Certified Athletic Trainer
Piedmont employs Certified Athletic Trainers (ATC) skilled in both injury prevention and rehabilitation after injury or surgery. Piedmont's ATC's provide on-site training services for our community partners, which ranges from serving on the sidelines of high school athletic events to running on-site clinics for industrial employers. Piedmont ATC's also work with our physicians to provide rehabilitation plans for patients at Piedmont, whether they are recovering from surgery or simply need a treatment plan to regain some strength in a particular area.
What is an Athletic Trainer?
Athletic trainers are highly qualified, multi-skilled health care professionals who collaborate with physicians to provide preventative services, emergency care, clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions. Athletic trainers provide physical medicine, rehabilitative and preventative services. Athletic trainers can work in a variety of locations including schools, physician clinics, hospitals and manufacturing plants. *
What do Athletic Trainers do for patients?
- Physicians, hospitals, clinics and other employers demand ATs for their versatile wellness services, and injury and illness prevention skills.
- Employers demand ATs for their knowledge and skills in manual therapy and similar treatments for musculoskeletal conditions, including back pain.
- ATCs commonly supervise obese clients and patients to safely improve their health and fitness.
- ATCs commonly work with patients with asthma, diabetes, heart disease and other health conditions.
- ATCs specialize in patient education to prevent injury and re-injury, which reduces rehabilitative and other health care costs
What educational background do Athletic Trainers have?
To become certified athletic trainer, a student must graduate with bachelors or masters degree from an accredited professional athletic training education program and pass a comprehensive test administered by the Board of Certification. Once certified, they must meet ongoing continuing education requirements in order to remain certified. Athletic trainers must also work under the direction of a physician and within their state practice act.
Learn More
* This information was adapted from the National Athletic Trainers’ Association's website, www.nata.org. The National Athletic Trainers’ Association represents more than 39,000 members in the U.S. and internationally, and there are about 40,000 ATs practicing nationally. NATA represents students in 325 accredited collegiate academic programs. The athletic training profession began early in the 20th century, and NATA was established in 1950. To learn more, please visit their website.