Athletic Training Career
Athletic trainers work in conjunction with physicians to treat athletic injuries. Approximately 16,300 athletic trainers held jobs in the United States as of 2008, and 39 percent of athletic trainers worked with athletes in high schools, colleges or universities, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Athletic trainers may advance to a director position in affiliation with a sports team or obtain a management position in a health care facility.
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Education
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Athletic training professionals normally complete a bachelor's degree program that includes coursework in nutrition, anatomy and physiology. Approximately 70 percent of athletic trainers pursue a graduate degree in order to work at colleges or universities. Athletic trainers who work at an educational facility may also need to complete teaching certificate requirements required by the state they wish to work in.
Certification
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Athletic trainers employed in states or regions other than Alaska, California, the District of Columbia or West Virginia must obtain certification through the Board of Certification, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The BOC exam contains 175 multiple-choice, focus and alternative questions, and candidates must complete the exam in a four-hour period. Athletic training professionals taking the BOC exam can receive a score value that ranges from 200 to 800. Candidates who receive a score of 500 or above pass the examination and receive certification.
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Duties
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Athletic training professionals work to prevent sports-related injuries and assist in the rehabilitative process when an athlete becomes injured. Professionals in this occupation educate athletes about the proper way to perform exercises that can strengthen muscles. When an injury occurs, an athletic trainer provides basic medical assistance to prevent further injury or trauma before the athlete is transported to a medical facility.
Salary
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Athletic trainers working in the United States earned an average annual salary of $44,020 as of May 2009, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Athletic training professionals working in the District of Columbia, Connecticut, New Jersey, Rhode Island and New Jersey earned higher wages than the national average with salaries ranging from $50,150 to $72,910 as of May 2009.
Career Outlook
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The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that job opportunities for athletic trainers will increase by 37 percent from 2008 through 2018. Athletic training professionals interested in working with professional sports teams often face intense competition as opposed to athletic trainers who work with high school athletes. The military also employs athletic trainers to act as training specialists for soldiers.
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References
- Photo Credit Football image by Brian Garvey from Fotolia.com
