How Long Does It Take to Become an Athletic Trainer?
Do you want to become an athletic trainer? For those who love sports, prefer to remain off the field, and still want to have an impact on the sports that they enjoy then becoming an athletic trainer is a great idea. Trainers are needed at all levels, from high school and club sports up through college and into the professional sports world, so it’s a solid career path.
At this point, you’re probably wondering exactly what it takes to become an athletic trainer. What do you need to do to become one? How long does it take? We’ll answer both of those questions below.
It All Starts with a College Degree
There’s more to athletic training than just observing athletes in a weight room. You need to have a solid background in many different things, from kinesiology or the science of movement to subjects like anatomy and physiology. These are required because you’ll need to know how to help athletes rehabilitate injuries, become stronger in ways that don’t strain their bodies, and more.
By starting off with a degree in exercise science, you’ll have the background that you need in order to start your career in athletic training. Since this degree often takes four years to complete, you’ll have to dedicate yourself to learning the field for at least that long.
Spending Time Interning in the Field
While working on your undergraduate degree in exercise science, you’ll have to spend time interning. This means finding an athletic training program or something related to the field, like physical therapy at a hospital or clinic, and getting some hands-on training. Often, you’ll earn course credits for your internship, making this option the best of both worlds: less time in the classroom and more time learning exactly what you’ll need to know out in the field.
Heading to Graduate School
Most athletic trainers have a graduate degree in the subject, or one closely related to it, like physical therapy or kinesiology. These advanced programs teach you more in-depth techniques for training athletes at all levels. Usually, a master’s degree in athletic training takes between one to three years, although that depends largely on the overall program.
Becoming Certified
Finally, in order to work as an athletic trainer, you need to become certified. The certification process requires passing some rigorous tests that use the knowledge that you’ve gleaned from your time in the classroom and interning in the field. If you want to work as an athletic trainer, you’re going to need to have this certification in place.
Do You Want to Become an Athletic Trainer?
If you want to become an athletic trainer, why not start your career off at Dean College? We have an undergraduate exercise science program that will provide you with all of the basics that you need to thrive as an athletic trainer. Plus, you’ll be able to learn all of this at a small school that feels like a large one. It’s a winning game plan. Request more information, today!