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DOI

https://doi.org/10.25035/jsmahs.05.02.03

Abstract

Purpose: Athletic training education has advanced its professional degree to an entry level masters, a decision motivated by professional health education developments over the last 10 years. In respect to Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) accreditation standards as well as evolutionary changes in athletic training education, current prerequisite expectations of entry level applicants are largely dependent upon program. Analysis of the publicly available documents via websites and other programmatic documents of professional athletic training including prerequisite classes, supplemental admissions requirements, length and credits of program, cost of attendance and degree level of core faculty. Methods: 144 professional athletic training programs delivered at the graduate level, regardless of program design, as identified on the CAATE website in November 2018 were eligible for the analysis. Data were collected and recorded into a custom spreadsheet by one researcher regarding program characteristics, admission requirements, costs, and core faculty descriptors. Descriptive analyses were performed. Results: Most of the programs (n=96, 66.7%) were active and in good standing with the CAATE. Admissions requirements vary largely by program with 54.9% (n=142) requiring biology, 69.7% (n=142) requiring chemistry, 65.5% (n=142) requiring physics, 81.0% (n=142) requiring psychology, 99.3% (n=142) requiring anatomy, and 99.3% (n=142) requiring physiology. The average required observation hours were 48+40 with a range of 0 to 200 (n=141). Prerequisite GPA requirements varied from 2.0 to 3.40 with a mean of 2.90+0.23. Conclusion(s): Professional programs are in need of adjustment for admissions requirements to address the 2020 standards related to admissions.

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