Program Director: Carrie Meyer
See Exercise Science for faculty listing.
The Athletic Training Education Program (ATEP) is nationally accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE). The ATEP prepares students for certification by the Board of Certification (BOC) and then employment as a certified athletic trainer (ATC).
The ATC is a highly educated and skilled allied health professional specializing in athletic health care. The athletic trainer is a member of the sports medicine team providing health care to individuals engaged in activity, exercise, and/or sport. Under the direction of a licensed physician, the ATC provides services within the following domains: 1) Injury Prevention, 2) Clinical Evaluation and Diagnosis, 3) Immediate Care, 4) Treatment, Rehabilitation, and Reconditioning, 5) Organization and Administration, and 6) Professional Responsibility.
The ATEP is a very demanding major requiring significant commitment of time, study, and professionalism. Because of the academic and clinical requirements of this program, athletic training students may have limited opportunities for extracurricular activities and job participation during the semester. Athletic training students gain practical experience by helping to provide coverage of practices and competitions for a variety of college sports. They also gain hands-on experiences working in out-patient rehabilitation clinics, physician offices, and at local high schools. All clinical experiences are under the direct supervision of a certified athletic trainer or other qualified health professional (i.e., medical doctor, physical therapist, or physician assistant). The majority of these clinical experiences occur in the afternoons to early evenings and on the weekends.
The ATEP is divided into two phases: 1) Pre-Professional phase and 2) Professional phase. During the Pre-Professional phase, students take prerequisite classes and other general education courses. It is highly suggested that students begin meeting with the Program Director early in the Pre-Professional phase (i.e., as soon as they are on campus). Once students are accepted in the ATEP, they are in the Professional phase of the program. It is an accreditation standard that students must spend a minimum of four semesters (two academic years) in the Professional phase of the ATEP.
ATHLETIC TRAINING EDUCATiON PROGRAM ADMISSIONS PROCESS
Prerequisites of application:
- Declared Athletic Training Major.
- Proof of Enrollment in or completion of:
- AT 205 - Emergency Responder with a grade of B or better.
- AT 220 - Clinical in Athletic Training I with a grade of B or better.
- AT 224 - Basic Principles of Athletic Training with a grade of B or better.
- BIO 233 - Human Anatomy with a grade of C- or better.
- A minimum overall grade point average of 2.5 or better.
- An Athletic Training major grade point average of 3.0 or better.
- Completion of a minimum of 75 hours observation in the Fort Lewis College Athletic Training Room at the time of application.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
All applicants for the ATEP must submit the following materials to the Program Director by the first Tuesday in April (for fall admittance) or the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving (for winter admittance):
- Application cover sheet.
- Letter of application.
- Resume.
- Statement of personal philosophy (including, but not limited to, personal ethics, morals, how personal background has prepared the student to be a professional).
- Letters of recommendation:
- One from a Fort Lewis College faculty member
- One from a Fort Lewis College faculty member OR community college/high school teacher.
- One from an adult professional who is familiar with the student’s professional goals and work ethic (cannot be a family member).
- Copies of all unofficial transcripts.
- Documentation of 75 clinical hours in the Fort Lewis College Athletic Training Room.
- Completed Technical Standards document.
Once the application has been received and reviewed, an interview with the admissions committee will be conducted to discuss the application. A completed application and interview will not guarantee admittance into the ATEP at Fort Lewis College. Upon acceptance into the ATEP, the student will be responsible for numerous programmatic fees, such as individual liability insurance (approximately $40.00/year), Fort Lewis College athletic registration fee (approximately $80.00/year), and student nametag (approximately $10.00, one-time fee).
Note for Transfer Students: Please contact the Program Director as soon as possible to discuss your transition to Fort Lewis College. Students cannot transfer directly into the Professional phase of the ATEP. Therefore, transfer students must plan to spend a minimum of 2½ years in residence at Fort Lewis College to complete a Bachelor of Arts in Athletic Training.
TECHNICAL STANDARDS
The Athletic Training Education Program at Fort Lewis College is a rigorous and intense program that places specific requirements and demands on the students enrolled in the program. An objective of this program is to prepare graduates to enter a variety of employment settings and to render care to a wide spectrum of individuals engaged in physical activity. The technical standards set forth by the Athletic Training Education Program establish the essential qualities considered necessary for students admitted to this program to achieve the knowledge, skills, and competencies of an entry-level athletic trainer, as well as meet the expectations of the program’s accrediting agency (Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education [CAATE]).