Program Summary
The Hill College Student Athletic Trainer Education Program is a two year preparatory program designed to lead to placement in a four-year bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training or Sports Studies/Kinesiology thus creating the pathway to a master’s degree in Athletic Training.
The intent of the program is to allow students to experience the expectations of performing the duties of a student athletic trainer while gaining critical observation hours and completing the academic course work leading to an associate degree. These experiences will assist to ease the transition of the athletic training student into a bachelor’s level degree. As a Hill College student athletic trainer, you will be able to work directly with the Hill College athletic teams on a daily basis fulfilling the role of a liaison between the athletes and the athletic trainer.
Once the student has completed their associate degree at Hill College, the Hill College Athletic Trainer will assist the student in placement at a four-year institution allowing that student to continue the coursework in their desired field of study. Although students seeking a career in athletic training are preferred, students with other career goals will be considered. Various scholarship levels are available based on merit and academic progress to be determined by the Hill College Athletic Trainer.
EDUCATION PLAN(S)
DEGREE/CERTIFICATE OPTION(S)
Athletic Trainer Education Plan
Athletic Trainer Degree
Associate of Arts
60 Credit Hours
Highlights
- The athletic training department provides injury care and event coverage for all the athletics programs covered at Hill College including rodeo.
- We provide a fully functional athletic training room to meet the injury needs of our athletes located in the agriculture building.
- We have one full time athletic trainer and a staff of 8-10 student athletic trainers.
- We offer an associates in physical education with emphasis in athletic training so that current student athletic trainers may begin to fulfill the requirements for obtaining a degree and certification in athletic training.
- We do provide scholarships for student trainers and any current or future student at Hill College interested in the athletic training program should contact Allan Dinsmore.
Athletic training is recognized by the American Medical Association (AMA) as an allied health care profession. The certified athletic trainer specializes in six practice areas or domains:
- Prevention
- Clinical evaluation and diagnosis
- Immediate care
- Treatment, rehabilitation and reconditioning
- Organization and administration
- Professional responsibility
As part of a complete health care team, the certified athletic trainer works under the direction of a licensed physician and in cooperation with other health care professionals, athletics administrators, coaches and parents. The certified athletic trainer gets to know each athlete/ patient individually and can treat injuries more effectively because of that. A certified athletic trainer’s day may, for example, include these tasks:
- Prepare athletes for practice or competition, including taping, bandaging and bracing
- Evaluate injuries to determine their management and possible referral
- Develop conditioning programs
- Implement treatment and rehabilitation programs
These duties require extensive knowledge and strong decision-making skills obtained through the certified athletic trainer’s experience and education.
Athletic trainers can be found almost anywhere people are physically active. Whether it’s on the playing field or in an industrial work setting, athletic trainers are in place to help active people prevent injuries and stay healthy. Here are some of the places you will find them:
Secondary Schools:
Public and private secondary schools offer abundant job opportunities for certified athletic trainers. Parents and administrators are discovering the benefits a certified athletic trainer can offer in preventing and caring for injuries. Many certified athletic trainers teach classes at the high school level. The American Medical Association recommends certified athletic trainers be in every high school.
Colleges and universities:
Certified athletic training jobs in colleges and universities generally fall into two categories: athletic department staff assignment and combination teacher/athletic trainer.
Professional sports:
Although teams operate only a few months per year, certified athletic trainers work year-round conditioning and rehabilitating athletes. Fewer jobs are available in this practice setting due to the limited number of teams.
Sports medicine clinics:
This growing setting provides certified athletic trainers the opportunity to work with a number of different health care professionals and a diverse patient population. In addition to athletic injury rehabilitation, many clinics provide athletic training services for secondary schools via outreach programs.
Military:
Each branch of the U.S. military is increasing its use of athletic trainers. Certified athletic trainers can be found as part of the health care team for active-duty injured service people, on- and off-base fitness and wellness centers, new recruit readiness programs and pre-enlistment readiness programs, in addition to established military school sports teams.
Industrial and commercial: These settings utilize both outreach clinics and full-time certified athletic trainers to deliver services. Athletic trainers are a key component to the health care team, and work with physicians and other allied health personnel. Certified athletic trainers are first-responder medical personnel who are experts in injury assessment and treatment, particularly in the orthopedic and musculoskeletal disciplines. Other athletic training employment opportunities include hospitals, health clubs, and the performing arts.
Swede Trenkle
Program Coordinator
strenkle@hillcollege.edu
254.659.7960
Allan Dinsmore
Athletic Trainer/Instructor
adinsmore@hillcollege.edu
254.659.7969