DALLAS - The National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) and Board of Certification, Inc. (BOC) would like to clarify reports issued today regarding a lawsuit charging James Jensen with multiple cases of sexual abuse. The lawsuit and subsequent media coverage name Jensen as an athletic trainer for a Montana high school, however, he was never certified by the Board of Certification, Inc. (BOC), the national certifying body for athletic trainers. Therefore, he is not, nor has he ever been, an athletic trainer.
Currently, forty-eight states, including Montana, and the District of Columbia require ATs to complete an accredited program by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) and hold the Board of Certification credential of “Athletic Trainer Certified” (ATC). Athletic trainers also are qualified to apply for a National Provider Identifier (NPI) as healthcare professionals. The taxonomy code for athletic trainers is 2255A2300X.
Athletic trainers (ATs) are highly qualified, multi-skilled health care professionals who collaborate with physicians to provide preventative services, emergency care, clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions. Athletic trainers work under the direction of a physician as prescribed by state licensure statutes. The NATA Code of Ethics states the principles of ethical behavior that should be followed in the practice of athletic training.