The mission of the Athletic Training Education Program (ATEP) at The University of West Florida is to provide quality didactic (classroom) and clinical preparation for individuals pursuing a career in the athletic training profession.  The effective integration of the didactic and clinical education through experiences at intercollegiate, interscholastic, and clinical outreach programs (sports medicine clinics, physician clinics, etc.) provides the students with the necessary knowledge and skills required to perform as a competent healthcare provider to the physically active person.  Furthermore, it is our desire to enhance the physical and mental well-being of our students and to promote a better quality of life.

The purpose of the undergraduate Athletic Training Education Program (ATEP) is

• The program develops the cognitive and psychomotor skills in the various athletic training domains to prepare students to provide quality healthcare to the physically active person who is involved in recreational, interscholastic, intercollegiate, or professional activities.
• The athletic training students experience a clinical education environment with the UWF Athletic Department Athletic Training staff, and other healthcare professionals in the community to provide quality, hands-on healthcare to the student-athlete participating in one of 12 intercollegiate athletic teams and/or high schools.
• The program is committed to educating physically active individuals, coaches, administrators, other allied healthcare professionals, and the general public of the roles and responsibilities of the NATA BOC Certified Athletic Trainer in serving as a primary point-of-service for quality healthcare to the physically active person.  This education consists of, but is not limited to:  public speaking, workshops for high school student, research, professional development through continuing education activities, and community service.

Educational Goals

The athletic training student will:

1. Demonstrate risk management and injury prevention skills.
2. Demonstrate knowledge and skills of the pathology of injuries and illnesses.
3. Demonstrate knowledge and skills of assessment and evaluation.
4. Demonstrate knowledge and skills of the acute care of injury and illness.
5. Demonstrate knowledge and skills of pharmacological applications.
6. Demonstrate knowledge and skills in the use of therapeutic modalities.
7. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of therapeutic exercise.
8. Demonstrate knowledge and skills in general medical conditions and disabilities.
9. Demonstrate knowledge and skills in nutritional aspects of injuries and illnesses.
10. Demonstrate knowledge and skills of psychosocial intervention and referral.
11. Demonstrate the knowledge and skills of health care administration.
12. Demonstrate knowledge of professional development and responsibilities.

Educational Objectives

The athletic training student will:

1. Demonstrate the ability to identify injury and illness risk factors that may be encountered by athletes and others involved in physical activity and to plan and implement a risk management and prevention program with a performance of no less than 70% as evaluated by likert scales, task sheets, check sheets and/or tests.
2. Collect knowledge and values that the entry-level certified athletic trainer must possess to understand the physiological responses of human growth and development and the progression of injuries, illnesses and diseases with a performance of no less than 70% as evaluated by likert scales, task sheets, check sheets and/or tests.
3. Collect the knowledge, skills, and values that the entry-level certified athletic trainer must possess to assess the injuries and illnesses of athletes and others involved in physical activity and to determine proper care, referring the client to other health care providers when appropriate with a performance of no less than 70% as evaluated by likert scales, task sheets, check sheets, and/or tests.
4. Collect the knowledge, skills and values that the entry-level certified athletic trainer must possess to recognize, assess, and treat the acute injuries and illnesses of athletes and others involved in physical activity and to provide appropriate medical referral with a performance of no less than 70% as evaluated by likert scales, task sheets, check sheets and/or tests.
5. Collect the knowledge, skills, and values that the entry-level certified athletic trainer must possess in pharmacologic applications, including awareness of the indications, contraindications, precautions, and interactions of medication s and of the governing regulations relevant to the treatment of injuries to and illnesses of athletes and others involved in physical activity with a performance of no less than 70% as evaluated by likert scales, task sheets, check sheets and/or tests.
6. Collect the knowledge, skills and values that the entry-level certified athletic trainer must possess to plan, implement, document, and evaluate the efficacy of therapeutic modalities in the treatment of injuries to and illnesses of athletes and others involved in physical activity with performance of no less than 70% as evaluated by likert scales, task sheets, check sheets, and/or tests.
7. Collect the knowledge, skills and values that the entry-level certified athletic trainer must possess to plan, implement, document, and evaluate the efficacy of therapeutic exercise programs for the rehabilitation and reconditioning of the injuries to and illnesses of athletes and others involved in physical activity with a performance of no less than 70% as evaluated by likert scales, task sheets, check sheets, and/or tests.
8. Collect the knowledge, skills, and values that the entry-level certified athletic trainer must possess to recognize, treat, and refer, when appropriate, the general medical conditions and disabilities of athletes and others involved in physical activity with a performance of no less than 70% as evaluated by likert scales, task sheets, check sheets and/or tests.
9. Collect the knowledge, skills, and values that the entry-level certified athletic trainer must possess to understand and recognize the nutritional aspects of athletics and physical activity and to refer, when appropriate with a performance of no less than 70% as evaluated by likert scales, task sheets, check sheets, and/or tests.
10. Collect the knowledge, skills, and values that the entry-level certified athletic trainer must possess to recognize, intervene, and refer, when appropriate, the sociocultural, mental, emotional, and physical behaviors of athletes and others involved in physical activity with a performance of no less than 70% as evaluated by likert scales, task sheets, check sheets, and/or tests.
11. Collect the knowledge, skills and values that the entry-level certified athletic trainer must possess to develop, administer, and manage a health care facility and associated venues that provide health care to athletes and others involved in physical activity with a performance of no less than 70% as evaluated by likert scales, task sheets, check sheets, and/or tests.
12. Collect the knowledge, skills, and values that the entry-level certified athletic trainer must possess to understand professional responsibilities, avenues of professional development, and national and state regulatory agencies and standards in order to promote athletic training as a professional discipline and to educate athletes, students of athletic training, the general public, the physically active, and associated individuals with a performance of no less than 70% as evaluated by likert scales, task sheets, check sheet and/or tests.