School of Health Professions and Human Services
Careers in Health Care: Become an Athletic Trainer
”It’s safe to say that athletic training as a field and with regard to job opportunity is just exponentially growing. There are so many more job opportunities than graduates to fill them.”
Jayne M. Ellinger, PhD Associate Professor of Health Professions Coordinator, Athletic Training Program Hofstra University Certified Athletic Trainer
Careers in Health Care: Become an Athletic Trainer
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What do they do? ”I think the greatest growth that we see right now is athletic trainers working alongside physicians in physicians’ offices. They’re extending the services that physicians can provide, interacting with patients, and providing sound patient follow up.”
Athletic trainers are healthcare professionals who help teach people how to prevent injuries and offer emergency care services, clinical diagnoses, and rehabilitation of injuries. Athletic trainers follow a rigorous medical model and are often hired to work with professional or collegiate sports teams, military services, or in medical clinics.
— Jayne M. Ellinger, PhD Associate Professor of Health Professions Coordinator, Athletic Training Program Hofstra University Certified Athletic Trainer
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What are my job prospects in this field?
”Athletic training is greatly expanding internationally right now. It used to be just a U.S. healthcare practice, then expanded well into Japan and into Canada. Now it’s expanding into South America, Central America, and Western Europe.” — Jayne M. Ellinger, PhD Associate Professor of Health Professions Coordinator, Athletic Training Program Hofstra University
Burning Glass Technologies projects
21.3% growth in athletic training positions
Certified Athletic Trainer
nationwide through 2027* – that’s nearly three times the average growth of all professions.
*Source: Burning Glass Technologies, March 2019
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What kind of education do I need? Athletic trainers must graduate from an accredited program and pass a certification exam administered by the Board of Certification (BOC).
“After their first year, there are a couple of different experiences students can look at. They can work at a high school, a college setting, or in medical offices working alongside physicians in general medicine or with orthopedics. And then
What should I look for in an educational program?
there are other students who choose to take a more administrative route. Our alumni are fantastic with employing our students after graduation. I’ve been teaching now for 20 years, so I have a wide network of alumni who help us find opportunities for students and graduates.” — Jayne M. Ellinger, PhD Associate Professor of Health Professions Coordinator, Athletic Training Program Hofstra University Certified Athletic Trainer
In order to be eligible to take the certification exam, you must first graduate from a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE), such as Hofstra’s BS in Athletic Training. In addition, look for a program that has connections to clinical experiences in settings that interest you. Hofstra’s program, for example, provides clinical experiences on campus and at off-campus clinical affiliate sites.
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ALUMNI PROFILE: STUDENT PROFILE: Megan Patierno, Hofstra Class of 2018 Megan Patierno Major: Athletic Training
Hired: TK BS in Athletic Training, Class of 2018 Megan Patierno knew that Hofstra’s
Student-athlete Megan Patierno knew that athletic training program would Hofstra’s athletic training program would be be the perfect way to combine her the perfect way to combine her passions for passions biology and sports. biology and for sports.
As she prepares to graduate, Megan, Upon graduation, Megan, whoanwas infielder on Hofstra’s softball team, is one an infielder on Hofstra’s softball of the first female be female chosen team, was onestudents of the to first for a paid, postgraduate athletic training students to be chosen for a paid, internship with the New York Jets, a position postgraduate athletic training she’ll start this summer.
internship with the New York Jets.
After logging more than 1,000
athletic training program at Hofstra. Jayne hours of experience over four and Kristin have always encouraged and years, felt ready to meet supported meMegan in my studies.”
the demands of working for an NFL
After team. logging more than 1,000 hours of experience between her freshman and seniorMP: years,“Every Megan feels ready toyou’re meet the semester, demands of working for an NFL team.
assigned to work with a different college team you’re or doctor. I also MP: “Every semester, assigned helped manage the doctors’ to work with a different college team or clinics forI also Hofstra and was able doctor. helpedathletes manage the doctors’ clinicsto forassist Hofstrathem athletes andorthopedic was able to and with assistgeneral them withmedicine.” orthopedic and general
MP: “I’ll be working directly with the players during pre-season, up practices, MP: “I worked setting directly with the doing treatments, all aspects of sports up medicine.” players duringand preseason, setting medicine.” practices, doing treatments, and all During her tenure at Hofstra, Megan Since her freshman year, Megan has done aspects of sports medicine.” completed athletic rotations athletic training rotations with training three Hofstra She credits strong m entorship from Hofstra three Hofstra sports teams, sportswith teams, Molloy College’s softball team, Softball Head Coach Larissa Anderson and She credits strong mentorship Molloy College’s softball team, and Nassau Community College’s football two professors in the Department of Health from former Hofstra Softball Nassau Community College’s team,and as well as a physical therapy rotation Professions, Jayne Ellinger and Kristin Head Coach Larissa Anderson football team, as well as a physical with ProHealth. LoNigro.
and two professors in the
MP: “Jayne and Kristin recommended me Department of Health Professions, for the opportunity and were instrumental Jayne Ellinger and Kristin LoNigro. in helping me get my foot in the door ... Athletic training really wasn’t considered MP: “Jayne and Kristin a profession for women. They’ve worked recommended meand forpioneered the in the field for 20 years the
therapy rotation with ProHealth.
MP: “I’ve had the opportunity to work under a lot of athletic trainers and have MP: “I had the opportunity to work learned so much. I’ve built a large network under a lot of athletic trainers and of professionals in my field and hope learned so much; and at I’ve to continue to make connections my built a large network of professionals in internship and beyond.”
opportunity and were instrumental my field.” in helping me get my foot in the door ... Athletic training really wasn’t considered a profession Megan’s story isn’t unique – 100% offor 2015-2016 School of Health Professions and Human women. They’ve worked in the field Services undergraduate degree recipients who responded to our graduation survey or for 20 years and pioneered the other reliable sources (64% knowledge rate) reported that they were employed or have athletic training program at Hofstra. started or were planning to start graduate school within one year of graduation. Jayne and Kristin have always encouraged and supported me in my studies.”
Careers in Health Become Care: Become an Athletic Trainer 6 Careers in Healthcare: an Athletic Trainer
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School of Health Professions and Human Services
Click here to learn more about Hofstra’s Athletic Training program