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Best athletic trainer certifications

The best certifications for an athletic trainer are Athletic Trainer Certification (ATC), Certified Athletic Trainer (CAT), and Certified Personal Trainer.

Athletic trainer certifications demonstrate your competency as an athletic trainer to employers. However, not all athletic trainer certifications provide the same value.

Below is a list of the best athletic trainer certifications. Obtaining an athletic trainer certification will give you a leg up when you apply for jobs and increase your potential salary.

6 best athletic trainer certifications

1. Athletic Trainer Certification (ATC)

BOC provides a certification program for the entry level Athletic Trainer and establishes requirements for maintaining status as a Certified Athletic Trainer.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 3 year(s)

2. Certified Athletic Trainer (CAT)

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 3 year(s)
Certifying organization
Board of Certification for...

3. Certified Personal Trainer

The purpose of The Cooper Institute Personal Trainer (CI-PTr) Certification Examination is to provide assurance of mastery and application of knowledge and skills directly related to the performance of the job entitled `Personal Trainer' through a defensible, reliable, valid and rigorous process. The successful completion of the CI-PTr Certification Examination results in credentialing to ensure certificants' professional knowledge, skills and tools to provide sound fitness and health programming to their clients, provide assurance to clients and employers, protect the public, and advance the profession.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 3 year(s)
Certifying website
Certified Personal Trainer
Certifying organization
Cooper Institute for Aerobics...

4. Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC)

The Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC) sets the standard for quality rehabilitation counseling services in the U.S. and Canada. As an independent, not-for-profit organization, the CRCC has certified more than 30,000 counselors with its widely recognized Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) and Canadian Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CCRC) designations.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 5 year(s)

5. Sports Medicine

A candidate for subspecialty certification must have achieved initial certification in general pediatrics and continue to maintain current general pediatrics certification in order to take a subspecialty examination. No exceptions to this policy will be granted. The requirements for Maintenance of Certification (MOC) can be found on the ABP website. All candidates are urged to ensure that the requirements for MOC will be met in sufficient time to allow acceptance to the subspecialty certifying examination. Under certain circumstances, individuals registered for the general pediatrics certifying examination may apply for a pediatric subspecialty examination pending notification of the general pediatrics examination results. Before making application, contact the ABP for information. Physicians who entered training in sports medicine on or after January 1, 2001, are required to complete 1 year of training in a program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 10 year(s)
Certifying website
Sports Medicine
Certifying organization
American Board of Pediatrics

6. Physician Assistant - Certified (PA-C)

A PA is a nationally certified and state-licensed medical professional. PAs practice medicine on healthcare teams with physicians and other providers. They practice and prescribe medication in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the majority of the U.S. territories and the uniformed services.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 6 year(s)

What is the best certification for an athletic trainer?

The best athletic trainer certification is Athletic Trainer Certification (ATC). The Athletic Trainer Certification (ATC) is awarded by the National Athletic Trainers Association Board of Certification. The advanced certification is for more experienced employees as it often requires some work experience to acquire.

Here's a bit more background on how to obtain this athletic trainer certification:

  • To become a certified Athletic Trainer Certification (ATC), you need to pass the exam.
  • Lucky you - certification doesn't require more than two years of work experience.
  • Renew certification every 3 year.

What are some of the most in-demand certifications for athletic trainers?

The most in-demand athletic trainer certification is Athletic Trainer Certification based on all active job postings. Having this athletic trainer certification will give you access to more athletic trainer jobs with higher salaries.

Best certifications

The most common combination of athletic trainer certifications include: Athletic Trainer Certification (ATC), Certified Athletic Trainer (CAT), and Certified Personal Trainer.

Online courses for athletic trainers to earn certifications

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14. Health for All Through Primary Health Care

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18. Wilderness First Aid - Introduction

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