Athletic Training jobs will grow by 35.6% in Ohio through 2018. This job requires a Bachelor’s degree and has an average salary of $42,860. Technological advances and an increased emphasis on preventive care (particularly in schools and employment settings) are also expected to increase the demand for athletic trainers. Most job growth will occur in the health industry, like doctor’s offices and ambulatory healthcare services.
Annually, over 29 new jobs will be added in this field in Ohio, though 2018. Both sports and non-sports work setting are common. About 60 percent of athletic trainers work for non-sports employers, like recreational or youth sports teams, colleges and professional schools or hospitals.
Athletic trainers help athletes and clients to rehabilitate from injuries. They assess injuries, and develop treatment plans, and apply tape, bandages, braces and other protective devices. They also educate people about how to avoid injuries through the proper use of equipment. Physicians collaborate with athletic trainers in all of these areas and often supervise athletic trainers’ work to some extent, depending on work setting.
How to Find the Best College for an Athletic Training Degree
Accredited colleges in or near Northeast Ohio are: Ashland University, Baldwin-Wallace College, Bowling Green State University, Kent State University, Ohio Northern University, Otterbein College, The University of Akron, The University of Findlay, The University of Mount Union, and The University of Toledo. A bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training or Sports Medicine includes education in the classroom and clinical settings. Courses include human anatomy, physiology, nutrition, and biomechanics.
Nationally, there is no published ranking of top athletic training programs. The best way to look, if you’re interested in rankings, is to use U.S. News and World Report’s Top Colleges and Universities lists, then search for nationally certified Athletic Training programs, using the listings published by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Programs. Look for schools that offer graduate level education. Resources for these programs should be optimized.
Once you find them, I recommend that you look closely at the course listings offered, and talk directly to the professors who teach them to find out where their recent students are working and what internship support they can provide.
Tips for Getting Hired
Certification and/or licensure are increasing requirments for being hired for certain athletic trainer positions. And about 70 percent of certified athletic trainers have a master’s or doctoral degree. To work in a high school setting, a teaching certificate or license may also be required.
Board certification is required for licensure, registration or both, which is required in 43 states, including Ohio. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited athletic
trainer program is part of the requirement for becoming certified by the Board of Certification.
As always, What’s Your Major? strongly recommends joining a professional association and attending local or national meetings to get a better understanding of the field and to kick off your job networking campaign. For additional information about a career as an athletic trainer, contact: The National Athletic Trainer Association, 2952 Stemmons Freeway #200, Dallas, TX 75247 214.637.6282 Career Center: 1.888.491.8833 Ext. 2029
My mission is to empower youth with: - The knowledge about career possibilities, and the education and training needed to attain them - The creative-thinking and emotional skills that make for good career decisions and which employers prefer; - And the resilience needed to flourish in life.
