The Athletic Training Program (ATP) 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 ATPs, 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 ATP after successful completion of the admission requirements.
Students are expected to formally apply for admission during the spring semester of the sophomore year, assuming they will have completed approximately 60 credit hours. Transfer students with 60 or more transferring credit hours (100 level or higher) who meet the admission requirements may apply for admission into the ATP at the time they are accepted to the University. The number of candidates accepted into the ATP annually is limited and completion of all admission requirements does not automatically ensure acceptance into the ATP. 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 ATP Student Handbook and the Athletic Training web page.
The professional phase of the Athletic Training Major consists of four 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 ATP. 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 AT 126 and AT 201 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 web page. 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 ATP, and will be published in ATP documents and/or the ATP Handbook. These may be obtained from the University website and/or the ATP website and/or the Director of the ATP.
Admission Requirements and Procedures
Admission to the Athletic Training 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 ATP during the spring semester of their second year, assuming that all admission requirements have been or will have been met by the end of their second year. This means that students complete three semesters of coursework, and then apply to the ATP during the second semester of their second year or before the 60th hour is completed. If accepted into the ATP, students complete a total of four semesters of courses (60 credit hours) and required clinical experiences. The quota of applicants accepted into the ATP is limited by faculty and preceptor to student ratios recommended by CAATE, the number of affiliated clinical sites utilized by the ATP, and the highly individualized nature of this program. Admission to the ATP is based on the following criteria:
- Must have earned approximately 60 semester hours (100 level or higher) prior to acceptance.
- Must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.
- Successful completion (minimum grade of "C") of the athletic training admission prerequisite courses: AT 126 , AT 242 , AT 243 , BIOL 101 , P ED 101M , AT 201 , BIOL 234 and BIOL 234L, P ED 315 , H ED 304 and have current CPR and AED Professional Rescuer certification (or the equivalent).
- Satisfactory completion of all clinical education requirements included in AT 126 , AT 242 , and AT 243 .
- 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 ATP.
- Two (2) reference evaluation forms/letters of reference completed by the following: one from a non-ATP faculty member and one from a medical professional.
- Completion of application form.
- Submission of letter of application.
- Completion of Physical Examination and satisfactory health questionnaire, provide evidence of vaccinations, and signed Hepatitis B informed consent/refusal form.
- Documentation of ability to successfully meet the Technical Standards of the ATP.
- Interview with members of the ATP Interview Committee.
*All Concord University ATP candidates will be ranked according to the assessment form rubric score. Available slots within the ATP 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 ATP, 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. ATP Applicants who are not accepted may reapply for admission during the next available application period. Specific ATP application details and forms will be posted online at http://hub.concord.edu/human-performance/node/3 and will appear in the Appendices of the ATP Student Handbook.
Progression and Retention in the Athletic Training Program
After admission to the ATP 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 and AED-Professional Rescuer 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 Education, a grade point average of 2.75 in the required ATP courses, an overall grade point average of 2.50, completion of a minimum of 750 clinical hours within the four practicum courses, and completion of all other requirements indicated in the Athletic Training Program Student Handbook.
