New California State Assembly Bill Would Require Athletic Trainers to be Licensed

The California Athletic Trainers’ Association Seeks State Licensure of the Profession 

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – April 6, 2012 – When a young athlete gets hurt, an athletic trainer sometimes has just seconds to assess the injury and decide on a course of action.

That decision can often be the difference between life and death – shouldn’t the person making the decisions be a licensed professional? Our young athletes deserve to be protected by professionals verified by the state to hold the education and skills necessary to keep our children safe.

The California Athletic Trainers’ Association (CATA) along with Senator Alan Lowenthal, want California to do what 47 other states already do – license the athletic training profession. 

Introduced on February 23, SB 1273, otherwise known as the “Athletic Trainers Practice Act,” would provide for the licensure and regulation of athletic trainers and prohibit any person without the proper credentials from engaging in the practice of athletic training without a license.

The bill is designed to be cost-neutral, (meaning it won’t cost taxpayer’s any money), with all costs associated with licensure applications and renewals covering the costs of maintaining the bill. Essentially, athletic trainers will be paying for their own licensure.

“Athletic trainers save lives, it’s as simple as that,” says Mike West, President of the CATA. “But until the state acknowledges the important role we play, young athletes will continue to be at risk, under the supervision of someone who may not actually be qualified to recognize or respond to a life-threatening injury or illness.”

Despite the vital role athletic trainers play in the safety of our young athletes, California does not currently require licensure of athletic trainers and is in fact, one of only three states that doesn’t even regulate the profession, meaning anyone can label him/herself an athletic trainer without holding the proper credentials – giving athletes, parents and coaches a false sense of safety and leaving athletes at risk for injury, even death.

“Worse, out of state individuals who were not able to obtain licensure, or who lost their license can, come to CA and practice,” added West.

Nowhere else is this more crucial than at the 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.

Recent studies show a significant increase in catastrophic injuries that have resulted in death or permanent disability of youth athletes. In the past three years, over 36 California high school students have died due to sports-related injuries – many of which might have been saved if there had been a qualified athletic trainer.

SB 1273 would directly impact the safety of athletes by mandating these specific requirements for licensure:

• Must have completed athletic trainer certification eligibility requirements from an athletic training education program at a four-year college or university approved by the committee.
• Must pass a comprehensive nationally accredited certification exam approved by the Athletic Training Licensing Committee
• Must possess an emergency cardiac care certification
• Pay application fees established by the Athletic Training Licensing Committee

The bill would also specify that a license expires in two years and is subject to renewal upon payment of a renewal fee and the completion of continuing education hours in order to keep their knowledge and skills current.

“It’s our responsibility to ensure we provide our kids a safe environment to participate in athletics,” says Lowenthal. “By licensing athletic trainers, parents coaches, players and school administrators can be assured that the athletic trainer looking after a student’s safety has the specific medical education and hands-on experience needed to respond to emergency and non-emergency situations.”

About the California Athletic Trainers Association (CATA):

Athletic trainers are health care professionals who specialize in the provision of physical medicine and rehabilitation services, serving as physician extenders in the prevention, assessment and treatment of acute and chronic injuries and illnesses. The California Athletic Trainers Association (http://www.ca-at.org) represents and supports 2,200 members of the athletic training profession through communication and education

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