General, Athletic News, Admissions News

Date: 20.05.2010

Age: 112 days

The King College Athletic Training Education Program (ATEP) has received its initial accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) for the maximum amount of five years.

The CAATE is the agency responsible for the accreditation of professional athletic training educational programs.  They provide comprehensive accreditation services to institutions that offer athletic training degree programs and verify that all CAATE-accredited programs meet the acceptable educational standards for professional (entry-level) athletic training education.

King's ATEP is a three-year program that requires application and acceptance into the program.  The program is designed to give students the knowledge and experience necessary to pursue a career in athletic training.  The courses in the program include lecture and clinical experiences so that the students are given opportunities to learn the skills required to pass the Board of Certification (BOC) exam and to become a certified athletic trainer in a traditional employment or graduate school position.  Several of the courses include requiring the students to spend time observing and assisting certified athletic trainers as a part of their clinical education.

"We are thrilled to received accreditation for our Athletic Training Education Program," said Sherri L. Jones, ATEP director for King College.  "This will provide students the opportunity to sit for the Board of Certification exam and become a certified athletic trainer.  The exam is only open to schools that have current accreditation status."

"After students pass the BOC, they will be qualified to seek employment as certified athletic trainers in a variety of settings such as secondary schools, colleges and universities, professional athletic teams, sports medicine clinics, industrial clinics, orthopedic offices, wellness facilities, and education," said Jones.  "Students may also pursue graduate school opportunities with additional coursework to complete prerequisites for programs such as exercise science, physical therapy, occupational therapy, physician's assistant, education, or other related fields."

As freshmen, interested students should take Care and Prevention of Athletic Injuries and Anatomy and Physiology I as part of their studies.  Applications are accepted in the spring semester with interviews after the application deadline.  Clinical classes are limited to eight students per instructor, so a limited number of students are accepted each year.  If accepted, the students begin in the program the following fall semester.  Transfer students are given the same consideration for admission into the program as students currently enrolled at King.

During the ATEP, the courses build on one another to emphasize lifetime learning over the course of their education.  Students attend both academic and clinical experience classes.  Clinical courses require both classroom instruction and 150 clinical experience hours each semester at various clinical sites.  Sites include the King College athletic training room, local high schools, sports medicine clinics, physical therapy clinics, and various other medical offices.

For more information contact Sherri L. Jones at 423.652.6349 or visit atep.king.edu.