Pre-Professional Athletic Training
What Is Athletic Training?
Athletic training is an allied health profession that encompasses the prevention, examination, diagnosis, and treatment and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions. Athletic trainers are multi-skilled health care professionals who serve a variety of physically active patient populations in a variety of sideline and non-sideline settings.
How Do You Become an Athletic Trainer?
A professional master’s degree from an accredited program, passing of a national certification examination, and state licensure/certification/registration is required to become an athletic trainer. Students should apply to the professional master’s program during the last year of their undergraduate degree. Prerequisite requirements follow the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) standards.
What Bachelor’s Degree Should You Take?
To be successful in the athletic training profession, students must demonstrate strong foundational knowledge in sciences (Biology, Human Anatomy & Physiology, Physics or Biomechanics, Chemistry). To set students up for the best success in the professional master’s program, it is recommended to complete the B.S. in Exercise Physiology: Pre-Athletic Training Track (BS8178). This concentration requires four additional athletic training-focused courses (10 additional credit hours) to the standard B.S. in Exercise Physiology. A sample 4-year academic plan is provided: Exercise Physiology: Pre-AT 4-year Plan.
Students interested in pursuing a professional master’s program are encouraged to register for the pre-AT learning community when signing up for learning communities. This will provide an opportunity to interact with athletic training faculty, learn about pursuing athletic training, and develop skills to be successful in college.
Questions or individualized advising concerns should be directed to the professional athletic training program director: Athletic Training Faculty and Staff Directory.
Early Assurance Program for High School Seniors
Outstanding high school seniors are invited to apply for Ohio University’s Early Assurance Program (EAP) for the professional master’s program in athletic training.
Ohio University Athletic Training selects outstanding high school seniors to participate in the Ohio University Athletic Training Early Assurance Program (EAP). High school seniors who are admitted to Ohio University will be invited to apply to the program. For more information about the EAP for the professional master’s program in athletic training, please visit: Early Assurance Program for M.S. in Athletic Training.
Accelerated Graduate Program (3+2)
There is an opportunity for Ohio University students in the Exercise Physiology: Pre-Athletic Training Track to complete the bachelor’s and master’s degree in five years. Students who complete the (3+2) plan of study will be eligible to apply for the athletic training program during their third academic year and begin the professional master’s program during the fourth year. Students will apply directly with the Graduate College and submit the following:
- Official Transcript(s)
- Observation Hours
- Personal Statement
- Two Letters of Recommendation