Athletic Training Apprenticeship Program
The UTSA Athletic Training Apprenticeship Program provides an experiential learning opportunity for the Kinesiology majors in the athletic training concentration. The students in the program will gain hands-on clinical experience, mentorship, and observation hours in the athletic training facility at UTSA and local high schools. The program adheres to the policies and procedures as laid out by the scope of practice in the Texas athletic training law, regulated by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Students who complete an apprenticeship program and earn their Texas state license in athletic training can work in Texas secondary schools and sports medicine or rehabilitation clinics. The program also prepares students to apply to master’s programs in athletic training, where they can seek national certification in athletic training.
If you are interested in beginning the program, please fill out our interest form.
Athletic Training Observation Form
Athletic Training
An athletic trainer is a “highly qualified, multi-skilled health care professional who renders service or treatment under the direction or in collaboration with a physician in accordance with their state statutes, rules, and regulations.” (NATA) Recognized by the American Medical Association, Health Resources Services Administration, and the Department of Health and Human Services as a health care profession, athletic trainers may be employed at the secondary school setting as well as sports medicine or rehabilitation clinics, university and collegiate settings, and professional sports. In the past few years, emerging settings such as the military, performing arts, police and fire departments and their academies, hospitals, and Olympic sports have been hiring athletic trainers full-time.
State License vs. National certification in athletic training
State license in athletic training allows individuals to seek employment as an athletic trainer in secondary schools and sports medicine or rehabilitation clinics within Texas. Students who complete an apprenticeship program and the course work required for the athletic training concentration at UTSA will become eligible to take the Texas state license exam in athletic training. Texas is currently the only state that offers an avenue to the athletic training profession with only a bachelor’s degree through an Apprenticeship Program regulated by The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.
National certification in athletic training allows individuals to seek employment as an athletic trainer anywhere in the country. The national certification also broadens employment opportunities to university and collegiate settings and professional sports. To seek national certification in athletic training, students must complete a master’s program in athletic training accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) and pass the Board of Certification for athletic training exam. As of Fall 2022, all CAATE athletic training programs are master’s degree level. UTSA does not offer the master’s degree in athletic training, but helps prepare undergraduate students for a program if they desire to pursue this educational opportunity.
Jerry Greeson Endowment
Consider supporting scholarships for athletic training students.
Joining the Athletic Training Observation Program (ATOP) is the first step to joining the Athletic Training Apprenticeship Program. To join the ATOP, students must:
- Attend the information session held at the beginning of fall and spring semesters
- Submit the Persons of Interest (POI) form
- Complete HIPAA training
- Review ATOP Handbook
- Sign up for observation hours
Students must first join the Athletic Training Observation Program (ATOP) and complete 50 hours of observation hours through the program. The program is offered during the fall and spring semester. Near the end of the program/semester, student will submit an application packet and go through an interview. The applications are due around the finals week (Early December for spring start / Early May for fall start).
The application packet must include the following:
- A one-page personal statement
- A pdf copy of DegreeWorks.
- Clinical observation hour sheet (Minimum of 50 hours) signed by supervising athletic trainer.
- Two letters of recommendation (one from an athletic trainer).
- Proof of American Heart Association or American Red Cross BLS certification (CPR and AED for the health care provider).
Students must meet the following requirements:
- Admission to UTSA
- Cumulative UTSA GPA above 2.75
- Earned C- or higher in KIN 2303 Foundations of Kinesiology
- Completed 50 hours of observation hours through the Athletic Training Observation Program (ATOP)
Once you are accepted into the Athletic Training Apprenticeship Program, you will be added to the Athletic training concentration. You will be registered for KIN4931 Clinical Applications of Athletic Injuries each semester, in which you are required to complete 150h of clinical hours and develop clinical skill competencies. As a student in the Athletic Training concentration, you are required to maintain GPA above 2.75 and valid CPR/First aid certification. You must complete KIN4931 over at least 3 semesters of to meet the graduation requirement for the Athletic Training concentration, and 5 semesters to become eligible for the Texas State Athletic Training Licensure exam.
Athletic Training Observation Program (ATOP) Information meetings are held at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters. You are highly encouraged to attend the meeting. Please fill out our interest form to receive the announcement about the information meetings.
- You can find variety of information about the profession of athletic training (ex. educational requirement, employment setting, salaries etc.) on the National Athletic Trainer’s Association website.
- We also recommend you visit the websites for the Southwest Athletic Trainers’ Association and Texas State Athletic Trainers’ Association.
To become eligible for the State License exam in athletic training, you will need to complete the coursework in the athletic training concentration and accumulate 1800 hours of clinical observation hours over a minimum of 5 long (fall or spring) semesters. Joining the Athletic Training Apprenticeship Program in your sophomore year is recommended to help you meet this requirement. More information on Texas state license can be found on the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations.
To become a nationally certified athletic trainer, you will need to go to a master’s program in athletic training. The list of accredited master’s athletic training program can be found on the Commission of Accreditation and Athletic Training Education (CAATE) website. Please visit the website for each program to learn about the program and admission requirements.
Students seek employment in secondary schools (public and private) in Texas and sports medicine and physical therapy clinics.
There are students that choose to pursue the master’s program in athletic training to seek national certification in athletic training.
There are students that choose to pursue the master’s program in athletic training to seek national certification in athletic training.
Yes. You must be a Kinesiology major in athletic training concentration to join the program. The students will be added to the athletic training concentration when they are accepted into the Athletic Training Apprenticeship Program.
Please contact Dr. Oyama to seek guidance if you are interested in transferring to UTSA to pursue athletic training concentration. Your options will vary based on how far along you are in your degree.
Please contact Dr. Oyama (sakiko.oyama@utsa.edu) to discuss your options if you are a junior/senior student interested in athletic training. Depending on how far along you are in your degree, joining the Athletic Training Apprenticeship Program/concentration may not be advised. In that case, we can still provide guidance on how you can pursue a career in athletic training by going to the master’s program in athletic training.
Yes. You can become a nationally certified athletic trainer by going to a master’s program in athletic training. The list of accredited master’s level athletic training program can be found on the Commission of Accreditation and Athletic Training Education (CAATE) website. Most programs have pre-requisites and require 30-100 hours of clinical observation hours to be considered for admission. You can obtain the observation hours by joining the Athletic Training Observation Program.
