The Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC)

Certified Athletic Trainers or “ATC’s” are allied health professionals, recognized and recommended by the American Medical Association (AMA), trained and educated in the art of prevention, recognition, evaluation and rehabilitation of injuries resulting from physical activity. This function is permitted under the supervision and guidance of a licensed physician and is overseen by both the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) and the state of Maryland Board of Physicians. Becoming an ATC is, at minimum, a two-part process. One must first earn a four year degree from a CAATE-(Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education) accredited athletic training program. What follows is a comprehensive, multi-stage examination given by National Athletic Trainers Association-Board of Certification (NATA-BOC). Once all of the portions of the exam are completed successfully, the title of Certified Athletic Trainer is given. Requirements to maintain certification are similar to other skilled professionals in the sense that all ATC’s must obtain specific numbers of continuing education units (CEU’s) throughout their career as well as maintain their certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for the Professional Rescuer.

A certified athletic trainer has been a vital part of the St. Paul’s athletics community since the mid-1980’s, when part-time ATC’s from local sports medicine clinics serviced the Crusaders.  SP athletics fall under the care and direction of Head Athletic Trainer, Brian Vaught, MS, LAT, ATC, PES and Assistant Athletic Trainer, Catherine Robinson, LAT, ATC. Together, they provide sports medicine services to approximately 600 students on 49 teams between the middle and upper schools.