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.
Below is a list of some of the various types of allied health careers / professions: