3 answers
Rory
Student
Clermont, Florida
1
Question
Asked
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What is the process in finding a job as an Athletic Trainer?
I am a former athlete and I love biology and studying the human body. I am a student in high school trying to research careers. I will take all of the help I can get, thank you!
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3 answers
Joseph Gebke, ATC
Certified Athletic Trainer
10
Answers
Uniondale, New York
Updated
Joseph’s Answer
Greetings! I've discovered my employment opportunities primarily through online searches and networking. If you're considering an online search, I recommend initiating your hunt around April. This is typically when many school-based positions start advertising their vacancies, often continuing into May. There are numerous rewarding roles available where you can potentially spend your entire career.
In my personal experience, I've exclusively worked for or interviewed with companies specializing in Physical Therapy/Athletic Training or hospitals. The procedure usually involves an initial interview, potentially followed by a second round, before an offer is extended. Unfortunately, I can't provide firsthand information about breaking into the professional sports or entertainment sectors. Hopefully, someone else can shed some light on that process.
Create a LinkedIn and search for Athletic Trainers to follow and build a network.
In my personal experience, I've exclusively worked for or interviewed with companies specializing in Physical Therapy/Athletic Training or hospitals. The procedure usually involves an initial interview, potentially followed by a second round, before an offer is extended. Unfortunately, I can't provide firsthand information about breaking into the professional sports or entertainment sectors. Hopefully, someone else can shed some light on that process.
Joseph recommends the following next steps:
Kelly Ferian, DAT, LAT, ATC
Athletic Trainer
1
Answer
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Updated
Kelly’s Answer
Hi Rory,
That is awesome that you discovered your passion for biology and the human body. There are a plethora of healthcare careers that relate to that subject matter.
It looks like you’re interested in learning more about athletic training. While you’re still finishing out your high school academics I would encourage you to do some shadowing. Shadowing an athletic trainer in different settings can help you get a feel for if this field is right for you. Athletic trainers can work in collegiate and secondary school sports, military settings, performing arts, hospitals, physicians clinics and physical therapy clinics. Athletic trainers can also teach sports medicine and allied health courses as well as become a researcher in the field.
Once you have decided athletic training is for you, you’ll have to pick a school that offers that major. To practice as an athletic trainer you will need your masters in athletic training and you will have to sit for the board exam.
I hope this helps! Best of luck with your future endeavors!
That is awesome that you discovered your passion for biology and the human body. There are a plethora of healthcare careers that relate to that subject matter.
It looks like you’re interested in learning more about athletic training. While you’re still finishing out your high school academics I would encourage you to do some shadowing. Shadowing an athletic trainer in different settings can help you get a feel for if this field is right for you. Athletic trainers can work in collegiate and secondary school sports, military settings, performing arts, hospitals, physicians clinics and physical therapy clinics. Athletic trainers can also teach sports medicine and allied health courses as well as become a researcher in the field.
Once you have decided athletic training is for you, you’ll have to pick a school that offers that major. To practice as an athletic trainer you will need your masters in athletic training and you will have to sit for the board exam.
I hope this helps! Best of luck with your future endeavors!
Alda Burston
1
Answer
Updated
Alda’s Answer
Hi! Since you are still in high school, I would recommend shadowing or working as a student aide with your school’s athletic trainer. If that’s not an option, consider reaching out to ATs at nearby colleges to see if you can shadow them.
As far as college is concerned, you would ultimately have to attend and graduate from a Master’s in Athletic Training program after getting your bachelors degree in order to be eligible to become a certified AT. For your bachelor’s degree, I suggest attending a college or university that has a pre-AT/sports med focus where you can get hands on experience working with sports teams and learn from certified ATs and sports med physicians.
As far as college is concerned, you would ultimately have to attend and graduate from a Master’s in Athletic Training program after getting your bachelors degree in order to be eligible to become a certified AT. For your bachelor’s degree, I suggest attending a college or university that has a pre-AT/sports med focus where you can get hands on experience working with sports teams and learn from certified ATs and sports med physicians.