Would you say that you are an “active” person who wants to work in healthcare? Maybe I need to explain this better. Do you consider yourself to be a healthy and athletic person who enjoys going to the gym or working with people who are injured? If you are, then maybe you should consider a career as an Athletic Trainer. According to the National Athletic Trainers’ Association, athletic trainers are “Health care professionals who render service or treatment, under the direction of or in collaboration with a physician, in accordance with their education and training and the states’ statutes, rules and regulations. As a part of the health care team, services provided by ATs include injury and illness prevention, wellness promotion and education, emergent care, examination and clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention, and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions.” Right now, there are many schools that provide degrees for these careers in their health sciences, exercise science or kinesiology departments. Right now, you may consider fitness and health as your hobby. But, if you can get paid to do what you love — why not go for it?
Go to school to become an athletic trainer
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As it turns out, finding a good paying career in this industry has never been more in demand.
If there is one thing that people can agree on in terms of the job market, it is that people can count on the availability of careers in the health industry. According to a report by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for an athletic trainer is $46,630. The Bureau also predicted that this industry will increase 23 percent from the years 2016 to 2026 which means that the need for these positions will increase over the coming years.
The Athletic Training Program offered at Jefferson College of Rehabilitation Sciences is prime examples of health sciences degree that can be achieved in a realistic time frame for those looking to enter the workforce at an accelerated rate. Graduates of the two-year master’s program will become Certified Athletic Trainers (ATC) with a program designed to prepare students for the National Athletic Trainers Association Board of Certification examination. By becoming a member of this association, you will belong to a large network of trainers and professionals and get up to date information on advancements in the industry. If students want to get a Master’s degree even faster, they can enroll in the five year intensive BS/MS combined program that will allow them to find work in the burgeoning field of certified athletic training.
“We believe that we have created a very academically challenging and rigorous program that prepares students for a rewarding career in Athletic Training,” says Ali El-Kerdi, Program Director for the Master of Science in Athletic Training program at Jefferson College. “We teach advanced clinical skills beyond the entry-level that few (if any) programs across the country are teaching. More importantly, we provide 32 weeks of part-time clinical experiences and 22 weeks of full-time immersive clinical experiences in 2 years. We strongly believe in the benefits of hands-on clinical education.”
These certified athletic trainers who enter the workforce will be able to work with physically active individuals in order to help them understand their own bodies in order to prevent injuries and push themselves to the limit in ways that will increase the outcome of their athletic performance. Graduates work closely with the healthcare team to prevent, assess and rehabilitate injuries as well as provide emergency treatment and training recommendations.
For more information on The Athletic Training Programs offered at Jefferson College of Rehabilitation Sciences, make sure to jefferson.edu to schedule your own personal tour of the campus.
