Career Advice for an Athletic Trainer

As an Athletic Trainer, you will work with athletes and individuals to prevent and treat injuries, as well as improve their overall physical performance.

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How to Become an Athletic Trainer

Choosing your career path and learning how to become the person you aspire to be is not always straight forward; getting a job in your chosen industry will take dedication, focus and the right qualifications.

When you have chosen the career path you wish to follow, you will need to learn how to become an Athletic Trainer

Should you wish to work as an Athletic Trainer you will need to evaluate what courses are required, their cost and what qualifications you need. It is important that you also assess whether you have the right credentials from a personality point of view, what the demands of the job are and whether they complement the lifestyle that you desire.

Another factor to consider, should you wish to fulfil your career aspirations, is the number of jobs you will need to have to reach your ultimate job, and the length of time it will take to reach this goal.

Common Qualifications for an Athletic Trainer

  • A Degree in Sports Science, Athletic Training, or a related field.
  • Certification from the National Athletic Trainers' Association Board of Certification (NATABOC).

Key Responsibilities for an Athletic Trainer

  • Assessing and evaluating injuries and creating treatment plans.
  • Providing first aid and emergency care.
  • Designing and implementing exercise and rehabilitation programs.
  • Educating athletes and individuals on injury prevention and proper techniques.
  • Collaborating with other healthcare professionals, such as physicians and physical therapists.
  • Maintaining accurate records and documentation of injuries and treatments.

What to expect as an Athletic Trainer

As an Athletic Trainer in the UK, you could work for sports teams, fitness centres, hospitals, or rehabilitation clinics.

Recommended Athletic Trainer Jobs

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How to get Athletic Trainer Jobs

Our advice on how to get an Athletic Trainer job is to focus on preparation and personalisation.

Preparation

This occurs before you write a CV cover letter or complete an Athletic Trainer application. If you have not held an Athletic Trainer position before, it will help to research the industry and review what a typical career path might look like. If you have held an Athletic Trainer role, focus your research on the company where you are seeking employment.

Valuable resources that will help you learn about the employer include the company’s career page, social media page, blog, job ad, and job description. Helpful information will consist of the company’s mission statement, values, and vision. You could also use an employer review site to gain insights on average salaries, what current employees say about the company culture, and what it is like to work for the organisation.

Personalisation

You are now in a position to use what you have learned in your Athletic Trainer CV, cover letter, and application. You should personalise each Athletic Trainer application, cover letter, and CV; prioritising job skills and relevant experience and providing examples that show you have similar values and goals.

This pre-application stage is a crucial step in how to become an Athletic Trainer in the UK. It puts you in a superbly informed state, ready for forthcoming telephone, video, or in-person interviews.

Students: How to Become an Athletic Trainer 

As with all professions, choose your study topics carefully. Review the qualifications needed to be an Athletic Trainer and the subjects you will need to enrol in certification courses, higher education, or online courses. 

Aligning your study subjects

The more closely you align your study subjects with your career path, the more likely you will be to have projects and modules that you can refer to and show a prospective employer that you have practical or theoretical Athletic Trainer experience.

How to get Athletic Trainer Experience

What does it take to be an Athletic Trainer? The best way to find out is to get work experience, which will be invaluable when applying for Athletic Trainer jobs. You can learn how to be a successful Athletic Trainer through internships, apprenticeships, or volunteering for a local business.

How to be an Athletic Trainer Part-Time 

If you are wondering how to get into Athletic Trainer part-time, there are several possibilities. You might find a new employer looking for a part-time Athletic Trainer or find your existing employer is amenable. Often companies recognise the value of flexible hours and having more staff at work during busy times of the day. 

Athletic Trainer freelance work

If you have impressive Athletic Trainer qualifications and experience, you could take on the challenges of working freelance with control over your schedule.

Making a Career Change

How to start a career in this profession if you work in another industry may require studying for qualifications online and focusing on transferable skills when writing your CV and attending job interviews.