How To Become an Athletic Trainer
In This Article:
- What Is an Athletic Trainer?
- What Does an Athletic Trainer Do?
- What Education and Experience Does an Athletic Trainer Need?
- Best Degrees for Athletic Trainers
- What Skills Does an Athletic Trainer Need?
- Median Annual Wage
- Projected Job Growth
- Where Do Athletic Trainers Work?
- Advancement Opportunities for Athletic Trainers
What Is an Athletic Trainer?
Athletic training may be an ideal career field if you have a passion for sports and an interest in medicine. This specialized field is dedicated to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of sports-related injuries and conditions.
If you are considering a career in medicine but prefer not to spend years in medical school, exploring how to become an athletic trainer may be the right move for you. There are several requirements you will have to meet to begin actively working as an athletic trainer. First, however, you should take a closer look at the question: What does an athletic trainer do?
What Does an Athletic Trainer Do?
Playing sports can be a great way to stay fit, but injuries can and do happen. An athletic trainer is an allied health professional who works with athletes to diagnose and treat injuries, typically on the field or at an athletic facility. Athletic trainers may work with athletes of all ages — from kids to adults — and may treat recreational or professional athletes. Their daily responsibilities can vary but may include the following:2
First Aid
When an athlete is injured on the field or court, athletic trainers rush out to provide first aid and emergency care.
Evaluation
Responsibly and accurately evaluate sports-related injuries and conditions.
Treatment
Athletic trainers may treat an injury on the field by applying bandages or a brace.
Rehabilitation
Athletic trainers assist injured athletes during recovery and provide rehabilitation programs.
Prevention
A trainer aims to minimize sports-related injuries by implementing preventative programs. They may implement preventive programs to do so.
Administrative Tasks
Administrative tasks, such as develop reports on injuries and keep records, is often handled by athletic trainers.
Collaboration
These professionals often collaborate with other healthcare providers, such as team physicians.
Compliance
Athletic trainers consult with teams to ensure policies and procedures comply with all health- and sports-related regulations.
While athletic trainers sometimes have a visible presence on the field, much of their work goes on behind the scenes. Yet, they play an integral role in an athletic team's overall success by supporting the health of its players. This career may be an ideal fit for someone who desires a sports-related career and is also passionate about health science.
What Education and Experience Does an Athletic Trainer Need?
If the job description of an athletic trainer appeals to you, you’ll next want to explore the typical career pathway. What degree do you need to be an athletic trainer? What sort of certifications may be required? While the specific career path may look a little different from one trainer to the next, it generally includes the following requirements:
High School Diploma
Graduating from high school is the first step toward becoming an athletic trainer. Since you’ll need to take plenty of science and math classes in college, it’s ideal to focus on doing well in those classes in high school. In addition, enroll in any health-related courses your school may offer. While not strictly necessary, you may wish to pursue after-school sports activities, as well, to give you an introduction to the sports world.
College Degree
An athletic trainer is required to hold a master’s degree.3 For your bachelor’s degree, look for degree programs that focus on science and health. For example, as an undergrad, you might major in exercise science with an emphasis on pre-athletic training. After graduating, you could apply to a Master of Science (MS) in Athletic Training degree program. Look for an MS degree that has received accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE).4
Internships
CAATE-accredited master’s degrees in athletic training include clinical components.4 This functions somewhat like internships in that students can gain hands-on experience working at a clinical site under the close supervision of a preceptor.
Entry-Level Roles
Although there are no specific entry-level positions for athletic trainers, you can gain valuable experience by working at your campus fitness center while completing your studies. Once you meet state requirements and obtain certification, you may be prepared to pursue athletic training career opportunities.
Professional Certifications
Graduating from a CAATE-accredited athletic training degree program may provide eligibility to sit for the Board of Certification (BOC) exam for athletic trainers. While most use the BOC exam for licensing, requirements can vary, so it’s essential to research the certification criteria for the state where you intend to work.3
Together, education and clinical experience can form the basis for pursuing a career in athletic training. Note that even after achieving a career as an athletic trainer, it’s necessary to be committed to lifelong learning. In fact, maintaining your ATC® credential is dependent on completing continuing education (CE) hours and meeting similar requirements.4
Best Degrees for Athletic Trainers
Higher education is critically important for pursuing a career in athletic training. An aspiring athletic trainer needs a master’s degree.3
Degree programs that focus on athletic training will typically combine instructional coursework with hands-on experiential learning. Students are generally expected to graduate with a strong knowledge of anatomy and physiology, sports performance, motor control, emergency care and athletic injury treatment.
To teach how to become an athletic trainer, degrees may cover these topics:
- Risk reduction
- Assessment/evaluation
- Incident management
- Therapeutic intervention
- Healthcare administration
GCU Recommends These Degree Programs for Athletic Trainers
Athletic trainers need strong technical competencies in health sciences to be effective at their jobs, such as an understanding of how to identify athletic injuries and deliver therapeutic interventions. To pursue this career pathway, you’ll need to build both theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience applying that knowledge.
Bachelor’s Programs
Master’s Programs
What Skills Does an Athletic Trainer Need?
Health science skills and knowledge are indeed important for an athletic trainer, but so too are soft skills. Future athletic trainers will have opportunities to develop foundational knowledge and skills in college but are generally expected to continue to refine them throughout their careers. Some of the essential skills for athletic trainers include:5
- Injury prevention
- Injury care
- Injury rehabilitation
- Scientific research
- Time management
- Critical thinking
- Compassion
- Professionalism
- Communication skills
Median Annual Wage
The salary for an athletic trainer may vary depending on individual factors, such as years of experience, employer, education level and your geographic location. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual wage for athletic trainers as of May 2023 was $57,930.6
Projected Job Growth
According to the BLS, careers in athletic training are expected to grow much faster than average.7 From 2023 to 2033, the Occupational Outlook Handbook estimates job growth for athletic trainers to be 13%, indicating an addition of about 4,300 new jobs.7
Where Do Athletic Trainers Work?
You’ll find athletic trainers working for a variety of organizations. No matter where they work, athletic trainers often spend plenty of time working outdoors on athletic fields and courts. Some employers of athletic trainers may include:8
Schools and Universities
Educational institutions are the largest employer of athletic trainers.8 They may work within the athletic department at any type of school.
Hospitals
Some athletic trainers may work in hospitals, stabilizing, treating and rehabilitating injured patients.
Rehabilitative Offices
Injured athletes may work with athletic trainers at rehabilitative offices alongside other professionals, such as physical therapists.
Fitness Centers
Some recreational fitness centers and sports facilities may hire athletic trainers for safety reasons.
Professional Sports Teams
Athletic trainers are a fixture on the field at professional sporting events and they work with athletes behind the scenes.
Law Enforcement
Law enforcement officers who are injured in the line of duty or while training may work with athletic trainers.
Military Branches
Physical fitness is important in the military and some athletic trainers specialize in working with cadets or soldiers.
Performing Artists
Many art forms, such as ballet, are highly physical and performers may rely on athletic trainers for emergency medical assistance.
Advancement Opportunities for Athletic Trainers
Within this field, there is room for continual professional development and opportunities to position yourself for possible career advancement. After starting out as a staff athletic trainer, a professional might seek advancement in leadership positions such as directors of training departments and sports medicine or healthcare administrators. Some athletic trainers who like to focus on giving back to the profession may choose to mentor less experienced athletic trainers, such as by becoming a CAATE preceptor.9
At Grand Canyon University, you can pursue your passion for sports and health science with a purpose for the future. Apply today for enrollment in the Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science with an Emphasis in Pre-Athletic Training or the Master of Science in Athletic Training program.
1 Johns Hopkins Medicine. (n.d.). Sports Injury Statistics. Retrieved Aug. 20, 2024.
2 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024, April 17). What Athletic Trainers Do. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved Aug. 20, 2024.
3 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024, April 17). How To Become an Athletic Trainer. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved Aug. 20, 2024.
4 National Athletic Trainers’ Association. (n.d.). Become Certified. Retrieved Aug. 20, 2024.
5 Detwiler, K., MS, ATC, CSCS, Dieringer, K., EdD, ATC, LAT and Mazzoli, L., MS, ATC, PTA. (n.d.). Your Worth, Your Skills, Your Value. National Athletic Trainers’ Association. Retrieved Aug. 20, 2024.
6 The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Athletic Trainers as of May 2023, retrieved on Aug. 20, 2024. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers nationwide with varying levels of education and experience. It does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as Athletic Trainers, nor does it reflect the earnings of workers in one city or region of the country or a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates' salaries. Your employability will be determined by numerous factors over which GCU has no control, such as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, the graduate's experience level, individual characteristics, skills, etc. against a pool of candidates.
7 COVID-19 has adversely affected the global economy and data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. Accordingly, data shown is effective September 2024, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Athletic Trainers, retrieved on Aug. 20, 2024.
8 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024, April 17). Athletic Trainers: Work Environment. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved Aug. 20, 2024.
9 NATA Intercollegiate Council for Sports Medicine. (n.d.). Professional Management and Advancement Best Practices for the Collegiate Athletic Trainer. National Athletic Trainers’ Association. Retrieved Aug. 20, 2024.
Approved and verified accurate by the director of athletic training education of the College of Nursing and Health Care Professions on Nov. 4, 2024.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Grand Canyon University. Any sources cited were accurate as of the publish date.
