An Athletic Trainer is a person who meets the qualification set by a state licensure and/or the Board of Certification, Inc. and practices Athletic Training under the direction of a physician. A Personal Trainer is a person who prescribes, monitors and changes an individual’s specific exercise program in a fitness or sports setting. A few differences between Athletic Trainers and Personal Trainers are Athletic Trainer must have a bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training; Personal Trainers may or may not have higher education in health sciences. Athletic Trainers must pass a comprehensive exam before earning the ATC credential; Personal Trainers may or may not be required to obtain certification (source, Nata.org). This is only two of many differences between Athletic Trainers and Personal Trainers.
Athletic trainers are not against personal trainers. They just want people to know there is a difference. Recent articles published by MLB.com, and Philadelphia Inquirer do an excellent job of portraying the importance of using the proper terminology when referring to Athletic Trainers. Times are changing in the media. When referring to athletic trainers, the general term of “trainers” in not an acceptable practice for the media, and announcers. In fact, the National Football League commissioner’s office has recently sent a letter to all the networks covering the NFL mandating that all announcers use the proper terminology, Athletic Trainer.
For more information regarding Athletic Trainers, please visit www.nata.org.
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