Certification

 

The Board of Certification (BOC) was incorporated in 1989 to provide a certification program for entry-level athletic trainers and recertification standards for certified athletic trainers. The purpose of this entry-level certification program is to establish standards for entry into the profession of athletic training.

• First, become familiar with the purpose and process of certification
• And ensure you meet the requirements for candidacy for the BOC Certification Examination
  • To be eligible to sit for the certification exam, students are advised to earn a degree from an accredited entry-level athletic training curriculum.

 

Certified athletic trainers have fulfilled the requirements for certification established by the BOC. After interested candidates have met the curriculum requirements, they must then pass a three-part test administered by the BOC. The exam includes three sections:

• Written portion with multiple choice questions
• A practical section that evaluates the skill components of the domains within athletic training
• Written simulation test, consisting of athletic training related situations designed to
  approximate real-life decision making and evaluates athletic trainers' ability to resolve cases
  similar to those they might encounter in actual practice.

 

The examination covers a variety of topics within the six practice domains of athletic training:

• Prevention
• Recognition, Evaluation and Assessment
• Immediate Care
• Treatment, Rehabilitation and Reconditioning
• Organization and Administration
• Professional Development and Responsibility

 

Once athletic trainers pass the certification examination proving skills and knowledge within each of the six domains, they use the designation "ATC" or "CAT." Certifying athletic trainers ensures high standards of professional practice. Certification by the Board of Certification is the entry-level credential and is required by most employers.

 

Check out the BOC FAQ section! Here you will find lots of useful information such as Exam Administration Questions, Professional Development Questions and Eligibility/ Candidate Questions.

 

Attention students, Certified Athletic Trainers and educators!
An all NEW On-line self-assessment examination now available from BOC

 

Financial Aid

Students who are interested in an athletic training career can explore financial assistance through their educational institution’s financial aid offices. These offices have information about many  possible sources of aid:

• Scholarships
• Basic educational opportunity grants
• Federal educational opportunity grants
• College work/study programs
• National defense student loans

 

In addition, the NATA offers scholarships for its members through the NATA Research & Education Foundation. The Foundation has three scholarship categories:

• Curriculum
• Masters
• Doctoral