Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ's Regarding Athletic Training Education

1. What are the duties of a certified athletic trainer?
   The domains of the Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC) have been be redefined by the Board of Certification for Athletic Trainers (BOCATC, Inc.) and fall into the following six categories, effective January, 2006:
   1.) Prevention of athletic injuries and illness;
   2.) Clinical evaluation, and diagnosis of injuries and illness;
   3.) Immediate care of injuries and illness;
   4.) Treatment, rehabilitation, and reconditioning of athletic injuries;
   5.) Health care organization and administration;
   6.) Professional responsibility.
2. How much education do I need to become a certified athletic trainer?
   Many people believe a master's degree is required to become an ATC. While many ATCs possess advanced degrees, it is not necessary for BOC certification. Currently, the BOC requires: 1) a Bachelor's Degree in Athletic Training from an Accredited Athletic Training Education Program (ATEP). All ATCs are eligible for employment in the various settings for athletic trainers, i.e., professional sports, college/university athletics, interscholastic sports, industrial settings, etc.
3. Is Mount Union?s Athletic Training Education Program accredited?
   YES! Mount Union's Athletic Training Education Program, under the direction of Daniel Gorman, has been an APPROVED ATEP since 1987. In November of 1998, it earned CAAHEP accreditation through 2006. Currently, we enjoy full accreditation status through the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE), Effective July 15, 2006.
4. What does the clinical field experience at Mount Union involve?
   The clinical field experience provides a hands-on opportunity for students to develop specific professional competencies recommended by the NATA Education Council. Once admitted into the ATEP, students begin the process of completing 1,000 hours of clinical field experiences. The clinical field experiences include assignments with upper extremity, lower extremity and equipment intensive sports at Mount Union College in addition to completing an assignment observing the practice of one or more physicians. Students are also provided with valuable experiences gained at off-campus affiliated high schools.
5. Can I participate in an intercollegiate sport at Mount Union while I complete a degree in athletic training?
   After shopping around you will find Mount Union is one of the few accredited ATEPs that allows students to engage in an intercollegiate sport. Many of our students participate in sports and complete their clinical experience during the off season. Because the 1,000 hour requirement is distributed over three years, students may have ample time to graduate in four years.
6. How is Mount Union's Athletic Training Education Program different from Athletic Training Programs offered by other colleges/universities?
   Geographically, there are very few accredited ATEPs available and even fewer within a small liberal arts college. Accreditation ensures the emphasis of the program is towards providing students with skills and knowledge and not using them as "service labor". Mount Union College has a relatively small enrollment (typically less than 2,500 full time students) which promotes an all around high quality of education and small student-instructor ratios. The existence of an outstanding required Exercise Science Minor provides opportunities for Athletic Training majors to take exercise science courses and gain exposure to technology typically seen only at larger universities. With our strong tradition of athletics, Mount Union has a large athletic training room, a smaller taping/treatment area adjacent to the football game field, stocked with state of the art athletic training equipment. Students are challenged with liberal working exposure to contemporary therapeutic modalities and therapeutic exercise devices during the clinical experiences.
7. Will the Athletic Training Education Program at Mount Union prepare me to go on to physical therapy, occupational therapy, or physician assistant program?
   YES it can! The ATEP at Mount Union does not provide all the pre-requisite work for programs in physical/occupational therapy or physician's assistant. These programs typically require preliminary coursework in biology/microbiology, chemistry and physics. Students may fulfill these requirements through minors in biology or by declaring and completing a double major. Students wishing to pursue this option are advised very early to seek program requirements from a specific college or university (since many program requirements vary). Currently, Mount Union does not offer a physician's assistant program or programs in physical or occupational therapy.
8. How is the Exercise Science Major different from the Athletic Training Major at Mount Union?
   The exercise science major is quite different from the athletic training program in many ways. Students in the exercise science major study the in-depth effects of exercise on a variety of populations (athletic populations, adolescents, elderly, and diseased populations). In essence, exercise is regarded as medicine that should be scientifically monitored and prescribed in carefully administered dosages. Athletic Trainers are concerned with the prevention and quality care of injuries and illnesses that may result from physical activity.
   For more information on the exercise science major click here.
9. What options are available following graduation from Mount Union's ATEP?
   There are many career opportunities available to graduates from the ATEP. The first and most obvious is direct entry into the field of athletic training. There are numerous job searches on a yearly basis for entry level ATCs in the clinical setting (i.e., sports medicine clinic), high school setting, clinic outreach (part-time clinic-based, part-time high school or college athletics), and the corporate/industrial athletic training area. Non-traditional areas where athletic trainers are employed include military, rodeo, NASCAR and extreme sports. Junior colleges, four year colleges, semi-professional, and professional organizations also may offer jobs to recent graduates.
   Many of our ATEP graduates choose to directly pursue graduate studies. A large number of institutions of higher education offer tuition waivers and/or graduate stipends (graduate assistantships) to ATCs. There are many opportunities to ATCs possessing advanced degrees and Mount Union's ATEP helps provide a big step in that direction.