Athletic Trainers

What the job really is

Evaluate and treat musculoskeletal injuries or illnesses. Provide preventive, therapeutic, emergency, and rehabilitative care.

At a glance

• Sector: Healthcare Practitioners
• O*NET-SOC code: 29-9091
• O*NET job zone: 5 — extensive preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• Conduct an initial assessment of an athlete's injury or illness to provide emergency or continued care and to determine whether they should be referred to physicians for definitive diagnosis and treatment.
• Assess and report the progress of recovering athletes to coaches or physicians.
• Care for athletic injuries, using physical therapy equipment, techniques, or medication.
• Evaluate athletes' readiness to play and provide participation clearances when necessary and warranted.
• Perform general administrative tasks, such as keeping records or writing reports.
• Clean and sanitize athletic training rooms.
• Instruct coaches, athletes, parents, medical personnel, or community members in the care and prevention of athletic injuries.
• Apply protective or injury preventive devices, such as tape, bandages, or braces, to body parts, such as ankles, fingers, or wrists.
• Collaborate with physicians to develop and implement comprehensive rehabilitation programs for athletic injuries.
• Travel with athletic teams to be available at sporting events.
• Plan or implement comprehensive athletic injury or illness prevention programs.
• Inspect playing fields to locate any items that could injure players.

Tools and technology

Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, Air splints, Automated blood pressure cuffs, Automated external defibrillators AED, BioEx Systems Exercise Pro, Biofeedback equipment, Body-fat calipers, Cervical traction units

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Respiratory Therapists
• Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors
• Sports Medicine Physicians
• Exercise Physiologists
• Physical Therapist Assistants
• Recreational Therapists
• Coaches and Scouts
• Occupational Therapists

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 5 (extensive preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

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Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Athletic Trainers — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.