i want to work with athletes and sports teams. im going to be honest, i have no idea aboutt he route i need to take for this to be a reality. ive spent my past 2 years with no idea on what i wanted to do with my life, and ive finally come to the conclusion that this is what i want. after all, sports are my life. so, with that said, i was wondering if someone could help me out with this road. speaking to a transfer worker, he said i would have to get my bA in kinesiology then transfer. how do i go about all this? looking into kinesiology, there are many branches, the one i can think that fits the best is AT. lets say i go through with this, i transfer and whatnot, would i need medical school at some point? i dont think i would be able to get through that for so many reasons. im willing to put in the effort without a doubt, but if theres a road without med school, i would much rather prefer it. does anyone know how i can go through with my dream career? sorry if i sound naive, i really am. ive searches this board and read quite a few threads, but the talk is very advanced for me. any help is appreciated
Major help in kinesiology
- Thread starter dmsports
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Athletic trainers do not go to medical school. Most that I've seen seem to have a Master's Degree in Athletic Training, and BA degree in either Athletic Training or Kinesiology with a focus in athletic training. I believe once you get your degree, you can sit for the licensing exam to become licensed as an Athletic Trainer (ATC).
I'm no expert, but this is what I've gathered from reading these boards. Perhaps you can try to volunteer with an Athletic Trainer to get more of an idea of that they do. Good luck!
I'm no expert, but this is what I've gathered from reading these boards. Perhaps you can try to volunteer with an Athletic Trainer to get more of an idea of that they do. Good luck!
ahh thanks. yes i definitely need to try and tag along with one, i have no idea hoe to do this though
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You first need to figure out exactly what it is you want to do. Do you want to be a personal trainer? That is a pretty easy cert. to get. Alot of community colleges have a certifcation degree for trainers, and then you take the exam.
Kinesiology is not a job per se. You can get your degree in Kinesiology, and I would suggest going the BS route over the BA in any science subject. IMO, the BA looks like you are taking the easy way to the degree. Then you can go on to graduate school or professional school for something more specific, like physical therapy.
To be honest with you, a BA/BS in Kinesiology is not going to get you working with athletes. You need to do some more research into what you want to do.
Kinesiology is not a job per se. You can get your degree in Kinesiology, and I would suggest going the BS route over the BA in any science subject. IMO, the BA looks like you are taking the easy way to the degree. Then you can go on to graduate school or professional school for something more specific, like physical therapy.
To be honest with you, a BA/BS in Kinesiology is not going to get you working with athletes. You need to do some more research into what you want to do.
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I would say definitely end undergrad with athletic training. From there, you can go for your Master's in AT or your doctoral in PT, depending on exactly what you want to do. I would say also do as many things as you can to set yourself apart. Get certifications like CSCS and NASM-PES (though truthfully, anymore these are probably more de facto prerequisites than anything). If you took Spanish in high school and are familiar with it, pick up a minor in college (only like 1 extra class a semester). Heck, I don't know. But if you want to work in big time athletics, distinguishments and connections are of the utmost importance because there's gotta be a lot of competition.
i want to help people with injuries and avoiding injuries. i was told from a transfer program that i had to go into kinesiology then get in a masters program. if i cant get into AT with kinesiolog, what else is there? according to the research ive done, i could get into kinesiology with an emphasis in AT, but as i said, im new to this, so i dont know what this truly means.
i happen to speak spanish, i could probably get a minor in spanish fairly easily.
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Either the transfer program you were speaking with didn't know what they were talking about, or you misunderstood them. First off, do you live in the USA? If not, then we're probably not the people to ask, as most of us are in the USA and are familiar with US requirements for this sort of thing. If so, then we can try to help you.
Yes, to work with athletes you need to understand kinesiology and will need to take a lot of kinesiology courses, however you do not need to major in kinesiology. There are several ways to do this:
1) Get an undergraduate degree (Bachelors degree) in Athletic Training from a school that has a certified program. Upon graduation, you'll take a national exam, and then providing you pass, you'll be able to work with athletes in high schools and colleges by providing coverage at their sporting events (basically, if someone gets injured, you'll be one of the first responders to attend to the injury, as well as helping out with preventive measures like pre-game taping, some hands on work, etc.). You may also work in a training room, where you help condition/train athletes. Some ATs also work out of PT clinics, so they will help out with patient's rehab (sometimes athletes, sometimes other patients who are in the clinic).
2) Get an undergraduate degree in kinesiology, or some other movement science, or really anything as long as you meet the prerequisites of the program, and then get a Master's Degree in athletic training. You'll need a master's degree (most likely) to work with professional athletes, or to be the head trainer at universities. However, if you get an undergraduate degree in something other than athletic training, and then decide not to go to a Master's program, you cannot become a certified athletic trainer. No matter how many kinesiology/anatomy/etc classes you've had, the only way to become an athletic trainer is to go through a certified athletic training undergraduate or graduate program.
3) Get a personal training certification (some other members have mentioned specific ones) that focuses in sports medicine-releated areas...this lets you work as a personal trainer to anyone who wants personal training, but if you get certain certifications you can be more attractive as a trainer to athletes. This just requires passing a test, and usually a high school diploma (some certifications require a college degree, but it doesn't have to be in kinesiology or any specific major...just the degree).
4) Major in whatever you want (many choose kinesiology, or biology, or something similar) as long as you complete the prerequisite courses, and then go to physical therapy school (a 3-year doctoral program, which is what most of us on this forum are doing/trying to do). As a PT, you'll work with patients who are injured and need to be rehabbed. Many PTs specialize in athletics/sports medicine, so they work in outpatient clinics and often see high school athletes, college athletes (if they are in a town with a nearby college) and occasionally professional athletes depending on the clinic. Some PTs may also be lucky enough to work with professional teams as the main PT when a player gets injured, but this is really luck of the draw as a PT...not many will get to do this (realistically). As a PT, you'll have to be open to treating everyone, not just athletes, because even if you work in an outpatient orthopedic/sports medicine clinic, you'll have patients of all kinds come in with those types of injuries - not just soccer player tear their ACL, so you have to be willing to work on the 65 year old lady who tore her ACL on her ski trip. It is possible to be a PT who primarily works with athletes, but it's hard to be that narrow in focus as a PT.
5) You said you didn't want to go to medical school, so I wouldn't suggest this option, but you could become a sports medicine physician (they mainly deal with sports injuries, but don't usually do surgeries...they'll also work with high schools and do sports physicals for athletes, etc.) Other options would be an orthopedic surgeon (so you'd be cutting into athletes, as well as other patients), or becoming a physical medicine & rehabilitation (PM&R) physician. All of these require medical school though, and if you're not 100% dedicated to it, I wouldn't go this route.
Honestly, I wouldn't get a degree in kinesiology unless you know you will go to PT school or a master's program for AT, because on it's own it isn't necessarily the most useful degree.
If you know you really only want to work with athletes, I'd highly suggest getting an undergraduate athletic training degree. That way, you can become licensed right after college and start working with athletic programs, and if you decide you want to get the master's degree or to go to PT school later on, you still can.
I hope this helps?
Yes, to work with athletes you need to understand kinesiology and will need to take a lot of kinesiology courses, however you do not need to major in kinesiology. There are several ways to do this:
1) Get an undergraduate degree (Bachelors degree) in Athletic Training from a school that has a certified program. Upon graduation, you'll take a national exam, and then providing you pass, you'll be able to work with athletes in high schools and colleges by providing coverage at their sporting events (basically, if someone gets injured, you'll be one of the first responders to attend to the injury, as well as helping out with preventive measures like pre-game taping, some hands on work, etc.). You may also work in a training room, where you help condition/train athletes. Some ATs also work out of PT clinics, so they will help out with patient's rehab (sometimes athletes, sometimes other patients who are in the clinic).
2) Get an undergraduate degree in kinesiology, or some other movement science, or really anything as long as you meet the prerequisites of the program, and then get a Master's Degree in athletic training. You'll need a master's degree (most likely) to work with professional athletes, or to be the head trainer at universities. However, if you get an undergraduate degree in something other than athletic training, and then decide not to go to a Master's program, you cannot become a certified athletic trainer. No matter how many kinesiology/anatomy/etc classes you've had, the only way to become an athletic trainer is to go through a certified athletic training undergraduate or graduate program.
3) Get a personal training certification (some other members have mentioned specific ones) that focuses in sports medicine-releated areas...this lets you work as a personal trainer to anyone who wants personal training, but if you get certain certifications you can be more attractive as a trainer to athletes. This just requires passing a test, and usually a high school diploma (some certifications require a college degree, but it doesn't have to be in kinesiology or any specific major...just the degree).
4) Major in whatever you want (many choose kinesiology, or biology, or something similar) as long as you complete the prerequisite courses, and then go to physical therapy school (a 3-year doctoral program, which is what most of us on this forum are doing/trying to do). As a PT, you'll work with patients who are injured and need to be rehabbed. Many PTs specialize in athletics/sports medicine, so they work in outpatient clinics and often see high school athletes, college athletes (if they are in a town with a nearby college) and occasionally professional athletes depending on the clinic. Some PTs may also be lucky enough to work with professional teams as the main PT when a player gets injured, but this is really luck of the draw as a PT...not many will get to do this (realistically). As a PT, you'll have to be open to treating everyone, not just athletes, because even if you work in an outpatient orthopedic/sports medicine clinic, you'll have patients of all kinds come in with those types of injuries - not just soccer player tear their ACL, so you have to be willing to work on the 65 year old lady who tore her ACL on her ski trip. It is possible to be a PT who primarily works with athletes, but it's hard to be that narrow in focus as a PT.
5) You said you didn't want to go to medical school, so I wouldn't suggest this option, but you could become a sports medicine physician (they mainly deal with sports injuries, but don't usually do surgeries...they'll also work with high schools and do sports physicals for athletes, etc.) Other options would be an orthopedic surgeon (so you'd be cutting into athletes, as well as other patients), or becoming a physical medicine & rehabilitation (PM&R) physician. All of these require medical school though, and if you're not 100% dedicated to it, I wouldn't go this route.
Honestly, I wouldn't get a degree in kinesiology unless you know you will go to PT school or a master's program for AT, because on it's own it isn't necessarily the most useful degree.
If you know you really only want to work with athletes, I'd highly suggest getting an undergraduate athletic training degree. That way, you can become licensed right after college and start working with athletic programs, and if you decide you want to get the master's degree or to go to PT school later on, you still can.
I hope this helps?
wow that post helped SO much. i greatly appreciate it. so yes, i do live in the US, and i honestly feel the tranfer/career guide had no idea what he was saying, and thats a bit worrisome. i dont want to do med school, and i really have no problem working with non-athletes along with athletes, i just prefer it. going on your information, my best bet is to get into AT rather than kinesiology, right? i appreciate your help
AT programs include a lot of education in rehab as well. A lot of ATs are taking on the rehab of the athletes in their high school or college (or pro). Most 'routine' rehab (e.g., ACL surgery, rotator cuff surgery, ankle sprain) is certainly well within the scope of practice for ATs, and for those athletes, a PT does not necessarily need to get involved. Usually, ATs will refer an athlete to PT if the rehab is not 'routine' or needs specialized interventions. But all interventions PTs are educated in for the care of athletic orthopedic injuries and conditions are also covered in any accredited AT program. For full disclosure I am NOT an AT.
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If you want to work with athletes, become an athletic trainer. It doesn't really get much simpler than that. An athletic trainer is an Allied Healthcare Professional who specializes in the healthcare needs of the "active population." The domains of athletic training consist of prevention of, assessment, immediate treatment, and rehabilitation and reconditioning of orthopedic injury. Also, includes professional responsibility and administration.
To become a Certified Athletic Trainer and earn the ATC credential, one must graduate from an acreditted athletic training education program and pass the Board of Certification exam. Then, to maintain the certification one must complete 75 continuing education units in a 3-year reporting period and maintain CPR/AED certification.
In most states an athletic trainer must also be licensed by the state. Alaska and California are the only two states that do not require some sort of licensure or registration. Each state can also set its own continuing education requirements. For example, in Illinois I have to complete 20 CEUs in the 2-year license period. Texas is the only state that requires licensure but does not require BOC certification.
70% or more of all athletic trainers have a Masters degree or higher. Many athletic trainers also carry additional credentials such as the Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the NSCA, the Corrective Exercise Specialist through the National Academy of Sports Medicine, and the PT/MPT,DPT as physical therapists.
To become a Certified Athletic Trainer and earn the ATC credential, one must graduate from an acreditted athletic training education program and pass the Board of Certification exam. Then, to maintain the certification one must complete 75 continuing education units in a 3-year reporting period and maintain CPR/AED certification.
In most states an athletic trainer must also be licensed by the state. Alaska and California are the only two states that do not require some sort of licensure or registration. Each state can also set its own continuing education requirements. For example, in Illinois I have to complete 20 CEUs in the 2-year license period. Texas is the only state that requires licensure but does not require BOC certification.
70% or more of all athletic trainers have a Masters degree or higher. Many athletic trainers also carry additional credentials such as the Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the NSCA, the Corrective Exercise Specialist through the National Academy of Sports Medicine, and the PT/MPT,DPT as physical therapists.
