Athletic Trainer Careers
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What
Athletic Trainers do:
An Athletic Trainer is responsible for
rehabilitating patients with injuries as a
result of any sport or physical activity.
Athletic Trainers work with people of all ages,
from professional athletes to factory workers.
An Athletic Trainer can work to prevent further
deterioration of an existing injury, by
developing and managing a program of exercises
to assist with recovery. Athletic Trainers can
also work with other healthcare professionals,
under the supervision of a licensed Physician.
Athletic Trainers can work in any sporting
environment, school, hospital, factory,
government body or performing arts setting.
Athletic Trainers who work in a non sporting
environment usually work Monday to Friday,
normal office hours. Athletic Trainers who work
in a sporting environment often work longer
hours. Athletic Trainers in a sporting
environment must be present for training
sessions and games, often in the evenings or
weekends. Athletic Trainers are not to be
confused with fitness trainers or personal
trainers, who are not allied healthcare
professionals.
The main duties of an Athletic
Trainer include:
- Preventing injuries through exercise
- Working with other healthcare professionals to
deliver a multidisciplinary approach
- Recognizing, Evaluating, and Assessing
injuries
- Treating injuries as they occur
- Rehabilitating and reconditioning
musculoskeletal injuries
- Providing first aid
- Advising on the proper use of equipment
- Applying protective devices such as tape,
bandages, and braces
- Educating people on avoiding injuries
- Helping patients avoid long term health
expenses by preventing degeneration of injuries
- Other administrative duties
Education / Certification & Qualifications:
A Certified Athletic Trainer is a highly
qualified allied health professional, recognized
by the American Medical Association (AMA). To
become certified you must first qualify with a
degree from an accredited Athletic Training
Program. Programs usually last 4 years and cover
subjects such as: Assessment and Evaluation of
Injuries, First Aid, Pharmacology, General
Medical Conditions, Health Care, Risk
Management, Administration, Research and CPR. On
graduation, you must then successfully pass the
Certification exam administered by the state in
which you wish to work.
Salary & Job Prospects:
A fully qualified Certified Athletic Trainer can
earn between $30,000 - $85,000 per year
depending on experience, responsibilities, work
setting and location. Athletic trainers working
for professional sporting teams earn the highest
salaries. As with most other healthcare careers,
the job prospects are excellent and expected to
grow rapidly over the coming years.
Find an Allied Health School:
Use the red search box above, to find Allied
Health schools and colleges in your area that
offer Athletic Trainer programs.
Below is a list of some of the various types of
allied health careers / professions: |
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