What is athletic training and who are athletic trainers?

• Athletic Training is practiced by Certified Athletic Trainers (ATC’s). Certified Athletic Trainers are medical experts who are allied health care professionals that collaborate with licensed physicians to optimize activity and participation in athletics.


• Athletic training encompasses the prevention, emergency care, recognition, clinical diagnosis through proper evaluation, therapeutic intervention, management and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions that result from physical activity.


• Athletic training is recognized by the American Medical Association (AMA) as an allied health care profession.


• An athletic trainer functions as an integral member of the health care team, which also incorporates and involves a number of other medical specialties. The athletic trainer not only works in cooperation with other health care providers, but also parents, guardians, coaches and other organizational directors and athletic administrators.


• Athletic trainers provide a critical link between the medical community and physically active individuals. NATA-BOC certified athletic trainers work in clinics, secondary schools, youth sports, colleges and universities, professional sports programs, and other athletic health care settings.


• Athletic trainers can help you avoid unnecessary medical treatment and disruption of normal daily life; if you’re injured, they can get you on the mend and keep you on the move.

The Difference Between Athletic Trainers and Personal Trainers

Although the roles of athletic and personal trainers intersect at times, they are two very different professions, which serve very different roles within their respective professions.

Personal trainers are fitness professionals and NOT healthcare professionals. There is little or no regulation of their professional practice and there are very few requirements to obtain a personal training credential (some of which can be obtained with as little as a weekend course). The only similarity between athletic trainers and personal trainers is that both work with athletes, but we do very different jobs.