Introduction
Certified Athletic Trainers are a highly educated and capable professionals concentrating in athletic health care fields. In conjunction with physicians and other certified health personnel, the athletic trainer works as an integral member of the athletic health care team in secondary schools, colleges and universities, sports medicine clinics, professional sports programs and other athletic health care environments.
Education
At a minumum requirement certified athletic trainers possess a bachelor's degree, typically in athletic training, health, physical education or exercise science. Furthermore, athletic trainers study human skeletal systems, human physiology, biomechanics, exercise physiology, athletic training, nutrition and psychology/counseling.
Certification
To become a certified athletic trainer, one has to have fulfilled the conditions for certification established by the National Athletic Trainers' Association Board of Certification, Inc. also known as (NATABOC). The certification examination administered by NATABOC is comprised of a written section with multiple choice questions, a practical test that assesses the psychomotor skill components of the areas within athletic training and a written simulation part, consisting of athletic training situations created to simulate real-life decision making. This final part of the examination assesses the athletic trainers' skill in resolving cases similar to those they may face in actual real world practice.
The examination covers a variety of sunjects within the five areas of athletic training:
   1. Prevention of injuries associated with athletes
   2. Recognition, assessnebt and quick care of athletic injuries
   3. Rehabilitation and subsequent reconditioning of athletic injuries
   4. Health care administration tasks
   5. Ongoing prfessional development and responsibility
On completion of a successful certification examination involving skills and knowledge within each of the five are, they then use the designation "ATC" ( Athletic Trainer Certified ).
The typical daily work schedule for a certified athletic trainer varies depending on the level of competition, employment setting - traditional, clinical, industrial, corporate - and other institutional requirements. Some ATCs employed in high schools may also be required to teach. Such ATCs are required to carefully manage their time so as to provide the best acedemic instructions and the best health care and treatment in sporting siutations that the school may be invloved in.
Before sporting practice, training and competition, the athletic trainer tapes, bandages, wraps, braces and completes similar preventive measures to athletes. During events, the athletic trainer assesses injuries and decides whether to refer athletes to a medical physician or follow procedures and manage minor injuries.
The athletic trainer must provide continual communication between the injured athlete, physician, coach and family on when and how the athlete can return to practice and competition. As ATC's are involved with injured athletes they need to have good communication and people skills to help athletes during stressful times in their lives. If employed by sports teams at college and professional levels they will also have to deal with a range of coaches with varying personalities and egos.
Certified Athletic Trainers are a highly educated and capable professionals concentrating in athletic health care fields. In conjunction with physicians and other certified health personnel, the athletic trainer works as an integral member of the athletic health care team in secondary schools, colleges and universities, sports medicine clinics, professional sports programs and other athletic health care environments.
Education
At a minumum requirement certified athletic trainers possess a bachelor's degree, typically in athletic training, health, physical education or exercise science. Furthermore, athletic trainers study human skeletal systems, human physiology, biomechanics, exercise physiology, athletic training, nutrition and psychology/counseling.
Certification
To become a certified athletic trainer, one has to have fulfilled the conditions for certification established by the National Athletic Trainers' Association Board of Certification, Inc. also known as (NATABOC). The certification examination administered by NATABOC is comprised of a written section with multiple choice questions, a practical test that assesses the psychomotor skill components of the areas within athletic training and a written simulation part, consisting of athletic training situations created to simulate real-life decision making. This final part of the examination assesses the athletic trainers' skill in resolving cases similar to those they may face in actual real world practice.
The examination covers a variety of sunjects within the five areas of athletic training:
   1. Prevention of injuries associated with athletes
   2. Recognition, assessnebt and quick care of athletic injuries
   3. Rehabilitation and subsequent reconditioning of athletic injuries
   4. Health care administration tasks
   5. Ongoing prfessional development and responsibility
On completion of a successful certification examination involving skills and knowledge within each of the five are, they then use the designation "ATC" ( Athletic Trainer Certified ).
The typical daily work schedule for a certified athletic trainer varies depending on the level of competition, employment setting - traditional, clinical, industrial, corporate - and other institutional requirements. Some ATCs employed in high schools may also be required to teach. Such ATCs are required to carefully manage their time so as to provide the best acedemic instructions and the best health care and treatment in sporting siutations that the school may be invloved in.
Before sporting practice, training and competition, the athletic trainer tapes, bandages, wraps, braces and completes similar preventive measures to athletes. During events, the athletic trainer assesses injuries and decides whether to refer athletes to a medical physician or follow procedures and manage minor injuries.
The athletic trainer must provide continual communication between the injured athlete, physician, coach and family on when and how the athlete can return to practice and competition. As ATC's are involved with injured athletes they need to have good communication and people skills to help athletes during stressful times in their lives. If employed by sports teams at college and professional levels they will also have to deal with a range of coaches with varying personalities and egos.
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