run company-wide health programs, private practices and therapy clinics.

High School Preparation

Although it is important for a student that aspires to be an athletic trainer to have a insatiable love of sports, it is also essential that they concentrate on courses like algebra, geometry, chemistry, biology, physics, and first aid while in high school. Additionally, course work in the health occupations/medical professions, English, computer skills, physical education, and general health are usually helpful.

Requirements

Any student interested in pursuing a career as an athletic trainer is required to have completed their high school education or the equivalency exam. After high school, it is essential that students become enrolled in an athletic training program at an accredited college or university. These programs of study typically take four full years to complete, and must include an opportunity for clinical experience. Graduates from one of these programs must first pass a three-part national certification exam which is administered by The National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA). Some states also require additional licensure, so students must be familiar with regional requirements as well.

Career Outlook

As more and more people become interested in physical fitness and overall life wellness, the services of qualified athletic trainers will continue to be in demand. An increasing number of accomplished high school and college level sports teams mean that trainers will be needed to oversee the health of the players and coaches, ensuring that this position will experience healthy growth in the next decade.

Professional Organizations

National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA)
2952 Stemmons Freeway
Suite 200
Dallas, TX 75247
Phone: (800) 879-6282
www.nata.org