Sports/Athletic Training
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Sports and athletic contests have arguably always ranked as humankind's greatest pastime. A single court can provide both the ecstasy of a win and the emotional nadir of a loss. The greatest athletes win copiously and valiantly, and the key to their success is a consistently fit physical form. Sports and athletic trainers have traditionally served as the protectors of athletes during competition, ensuring that their bodies are always primed and up for the challenge. An especially gifted trainer always knows the ideal remedy for a grievous injury, whether its a quick touch-up job or if long-term bed rest is in order.
Sports and athletic trainers work in conjunction with managers and coaches, as well as with doctors and other medical staff like orthopedists and nutritionists. Though armchair sports fans may have the passion to be a great trainer, serious education and certification is required to take up the profession on the playing field. Bachelor's degrees are the common minimum degree, and the trainers at the highest competitive levels garner even higher level degrees in order to earn the best jobs.
The majority of sports and athletic trainers are not working for prizefighters or great footballers; rather, educational communities like schools and colleges hire the bulk of these professionals, with a very small percentage working in spectator sports. The profession does, however, benefit from a very promising job outlook, with the number of available positions looking to increase in the future. They earn competitive wages, which often differ depending on such variables as experience, education level, and workplace.
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Career Specializations
Sports and athletics training, contrary to popular opinion, is actually quite a specific field in terms of the precise demands expected to be fulfilled professionally. Many people group fitness training into the category of athletics preparation; this is a mistake. Sports and athletics trainers are employed within the healthcare sector, whereas fitness or personal trainers work with people to improve their physical fitness, not to concentrate specifically on injury recuperation.
Degree Levels
- Bachelor's Degree: 4 years to complete
- Master's Degree: 1-3 years to complete
Education & Certification Requirements
All athletics and sports trainers must earn a minimum degree of a bachelor's, ideally in athletic training or in a related field such as health science or kinesiology. It is important to make sure that any program of study has been fully accredited by the National Athletic Trainer's Association. Most importantly, those looking to find employment as an athletics or sports trainer should know that 70 percent of all those working have earned an accredited master's degree or higher. Such a high level of academic achievement helps to land positions at colleges and universities in particular. Some schools may include a teaching component alongside sports training duties, which mandates teaching certification as well.
Those studying to become an athletics or sports trainer should expect to undergo a group of rigorous courses that center around knowledge of the human form. Anatomy of the body, strength and conditioning technique, physiology, nutrition, biomechanics, injury detection and prevention, and rehabilitation technique are all potential classes to expect. In addition, many athletics and sports training students will participate in internships or externships to further expose them to real-life conditions and to help them discover positions available to them after graduation.
Diploma in hand, potential athletics and sports trainers must receive additional certification that is administered by the state in which they would be working. The Board of Certification is in charge of such commendations, and these are only granted to those who have a bachelor's or master's degree. Once awarded certification by the BOC, athletics and sports trainers must regularly take medical classes in order to maintain good standing. Certain states do not require their athletics or sports trainers to be certified; these include Alaska, California, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia. Though not an obligation in these states, certification helps to distinguish job seekers as desirable and competitive. (BLS)
Salary Information
Athletics and sports trainers who choose to enter the profession with a bachelor's degree can typically earn salaries of at least $23,000 annually. Master's degree recipients command even greater yearly pay, anticipating at least $32,000 per annum. The most lucrative jobs are for those who work at the highest levels of the profession, namely as training experts and on-staff trainers for spectator sports. They can earn more than $60,000 a year. Experience, job responsibilities, and the setting of the occupation are all variables that can significantly affect salaried pay. The majority of athletics and sports trainers enjoy full-time work and are frequently rewarded with such benefits as healthcare and insurance. However, the continued education courses required by their certification is something that most athletics and sports trainers must pay for out of their own pockets. (BLS)
Job Outlook
Athletic and sports trainers are currently enjoying a favorable market in terms of employment opportunities. The number of individual jobs in the field is expected to increase by 37 percent by the year 2018. Most of this growth will be located in the healthcare industry, and the fitness sector is also set to welcome many more such trainers. Many aspiring athletic and sports trainers desire to work in the glamorous spotlight of spectator sports; demand in this particular field is, and always has been, extremely low. Most professional sports teams invest great time into locating the best possible trainers and rarely let them go after hiring them. (BLS)
Related Careers
Physician assistants are similar to sports and athletic trainers in that their expertise lies partly in diagnosing injuries and offering counsel as to how to prevent them. Physical therapists help with rehabilitation efforts that focus on mobility and joint care. Emergency medical technicians demonstrate a quickness in helping to handle injuries in sometimes dangerous medical situations, as do sports and athletic trainers. Nurses also specialize in providing specialized and speedy care directly to patients, while at the same time interacting with doctors and other medical professionals.
