Certified athletic trainers (ATCs) are medical experts in preventing, recognizing, managing and rehabilitating injuries that result from physical activity. Athletic trainers can help you avoid unnecessary medical treatment and disruption of normal daily life; if you’re injured, they can get you on the mend and keep you on the move.
Specifically, the ATC specializes in six practice areas or domains:
As part of a complete health care team, the certified athletic trainer works under the direction of a licensed physician and in cooperation with other health care professionals, athletics administrators, coaches and parents. The ATC gets to know each athlete/patient individually and can treat injuries more effectively because of that.
An ATC’s day may, for example, include these tasks:
These duties require extensive knowledge and strong decision-making skills obtained through the ATC’s experience and education.
Where do Certified Athletic Trainers work?
Certified athletic trainers can be found almost anywhere people are physically active. Whether it’s on the playing field or in an industrial work setting, ATCs are in place to help active people prevent injuries and stay healthy. Here are some of the places you will find them:
Secondary Schools: Public and private secondary schools offer abundant job opportunities for ATCs. Parents and administrators are discovering the benefits an ATC can offer in preventing and caring for injuries. Many ATCs teach classes at the high school level.
Colleges and universities: Certified athletic training jobs in colleges and universities generally fall into two categories: athletic department staff assignment and combination teacher/athletic trainer.
Professional sports: Although teams operate only a few months per year, ATCs work year-round conditioning and rehabilitating athletes. Fewer jobs are available in this practice setting due to the limited number of teams.
Sports medicine clinics: This growing setting provides ATCs the opportunity to work with a number of different health care professionals and a diverse patient population.
In addition to athletic injury rehabilitation, many clinics provide athletic training services for secondary schools via outreach programs.
Military: Each branch of the U.S. military is increasing its use of athletic trainers. ATCs can be found as part of the health care team for active-duty injured service people, on- and off-base fitness and wellness centers, new-recruit readiness programs and pre-enlistment readiness programs, in addition to established military school sports teams.
Industrial and commercial: These settings both use outreach clinics and full-time ATC employees to deliver services. Athletic trainers are a key component to the heath care team, and work with physicians and other allied health personnel. As well, ATCs are first-responder medical personnel who are experts in injury assessment and treatment, particularly in the orthopaedic and musculoskeletal disciples.
Other athletic training employment opportunities include hospitals, health clubs, and the performing arts