The profession of Athletic Training encompasses the prevention, examination, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of emergent, acute or chronic injuries and medical conditions. Athletic Training is recognized by the American Medical Association, Health Resources Services Administration and the Department of Health and Human Services as an allied healthcare profession.
Athletic trainers (ATs) are licensed healthcare professionals who have a minimum of a Bachelor's degree (most have a Master's degree) and maintain national certification through required continuing education. Athletic trainers are sometimes confused with personal trainers. There is, however, a large difference in the education, skillset, job duties and patients of an athletic trainer and a personal trainer.
ATs work in a variety of settings including high schools, colleges, professional sports teams, physician offices, sportsmedicine clinics, and industrial settings (ie: Amazon). In the high school setting, ATs provide on-field emergency care, injury evaluation, treatment and rehabilitation for a variety of injuries and medical conditions ranging from broken bones, to knee sprains to concussions.