Athletic trainers now need a master’s degree from a CAATE-accredited professional program, because bachelor’s-level programs no longer lead to the credential. After graduating, you pass the Board of Certification (BOC) exam to earn the ATC credential and then meet your state’s licensing rules. Most people spend five to six years in college, with accelerated combined programs at the shorter end.
What the work is really like
Athletic trainers are health care professionals who prevent, assess and treat injuries. They are not personal trainers, and the difference matters.
- On the sideline: emergency care, concussion assessment, taping and deciding whether an athlete can return to play.
- In the training room: rehabilitation programs, injury documentation and working with team physicians and physical therapists.
- Beyond sports: high schools, colleges, pro teams, clinics, the military, performing arts companies, public safety and industrial settings where workers get injured on the job.
Schedules follow the season, which can mean early practices, late games, weekends and travel. Off seasons are usually calmer.
Training routes
- Bachelor’s plus master’s: major in exercise science, kinesiology or a related field, then complete a professional master’s in athletic training, usually about two years.
- Accelerated programs: some colleges offer combined bachelor’s and master’s tracks that save a year.
- Clinical rotations: every accredited program includes supervised clinical experience across different settings and sports.
Choose a program accredited by CAATE, the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education; graduation from one is required to sit for the exam. Our guide to what you can do with a kinesiology degree shows how the undergraduate major sets you up.
Credentials and state rules
The BOC exam is the national credentialing test. Passing earns the ATC credential, which requires continuing education and current emergency cardiac care training to keep. Nearly every state regulates athletic trainers through licensure or registration, and the scope of practice varies. Requirements vary by state, so check your state licensing board before you job hunt across state lines.
From high school: an ordered plan
- Take anatomy, biology, chemistry and physics. Ask whether your school’s athletic trainer accepts student aides.
- Earn CPR and first aid training early; it is useful and shows commitment.
- Pick a college major with athletic training prerequisites, or an accelerated athletic training track.
- Log observation hours with athletic trainers in at least two settings, since many master’s programs ask for them.
- Apply to CAATE-accredited master’s programs and complete your clinical rotations.
- Pass the BOC exam, secure your state license and look for a first job or a graduate assistant position.
Testing the fit first
- Volunteer as a student athletic training aide for a high school team.
- Ask for informational interviews with athletic trainers in a high school, a clinic and an industrial setting.
- Spend a full game day with a trainer, from setup to the last ice bag.
- Compare nearby careers: physical therapist, personal trainer and dietitian.
Who does well and why some change course
Athletic trainers who thrive stay calm in emergencies, love sports or active people, communicate well with coaches and parents and do not mind irregular hours. People switch out because of long seasonal hours, travel, pay compared with the length of training and pressure from coaches. Many move into physical therapy, physician assistant programs, clinical settings or teaching. See the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook for current pay and outlook.
If you are changing careers
Former athletes, coaches and fitness professionals often find this field. With a bachelor’s in another area, you can take prerequisites and apply to a master’s program. Our guides to life after college sports and deciding on grad school can help.
Where a mentor helps
A mentor helps you plan prerequisites and observation hours, compare programs, stay organized through clinical rotations and prepare for the BOC exam and first job. Mentors are not credentialed career counselors, admissions counselors or licensing experts; they help you do the research and the work yourself. See career and education mentoring and mentoring for college students.
Related
- Career paths hub
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- Career planning for student athletes
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Common questions
Can you become an athletic trainer with a bachelor’s degree?
Not anymore. Entry now requires a master’s degree from a CAATE-accredited professional program, although some colleges combine the bachelor’s and master’s into one accelerated track.
What is the difference between an athletic trainer and a personal trainer?
Athletic trainers are licensed health care professionals who assess and treat injuries. Personal trainers design fitness programs and do not need a graduate degree.
What does ATC stand for?
It is the credential earned by passing the Board of Certification exam after an accredited athletic training program. Most states also require a license.
Where do athletic trainers work besides sports teams?
Clinics, hospitals, the military, performing arts companies, public safety agencies and companies with physically demanding jobs all hire athletic trainers.
Get started
Love sports medicine and want a plan for the master’s route? Call (888) 305 5422, email contact@blackburnmentoring.com or start with a short assessment. A member of our team reviews every assessment personally and sets up a free intro call.