Current State Law

The CATA has been working to pass legislature that would ensure the safety of athletes of all ages by requiring the state to place stricter regulations on who can call themselves an “athletic trainer.” Currently, California is one of only three states without a system of checks and balances to regulate the athletic training profession, meaning anyone can label him/herself an athletic trainer without holding the proper credentials or having the necessary education – giving athletes, parents and coaches a false sense of safety and leaving athletes at risk for injury or worse.

Nowhere else is this more crucial than at the primary and secondary school levels. As kids increasingly begin specializing in a particular sport there’s been a growing incidence of serious injuries and complications resulting from overuse and intensive over-training. And while colleges and universities and professional sports teams provide their athletes with access to a certified athletic trainer, there is a glaring misrepresentation present at the youth sports levels. Only 15 to 20 percent of California high schools even have access to an athletic trainer, let alone a certified athletic trainer.

While our ultimate goal is licensure of our profession, we aim to one day make it mandatory for every school to have a licensed athletic trainer on staff.

Support our Cause: Contact your State Legislator and send a letter of support TODAY.

October 2011: Governor Signs Assemblymember Mary Hayashi’s Student Concussion Bill AB 25

California Athletic Trainers Fight for Licensure to Keep Athletes Safe

Tommy and Beth Mallon are just two California individuals affected by the presence of an athletic trainer. Thankfully, their athletic trainer was fully qualified to respond to their life-threatening emergency.  However, not all California athletes are so lucky.  Watch their story here.