The athletic trainer is a professional figure specialized in various fitness techniques, such as first aid and the treatment of injured athletes, rehabilitation and injury prevention. He is also qualified to develop a training program, stretching routines, as well as to teach his clients the importance of proper hydration and a good warm-up. To become an athletic trainer you must first obtain a diploma and certifications that enable you to practice the profession, which are issued after a course in gymnastics, sports or a similar license. In Italy there is the university course of "Motor Sciences" which offers a slightly different academic training based on the university attended and the chosen specialization address, but which is generally structured over three years of study, which allow you to obtain a degree first level, and another two years for the specialist one.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Understanding the Role
Step 1. Be aware of what is expected of an athletic trainer
This professional figure is often the first to intervene when an athlete is injured and must be able to recognize and assess the damage quickly and correctly. You will often need to give first aid to athletes in a fast-paced environment, such as a game or competition.
- Your duties range from applying bandages and braces to making sure athletes recover properly from their injuries. You also need to provide some physical therapy, massage, and recommend topical medications to relieve pain and muscle irritation. During a competitive event, you must decide whether or not the athlete needs additional medical treatment that is beyond your competence.
- As a fitness coach you will need to focus on the rehabilitation process of an athlete who has suffered an injury, sometimes for months or years. If you work with a specific team or group, you must work with the athletes during their training to ensure that they are exercising properly without risk of injury. You could also give lectures on athletic training and injury prevention in schools, businesses, or even in front of sports teams.
- The role of an athletic trainer is often confused with that of a personal trainer. However, there are notable differences between the two professional figures, as the former can deal with different people, from professionals to youth team athletes, from dancers to musicians, to the military. An athletic trainer has some expertise in sports medicine, physiotherapy and offers preventive services.
Step 2. Consider the working environment
A licensed fitness coach frequently works under the supervision of a sports physician, side by side with other health professionals, coaches and athletes' parents. You will need to get to know all of your clients personally and learn how to best deal with their injuries. You may work in:
- Professional and university sports associations;
- Sports medicine clinics;
- First aid and rehabilitation clinics;
- Secondary school and university faculties of "Motor Sciences";
- Professional artistic companies such as dance companies;
- In the army and police forces;
- Medical clinics.
Step 3. Find out about the market demand for athletic trainers and their average salary
Some US research seems to show that job prospects are good and that the average salary of an athletic trainer is growing faster than the average. In Italy, an athletic trainer often works as a freelancer, so it is not easy to establish an average salary, since each offers different hourly rates. However, job opportunities are not limited to the national territory, because a good professional is often also hired by foreign sports teams.
In the United States, for example, since 2003 the three sectors that have seen the turnover of athletic trainers increase more and more have been youth sports (up to 41% more), professional teams (up to 31% more) and school sports associations (up to 16% more)
Part 2 of 3: Education and School Certification
Step 1. Go to a science-oriented high school
Although it is possible to access university courses with any baccalaureate degree, you will be more likely to achieve good academic results and to encounter fewer difficulties in studying if you attend a high school with a scientific setting. You must have a good foundation in biology, physics and anatomy to be able to study the human body in depth, the possible dynamics of injury and the appropriate treatments.
- You must also learn to improve communication skills in both Italian and English. These will be very useful when you need to talk to athletes, other health professionals or clients. Do not neglect the foreign language, as it is not uncommon for an engagement outside the national borders.
- If you enjoy playing sports, join an athletics team or club to gain more first-hand experience of working with athletes and sports associations. If an athletic trainer works in the school you attend, ask him if you can observe his work for a day to understand how he treats athletic injuries.
Step 2. Obtain a bachelor's degree in the Faculty of Exercise Science
This academic degree is indispensable for the profession. Most universities expect students to obtain university credit both through lectures and during hours of clinical practice; you will likely need to take courses in kinesiology, physiotherapy and rehabilitation, sports psychology, human anatomy, and clinical pharmacology.
In some cases, online courses are available
Step 3. Consider getting a second level or master's degree as well
Although it is not essential to find work as an athletic trainer, it does provide you with a higher level of preparation even at a managerial level. The specialist degree includes three distinct courses from which the student can choose: preventive (Preventive and Adapted Motor Activities), economic-managerial (Management of Motor and Sports activities) and scientific-technical (Sports Sciences and Techniques).
The preventive path focuses more on the aspect of accident prevention and the courses include the study of statistics, orthopedic evaluation and therapeutic exercises. The managerial address has an economic-managerial slant and includes courses in economics, statistics, English, IT. Finally, the scientific-technical path includes the study of methods and teaching methods of individual and team sports, sociology and psychology of cultural and communicative processes in sport
Step 4. Get additional certifications
If you are interested in working abroad, additional training credits may be required. For example, if you want to move and operate in the United States, you need the Board of Certification (BOC), which you can get by passing an exam. Since 2009 it is necessary to have this certification in order to be hired as an athletic trainer in 47 American states.
- The BOC is an independent body that offers standard certifications for athletic trainers. You must contact the competent office for the state where you want to work, in order to obtain more information about the exam. To maintain the qualification you will also need to adhere to the BOC standards and continue to attend refresher courses.
- If, on the other hand, you want to work in Italy, a degree is a sufficient university qualification to practice the profession both as an employee and self-employed. Obviously, it is recommended to attend conferences and refresher courses that are organized and made available by the various associations of athletic trainers.
Part 3 of 3: Finding a Job
Step 1. Join an association of athletic trainers
This way you can get in touch with other colleagues and possible employers. As an associate, you can attend conferences and refresher courses to broaden your knowledge and keep abreast of new practices and techniques in the field.
You can find more information on the websites of the various associations, such as AIPAC or APFIP
Step 2. Apply for a job at the schools, colleges and gyms in your area
When you start looking for a job as an athletic trainer, you should consider the environment you want to operate in and what level of pay you want. High schools, universities and gyms are perfect starting points for a career, without neglecting rehabilitation clinics.
- You can increase your earnings by focusing on different sports teams or athletic fields that are more profitable than others. As you gain experience, you may move on to a managerial or administrative role within some sports medicine center or physiotherapy clinic.
- When writing your resume, you should highlight your education, certifications you have obtained, and interpersonal skills that are important to your job, such as communication, collaboration, and problem-readiness skills.
- To get through interviews brilliantly, you should dress professionally, as well as have a friendly and confident attitude. You should be prepared to describe a couple of previous situations in which you have had to use your athletic coaching skills and at least two references to provide to the prospective employer.
Step 3. Consider applying for commercial positions within sports equipment companies
If you have a passion for sales and marketing, you may want to consider these roles in a company that produces or markets sports material. As an athletic trainer you can be considered an "expert" and propose the equipment to customers and hospitals.
