Prospective Students

Clinical Education and Admission Criteria

Athletic Training is an allied health profession dealing with the care of the physically active. Athletic Training includes the prevention, evaluation, treatment and rehabilitation of athletic injuries. Athletic trainers are certified by the Board of Certification (BOC) and licensed in the state of Ohio by the Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Athletic Trainers' Board. The Athletic Training education program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE).

The Athletic Training education program consists of Pre-professional and Professional components. Students must be enrolled as full-time students during both the Pre-Professional and Professional Phases of the program . In the Pre-professional phase, the student completes a directed observation year. The Professional phase begins after formal admission into the Athletic Training education program and includes clinical courses and clinical educational experiences under the direct supervision of a certified athletic trainer.

Advancement into the Professional phase of the Athletic Training Program is selective and is limited. Limited admission will ensure that an appropriate student to clinical instructor ratio (approximately 8:1) is maintained.

After completion of the Pre-professional directed observation requirement (normally done within the first two to three semesters of full time study), formal application to the Professional phase of the program is made. Advancement to the Professional program is controlled through the first practicum course (ATTR 15092). In order to be eligible for this course, students must: complete thirty (30) credit hours, make formal Application to the professional phase of the program, provide three Letters of Recommendation (professional letters of reference), complete 150 hours of directed observation experiences under the direct supervision of a certified athletic trainer, have a minimum 2.5 GPA, secure first aid and CPR certification, successfully complete ATTR 15011 which includes an oral and written exam, secure staff evaluations and complete a self-administered evaluation, and complete an interview with the professional athletic training staff. After these requirements have been fulfilled, students may be selected for advancement into the Professional phase of the program based upon their competitive rank using their GPA (15%), ACI evaluation scores (40%), interview scores (20%) and ATTR 15011 written (10%) and oral (15%) exam scores. Those selected may enroll in ATTR 15092 during the following semester.

Students who are not accepted into the Professional phase may reapply the following year by completing another Pre-professional year. Due to the extensive clinical component associated with this program, students may reapply only once. Students who are not selected for the Professional phase of this program will work with the Program Coordinator to identify alternate academic programs to pursue.

Students who have transferred to KSU must complete the required directed observation period at Kent State University prior to advancement into the Professional phase of the program as described above. Prompt commencement of the directed observation period is necessary as it will take a minimum of five semesters at Kent State University to complete the clinical courses and clinical experiences in the Professional Phase. No core courses will be transferred as equivalents. All core courses must be taken at the KSU Main campus to ensure competency mastery. Departmental, Extra-departmental and LER's will be evaluated by the ATEP Coordinator and College office for transfer of credits. Course syllabi are required for courses to be considered as transfer equivalents in the major.

Clinical Experience

Once accepted into the Professional Athletic Training education program, students will begin the formal clinical education courses. Directed clinical experiences and supervised field experiences are also required. Although most of these experiences will be at the University, off-campus high school and clinic sites are also required. These experiences will total 1000 hours minimally and 1200 hours maximally, partially accrued through clinical courses including practicum and internship, in no less than 5 semesters and no more than 6 semesters. Completion of 1000 clinical hours minimally is required for sponsorship for BOC certification and for graduation from Kent State University .

Students interested in this area of study will be advised by the Athletic Training Program Coordinator and should contact the Program Coordinator promptly to discuss the specific entrance, selection, health and retention criteria in greater detail. Completion of the Technical Standards for Admission form must be completed by each student prior to commencing the Pre-Professional and Professional Phases of the program.

All students in the Professional Phase must have on file with the ATE PC a physical examination completed by their own physician (which will be reviewed and cleared by our team M.D.), a completed technical standards form, copies of immunization records, a completed student contract, and a completed insurance form. Other forms will be required as specified in the student handbook which include but are not limited to Confidentiality form, Assumption of Risk form, and Verification of Communicable Disease Policy form. Failure to have these documents completed will result in failure to participate in the clinical experiences in the program.

Further, Blood Borne Pathogen Training and AED training must be completed annually to be able to participate in the ATEP clinical program.

The Professional Phase Application for the ATEP and three Letters of Recommendation (completed at the end of the Directed Observation Phase) are required for consideration for admission.