In April, 2004, the University of West Florida received initial accreditation status from the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). CAAHEP was the accrediting agency for 18 allied health professions. Each allied health profession had its own agency that oversaw the accreditation process and reported directly to the CAAHEP for accreditation actions. Since July , 2006 the UWF ATEP has been transitioned into the new accrediting body known as Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE). On August 7, 2009, UWF’s ATEP was granted  reaccreditation  for 10 years, the maximum period allowed by CAATE.

The Athletic Training Education Program (ATEP) at UWF is designed to prepare students for an entry-level career in the athletic training profession (high school, college/university, professional, industrial, or sports medicine clinic/outreach settings). This program, specifically designed to meet national and state licensure requirements, includes a three-year comprehensive plan of study that combines classroom and clinical education components. This two-fold approach to education insures that each student is well prepared to provide quality care, prevention, and rehabilitation of injuries to the physically active individual.

Classroom instruction involves quality interaction with National Athletic Trainers' Association Board of Certification (BOC) Certified Athletic Trainers, physicians (orthopedic, family practice, internal medicine, etc.), and other allied healthcare providers (physical therapists, occupational therapists, massage therapists, exercise physiologists, etc.) in providing the most current medical information related to athletic training. The clinical education component (under the direct supervision of BOC Certified Athletic Trainers and other allied healthcare providers) provides important hands-on experience in a variety of clinical education settings: intercollegiate athletics at UWF, area high schools, professional teams, and sports medicine clinics. The students' clinical education is specifically designed to reinforce and apply the concepts that are addressed in the classroom component.

Students graduating from this CAATE accredited program are eligible to sit for the National Athletic Trainers' Association Board of Certification (BOC) Certification Examination and athletic training state licensure/certification in Florida (as well as other states).