Where Can Athletic Trainers Work?
Athletic trainers work to prevent, diagnose and treat musculoskeletal injuries, especially among athletic and various emerging settings. They help people learn to exercise safely and effectively, and they guide patients through rehabilitation from musculoskeletal injuries. This is a rewarding career path for people who are passionate about athletics and interested in finding solutions for common health problems among the physically active populations.
If you’re thinking about pursuing athletic training degree jobs, you may have a few questions, like Where can athletic trainers work? and What are the types of jobs for athletic training majors? Get the answers here and explore a world of possibilities in the allied healthcare field.
In This Article:
- Explore Career Opportunities for Athletic Trainers
- Jobs for Athletic Training Majors
- Earn Your Athletic Training Degree at GCU
Explore Career Opportunities for Athletic Trainers
So, where can athletic trainers work? It’s common for athletic trainers to find employment at health clinics and fitness centers. However, they can also work in the following settings:1
- Professional sports teams
- High schools and colleges
- Emergency rooms at hospitals
- Primary care facilities
- Performing arts centers
- Sports medicine clinics
- Law enforcement and military departments
In short, you’ll find jobs for athletic training majors across a number of settings.
Jobs for Athletic Training Majors
Before enrolling in an athletic training degree program, you may wish to explore some of the specific job roles available to these professionals. Take a look at the following five jobs with an athletic training degree.
1. Secondary School, University and Professional Athletic Trainers
Students who enroll in an athletic training degree program often do so with the goal of working in a sports medicine setting. Elementary, middle and high schools may hire athletic trainers, especially in larger school districts that have multiple sports teams. Colleges also hire athletic trainers, and there are career opportunities at the professional level in every type of sport, including baseball, football and basketball.1
In these settings, athletic trainers may fulfill countless responsibilities, including:
- Delivering first aid to injured athletes
- Diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal injuries
- Serving as a liaison between athletes, physicians and medical support staff
- Working with athletes to prevent musculoskeletal injuries
2. Emerging Settings Athletic Trainer
Sports teams are not the only groups in need of athletic trainers. The profession of athletic training is growing in many industries, such as performing arts, public safety, military and occupational health. The NATA defines these as emerging settings.2 Performing arts companies also hire athletic trainers to take care of their performers.1
Individuals from emerging settings have unique needs to maintain peak physical condition. Athletic trainers who work in these industries will work one-on-one with these patients to help them prevent injuries. When injuries do occur, the athletic training staff will diagnose and treat them to help recover as quickly as possible.
Becoming an Athletic Trainer
If you would like to work as an athletic trainer focused on sports, performing arts or another type of setting, you’ll need to meet the requirements. Previously, athletic trainers typically needed only a bachelor’s degree from a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE), as well as a license or certification. Many athletic trainers voluntarily earned master’s degrees.3
However, there has been a shift in the field toward graduate-level education. The Strategic Alliance (NATA, CAATE, and the BOC) has adopted a new position that requires athletic trainers to hold a master’s degree.3
It’s also important to note that state licensure and certification requirements can vary from state to state. Research the current requirements for the state in which you wish to work as you plan your career pathway.4
3. Coaching
Sports coaches are responsible for teaching athletes the proper techniques and fundamentals of playing a sport. Some coaches work one-on-one with athletes while others work with entire teams. Additionally, there are multiple types of coaches that may work for any one organization. Baseball teams hire coaches for both batters and pitchers, for example.
Although coaches do not do the work of athletic trainers, having an athletic training degree may be a good starting point for individuals who aspire to transition into coaching. It is always helpful for sports coaches to have an in-depth understanding of the musculoskeletal system to prevent athletic injuries.1
4. Exercise Physiologist
Another career similar to athletic training is exercise physiology. An exercise physiologist helps people improve their health and wellness by developing fitness programs for them. They may also track their clients’ health, such as by measuring their blood pressure and heart rhythm.
The requirements to become an exercise physiologist vary from state to state, so check with your state’s licensure board. Typically, exercise physiologists need a bachelor’s degree in a related area, such as exercise science or athletic training, and they may need state licensure. Some employers also require a Basic Life Support (BLS) certification or Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certificate.5
5. Kinesiotherapist
A kinesiotherapist uses the science of body movement mechanics to help individuals with mobility problems. They help individuals with rehabilitative exercises, physical education and reconditioning. Kinesiotherapists can work in patients’ homes and/or in a physical rehabilitation unit, such as those found in the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) facilities.6
Generally, kinesiotherapists need a bachelor’s degree and sometimes a master’s degree. Their academic program must include a clinical internship, and they could take an exam to obtain professional registration.6 For example, if you earned an undergraduate degree in athletic training or exercise science, you can enroll in a master’s program in kinesiotherapy that includes a clinical internship.
Earn Your Athletic Training Degree at GCU
The degree programs offered by Grand Canyon University’s College of Nursing and Health Care Professions and College of Natural Sciences will prepare you to pursue licensure in a wide variety of professions. If you are considering a career in athletic training, you can apply for enrollment in the Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science with an Emphasis in Pre-Athletic Training degree program. GCU is also pleased to offer a Master of Science in Athletic Training degree program.
1Indeed. (2023, March 3). What can you do with an athletic training degree? Indeed. Retrieved Jan. 10, 2024.
2National Athletic Trainers Association (n.d.). Job Settings. NATA. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
3U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2023, Sept. 6). How to become an athletic trainer. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved Jan. 10, 2024.
4National Athletic Trainers’ Association. (n.d.). Degree change frequently asked questions. NATA. Retrieved Jan. 10, 2024.
5U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2023, Sept. 6). How to become a physician assistant. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved Jan. 10, 2024.
6U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2023, Sept. 27). How to become an exercise physiologist. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved Jan. 10, 2024.
7Green, K. (2014, Dec.). You’re a what? Kinesiotherapist. Career Outlook. Retrieved Jan. 10, 2024.
Approved by the associate dean of the College of Nursing and Healthcare Professions on July 9, 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.