NATA
(National Athletic Trainers’ Association)
KyungMo Han, PhD., ATC
Athletic Training Education Program Director
California State University, Dominguez Hills
2003 World Exercise Professionals Symposium
KACEP 4th Annual Meeting
Daejeon, KOREA
INTRODUCTION
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Overview
History of Athletic Training Profession
CAAHEP Athletic Training Accreditation
NATA Education Council
NATA Board of Certification
Employment Settings and Salaries
Current Issue (Reimbursements)
Future Directions
SPORTS MEDICINE/ATHLETIC TRAINING
 “The
physiological, biomechanical, psychological
and pathological phenomena associated with
exercise and sports” (ACSM)
 “The application of medical knowledge and
science of the physiological and pathological
aspects of filed sports and athletics. This field
includes not only prevention and treatment of
injuries but also scientific investigation of training
methods and practices”
(Taber’s Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary, 19th Ed.)
Human
Performance
Exercise Physiology
Biomechanics
Sport Psychology
Sports Nutrition
Sports Massage
Injury
Management
Practice of Medicine
Sports Physical Therapy
Athletic Training
Athletic Training
 What
is it?
 What does an Athletic Trainer do?
 Who needs an Athletic Trainer?
 Where
have we been?
 Where are we now?
 Where are we going?
Training, Trainer,
Athletic Training & Athletic Trainer?
 Training: the
act of coaching or teaching
 Trainer: …often associated with coaching
 Athletic Training: a
field that is concerned with the
athlete’s health and safety
 Athletic Trainer: a specialist in athletic training
(in the care of the injured physically active person)
 KACEP: Sports Rehabilitation Specialist
The Primary Players on the
Sports Medicine Team
Sports Medicine is Multidisciplinary :
The Players on the Sports Medicine Team
 Physician
 Biomechanist
 Nurse
 Exercise
 Dentist
 Podiatrist
 Physician Assistant
 Physical
Physiologist
 Nutritionist
 Sports Psychologist
 Massage Therapist
 Social worker
Therapist
 Strength &
Conditioning Specialist
HISTROTY of
ATHLETIC TRAINING PROFESSION
 Athletic Trainers
have evolved from those who
“rub down”, or possessed little to no knowledge
in the care of sports injuries
History of
Athletic Training Profession
 1950: The
National Athletic Trainers’
Association (NATA) was officially formed,
with 101 original members in Kansas City,
MO
 Today, athletic trainers are highly educated
well-qualified allied health care professionals
 To date, the NATA has over 34,653 members
(April 2003)
Membership by Class
(April 2003)
 Certified
regular:
 Student certified:
 Associate:
 Student-undergrad:
 Student-graduate:
 International-Certified:
20,233
3,267
1,097
4,652
765
151
Historical Development of
Sports Medicine Organizations
 International Federation of
Sports Medicine
(1928)
 American Academy of Family Physicians (1947)
 National Athletic Trainers’ Association (1950)
 American College of Sports Medicine (1954)
 American Orthopaedic Society for Sports
Medicine (1972)
 National Strength and Conditioning Association
(1978)
Historical Development of
Sports Medicine Organizations
 American Academy
of Pediatrics, Sports
Committee (1979)
 Sports Physical Therapy Section of APTA (1981)
 NCAA Committee on Competitive Safeguards
and Medical Aspects of Sports (1985)
 Korean Association of Certified Exercise
Professionals (1999)
CAAHEP ATHLETIC TRAINING
ACCREDITATION
 June
1991, AMA officially recognized athletic
training as an allied health profession
 This meant that education programs in athletic
training had to be accredited by the AMA’s
Committee on Allied Health Education and
Accreditation (CAHEA)
 June 1994, CAHEA dissolved and replaced
immediately by the Committee on
Accreditation of Allied Health Education
Programs (CAAHEP)
Athletic Training Accreditation
 Recognized
as an accreditation agency for
allied health education programs by the U.S.
Department of Education
 Entry level college and university athletic
training education programs at both
undergraduate and graduate levels are now
accredited by CAAHEP
Athletic Training Accreditation
 Effects
of CAAHEP accreditation are not
limited to educational aspects
 In the future, this recognition may potentially
affect regulatory legislation, the practice of
athletic training in nontraditional settings, and
insurance considerations
 Recognition will continue to be a positive step
in the development of the athletic training
profession
CAAHEP
 CAAHEP is
made up of 18 review committees
sponsored by 49 separate health organizations
including NATA
 In 1999 there were 79 accredited programs, 22
others in process
 September 1, 2002: 167 accredited and 15(3),
123(2), & 55(1) in JRC-AT candidacy status
 13 graduate programs in athletic training
approved by the Education Council PostCertification Graduate Education Committee
9 CAAHEP Accredited
Programs in CA
 Azusa
Pacific University
 Vanguard University
 California State University-Fresno
 California State University-Fullerton
 California State University-Northridge
 California State University-Sacramento
 San Diego State University
 San Jose Sate university
 University of the Pacific
8 JRC-AT Candidacy
Programs in CA
 California
Lutheran University
 California State University-Dominguez Hills
 California State University-Long Beach
 Chapman University
 Concordia University
 Humboldt State university
 Point Loma Nazarene University
 University of LaVerne
CAAHEP Entry-Level Master’s
Degree Programs
 Bridgewater
State College, MA
 University of Nebraska-Omaha, NE
 Plymouth State College, NH
NATA EDUCATION COUNCIL
 In
1998 the Education Council was established
to dictate the course of the educational
preparation for the student athletic trainer
 Focus has shifted to competency based
education at the entry level
 The Education Council has significantly
expanded and reorganized the clinical
competencies and proficiencies
Educational CompetenciesEducation Council (1999)
 Pharmacological aspects
of injury and illness
 Professional development and responsibility
 Psychological intervention and referral
 Risk management and injury prevention
 Therapeutic exercise
 Therapeutic modalities
Educational CompetenciesEducation Council (1999)
 Acute
care of injury and illness
 Assessment and evaluation
 General medical conditions and disabilities
 Health care administration
 Nutritional aspects of injury and illness
 Pathology of illness and injuries
Clinical Education
 SAT (Student Athletic Trainer)
 CI
(Clinical Instructor)
 ACI (Approved Clinical Instructor)
 CIE (Clinical Instructor Educator)
NATABOC
(NATA Board of Certification)
 In
1999, the NATABOC completed the latest
Role Delineation Study, which redefined the
profession of athletic training
 The study was designed to examine the
primary tasks performed by the entry level
athletic trainer and the knowledge and skills
required to perform each task
Role Delineation Study
 Prevention
of athletic injuries
 Recognition, evaluation, and assessment of
injuries
 Immediate care of injuries
 Treatment, rehabilitation, and
reconditioning of athletic injuries
 Health care administration
 Professional development & responsibility
Requirements for Certification
(~ 2001.12.31 & 2003.12.31)
 Graduation from
4 year institution
 Complete required course works
 CPR and First Aid Certification (ARC or AHA)
 800 clinical hours under direct supervision of
ATC (or 1,500 hrs)
 25% of clinical hours with one or more of the
following sports: FB, SO, IH, WR, BKB, GYM,
LC, VB, RG
 Endorsement of certification application by ATC
(qualified ATC)
 Pass certification exam
Current Certification Requirements
 Candidates
for certification must meet
NATABOC established requirements
 For students graduating in 2003 and beyond,
NATABOC no longer requires clinical hours
 CAAHEP accredited programs must develop
and implement a clinical instruction plan
according to the 2001 Standards and
Guidelines to ensure that students meet all AT
educational competencies and clinical
proficiencies in academic courses with
measurable outcomes
Current Certification Requirements
 Accreditation
process will be concerned with
the quality of experiences and student
outcomes and knowledge rather than the
number of hours accrued
 As of January, 2004 the internship route to
certification will no longer be accepted
 All candidates for certification will have to
meet CAAHEP requirements
Current Certification Requirements
 Successful completion of
all parts of the
certification exam will earn the credential of
ATC (Certified Athletic Trainer)
 ATC is registered by the NATA
Certification Exam
 Written
 Oral
Practical
 Written Simulation
2000 NATABOC Exam Data
Total
#
% Pass
Sitting Pass
#
Fail
% Fail
Written
4976
2200 44.21%
2776 55.79%
Practical
4161
2577 61.93%
1584 38.07%
Simulation
4403
2429 55.17%
1974 44.83%
2001 NATABOC Exam Data
Total
#
% Pass
Sitting Pass
#
Fail
% Fail
Written
5285
2316 43.82%
2969 56.18%
Practical
3936
2384 60.57%
1552 39.43%
Simulation
4441
2431 54.74%
2010 45.26%
Maintaining Certification
(Continuing Education)
 80
Continuing Education Units (CEU)
every 3 years
 Proof of current CPR certification
EMPLOYMENT SETTINGS
 Secondary
schools
 School districts
 Colleges or
universities
 Professional teams
 Sports-Medicine
clinics
 Industrial settings
SALARY SURVEY CRITERIA
 Over
5,000 members
 63% males and 37% females
 One third of responders were Head
Athletic Trainers
 20% of responders were
Assistant/Associate Athletic Trainers
 Base salary figure excluding benefits
Salary
(By Education Level)
Highest Degree Attained
Doctorate
Mater’s Degree
Bachelor’s Degree
*: 2000 Data w/ benefits and bonuses
**: 2002 Data w/o benefits and bonuses
Average Total
Annual Income
$59,608 (71,529,600)*
$51,838 (62,205,600)**
$47,028 (56,433,600)*
$40,160 (48,192,000)**
$38,835 (46,602,000)*
$36,218 (43,461,600)**
Salary
(By Years of Experience)
Years of Experience
Average Total
Annual Income
0-1
$29,667 (35,600,400)
1-5
$32,278 (38,733,600)
6-10
$38,570 (46,284,000)
11-15
$50,380 (60,456,000)
16-20
$58,102 (69,722,400)
21-25
$59,278 (71,133,600)
Salary
(By District)
District
ALL
Average Total
Annual Income
$39,716 (47,659,200)
District 2
$38,098 (45,717,600)
District 4
$39,015 (46,818,000)
District 6
$44,092 (52,910,400)
District 8
$46,063 (55,275,600)
District 10
$40,607 (48,728,400)
Salary
(By Work Setting)
Work Setting
Clinic
Corporate
High School
Hospital
Prof. Dance/Prof. Sports
Military
University/College
Sales/Marketing
Average Total
Annual Income
$51,838 (62,205,600)
$40,160 (48,192,000)
$42,093 (50,511,600)
$47,242 (56,690,400)
$49,000/$38,466
$51,714 (62,056,800)
$39,142 (46,970,400)
$51,315 (61,578,000)
Salary
(By Job Title)
Job Title
Academic Program Dir.
Assistant Professor
Associate professor
Professor
GTA
Athletic Trainer (Head)
Athletic Trainer (Assist.)
Average Total
Annual Income
$48,620 (58,344,000)
$47,920 (57,504,000)
$60,047 (72,056,400)
$71,207 (85,448,400)
$9,573 (11,487,600)
$37,320 (44,784,000)
$32,987 (39,584,400)
Salary
(By Job Title)
Job Title
Clinic Coordinator
Education Consultant
Owner
Physical Therapist
PTA
Physician Assistant
Average Total
Annual Income
$50,351 (60,421,200)
$72,500 (87,000,000)
$75,765 (90,918,000)
$53,474 (64,168,800)
$36,025 (43,230,000)
$60,676 (72,811,200)
CURRENT ISSUE
(Reimbursement for Athletic Training Services)
 During
the past 40 years the insurance industry has
undergone a significant evolutionary process
 Health care reform initiated in the 1990’s has
focused on the concept of managed care in which
costs of a health care providers medical care are
closely monitored and scrutinized by insurance
carriers
 Managed care involves a prearranged system for
delivering health care that is designed to control
cost while continuing to provide quality care
Reimbursement for
Athletic Training Services
 Third-party reimbursement -
primary
mechanism of payment for medical services in
the United States
 Health care professionals are reimbursed by the
policy holder's insurance company for services
performed
 To cut pay-out costs, many insurance companies
limit where and how often an individual can go
for care and what services will be paid for
Reimbursement for
Athletic Training Services
 Unless ATC
is also a licensed physical
therapist, it is difficult to obtain third-party
reimbursement for health care services
provided
 State regulation of the ATC has, to date, helped
little with obtaining reimbursement
 In general, insurance companies have not been
willing to cover services provided by the ATC
 Securing third-party reimbursement must be a
priority, especially for the clinical ATC
Reimbursement for
Athletic Training Services
 1995-
NATA established Reimbursement
Advisory Group to monitor managed care
changes and to help ATC secure a place as a
health care provider
 1996- NATA initiated the Athletic Training
Outcomes Assessment project designed to
present supporting data to measure results of
interventions which involve athletic training
procedures
Reimbursement for
Athletic Training Services
 Athletic Trainers
must bill insurance companies
according to the Current Procedural Terminology
(CPT) codes published by AMA
 In 1999, the American Hospital Association
approved a new uniform billing code (UB Code)
to be used specifically for provide athletic training
services -- 951
FUTURE DIRECTIONS
Increase effort to enhance visibility
By making themselves available for local and
community meetings to discuss athletic health
care
Through research efforts and scholarly
publication
 Continue
reorganize and refine educational
programs for student athletic trainers
 Continue to seek and strengthen state
regulation of the practice of athletic training
Future Directions
 Increase
efforts to create job opportunities
particularly in secondary schools, colleges
and universities, and corporate and industrial
settings
 Increase effort in seeking third-party
reimbursement for services provided
 Continue efforts in injury prevention and in
providing appropriate, high-quality health
care
California State University, Dominguez Hills
Home Depot Center
Thank You Very Much!