Athletic Training (BS AT)

The Athletic Training Education Program (ATEP) at Concord University is currently accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE). The program utilizes a continuum of didactic and clinical experiences, as set forth in the CAATE Standards for the accreditation of entry level ATEPs, and to appropriately prepare the student as an entry-level Certified Athletic Trainer. Upon successful completion of the program, the student will have the knowledge base and clinical skills required for challenging and passing the Board of Certification (BOC) Examination.

Students who want to apply for admission to the professional program in Athletic Training may make formal application for admission to the ATEP after successful completion of the admission requirements.

Students are expected to formally apply for admission during the spring semester of the freshman year, assuming they will have completed approximately 30 credit hours at the end of their first year. Transfer students with 30 or more transferring credit hours (100 level or higher) who meet the admission requirements may apply for admission into the ATEP at the time they are accepted to the University. The number of candidates accepted into the ATEP annually is limited and completion of all admission requirements does not automatically ensure acceptance into the ATEP. Should the number of qualified applicants exceed the number of clinical spaces available, the procedure for determining which students are accepted is described in the ATEP Student Handbook and the Athletic Training webpage.

The professional phase of the Athletic Training Major consists of six semesters (approximately 15 hours each semester) of academic course work and clinical practicum courses. Clinical practicum experiences will occur within the University[s NCAA Division II athletics program, area high schools and colleges, sports medicine clinics, and other off-campus general medical and clinic rotation sites selected by the ATEP. Transportation to all off campus clinical sites, as well as any specific requirements of the clinical site (e.g. immunizations, uniforms, criminal background check, etc.) is the responsibility of the student. All students accepted into the professional program must show annual proof of current health provider CPR certification, first aid certification, blood borne pathogen training, professional liability insurance, and being a student member of the National Athletic Trainers Association. Students are required to be involved in professional athletic training organizations at the local, state, and national level. All of these requirements are explained further in the Athletic Training Student Handbook, which is provided to all prospective students and reviewed during UNIV 100  for Athletic Majors by the program director as part of the course. This handbook is available from the program director upon request and may also be accessed on the Athletic Training webpage. Curriculum requirements, including admissions and clinical education requirements, may change as needed to comply with current accreditation and/or university standards. Students seeking admission or those already admitted to the program are advised to keep themselves adequately informed of changes in order to complete requirements in a timely manner. Information on curricular changes will be announced in advance by the ATEP, and will be published in ATEP documents and/or the ATEP Handbook. These may be obtained from the University website and/or the ATEP website and/or the Director of the ATEP.

Admission Requirements and Procedures

Admission to the Athletic Training Education Program at Concord University is competitive and should not be confused with admission to the University. Students entering the University can apply for admission into the ATEP during the spring semester of their first year, assuming that all admission requirements have been or will have been met by the end of their first year. This means that students complete one semester of coursework, and then apply to the ATEP during the second semester of their first year or before the 30th hour is completed. If accepted into the ATEP, students complete a total of six semesters of courses (90 credit hours) and required clinical experiences. The quota of applicants accepted into the ATEP is limited by faculty and ACI/CI to student ratios recommended by CAATE, the number of affiliated clinical sites utilized by the ATEP, and the highly individualized nature of this program. Admission to the ATEP is based on the following criteria:

1. Must have earned approximately 30 semester hours (100 level or higher) prior to acceptance.
2. Must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. 
3. Successful completion (minimum grade of "C") of the pre-athletic training program courses: ATEP 126 , ATEP 242 , ATEP 243 , BIOL 101 , S ED 205  and/ or have current CPR-PR and First Aid certification, and PED 101M. 
4. Satisfactory completion of all clinical education requirements included in ATEP 126 , ATEP 242 , and ATEP 243 .
5. Any developmental course requirements must have been completed at the time of application. For transfer students, any University developmental course requirements determined after admission must have been completed prior to admission into the ATEP.
6. Completion of application form.
7. Submission of letter of application.
8. Three (3) reference evaluation forms from faculty and other designees, in addition to a self-evaluation (total of 4).
9. 1-2 character letters of recommendations.
10. Performance on the ATEP Admission Examination.
11. Interview with members of the ATEP Interview Committee.
12. Completion of Physical Examination and satisfactory health questionnaire, provide evidence of vaccinations, and signed Hepatitis B informed consent/refusal form.
13. Evidence of current First Aid and CPR:PR by ARC or Health Care Provider level by AHA Certification (NOTE: these certifications must be kept current while matriculating through the ATEP).
14. Documentation of ability to successfully meet the Technical Standards of the ATEP.
15. Obtaining student membership in the NATA at time of formal acceptance into the Concord ATEP and maintain the membership as they matriculate through the program.

* All Concord University ATEP candidates will be ranked according to the assessment form rubric score. Available slots within the ATEP major will be filled according to this prioritized listing of candidates starting with the top score downward. If there is a tie score and there are not enough slots to admit all the students with a tie into the ATEP, then a tie breaker will be used. Applicants will be rank ordered from the highest to lowest based upon the documented evidence provided in their application file regarding their directed observation clinical experiences for the available slots. ATEP Applicants who are not accepted may reapply for admission during the next available application period. Specific ATEP application details and forms will be posted online at http://athletictraining.concord.edu/ and will appear in the Appendices of the ATEP Student Handbook.

Progression and Retention in the Athletic Training Program

After admission to the ATEP students will be evaluated, both academically and clinically, each semester. Students must have satisfactory academic and clinical practicum evaluations (2.5 cumulative GPA, with a "C" or higher in all major and supporting courses, including a "B" or higher in all practicum courses) and complete all of the required educational competencies and clinical proficiencies to progress to the subsequent level of the program. If evaluations, grades, or the completion of competencies or proficiencies are unsatisfactory, the student will be placed on academic probation and given one semester to improve in these areas to a satisfactory level. Two successive unsatisfactory semester evaluations, two semesters below a 2.5 GPA, or two semesters of not completing all the required competencies and proficiencies will result in dismissal of the student from the program. Students must provide evidence of CPR-PR and First Aid Certification, blood borne pathogen training, and professional liability insurance annually while in the professional program.

Exit Criteria

Criteria for graduation includes completion of a minimum of 120 credit hours including the Program of General Studies, a grade point average of 2.75 in the required ATEP courses, an overall grade point average of 2.50, completion of a minimum of 1000 clinical hours within the six practicum courses, and completion of all other requirements indicated in the Athletic Training Education Program Student Handbook.