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Sports medicine
Athletic Trainer
On the sideline for the injury, and there for the whole recovery.
Typical pay
$50k-$80k
How you get in
Master's in athletic training plus BOC certification
Outlook
Growing; expanding into industrial and military settings
Athletic trainers prevent, evaluate and rehabilitate athletic injuries. It is genuine healthcare with a master's requirement, and the hours follow the sport rather than a clinic schedule.
A day in the life
- 9:00aTreatments and rehab for injured athletes
- 11:00aDocumentation and communication with physicians
- 1:00pPre-practice taping and evaluations
- 3:00pCover practice — watching for what goes wrong
- 6:00pPost-practice treatments and ice
- 9:00pGame coverage on competition nights
How to get in
Master's in athletic training
Duration
6 years total
Cost
$30,000-$80,000 for the master's
Credential
ATC via the Board of Certification
- Complete a bachelor's with the prerequisite sciences
- Complete a CAATE-accredited master's — the entry degree changed from bachelor's to master's
- Finish extensive clinical rotations across settings
- Pass the BOC exam and get state licensed
Clinical or industrial settings
Duration
Same training, different employer
Cost
$30,000-$80,000
Credential
ATC
- Complete the same master's and certification
- Target hospital outpatient, physician practice or industrial employers
- Industrial athletic training pays notably better than school settings
- Far more predictable hours than team coverage
ATC into physical therapy or PA
Duration
3-4 additional years
Cost
$70,000-$180,000
Credential
DPT or PA-C on top of the ATC
- Work as an ATC and accumulate patient care hours
- Those hours satisfy prerequisites for DPT and PA programs
- Complete the additional doctorate or master's
- Substantially higher ceiling than athletic training alone
What people love
- · Work in sports without being an athlete
- · Real clinical autonomy in evaluation
- · Settings from high school to pro to industrial
- · Deep relationships with the athletes you treat
What wears people down
- · Master's degree for a modest salary
- · Nights, weekends and travel follow the season
- · Long hours during the competitive season
- · Pay lags comparable healthcare master's degrees