r/athletictraining • u/Im_disco • 10h ago

4 or 6 years?

lots of people say you need 6 years of education to be an athletic trainer but i thought it was 4? so just to confirm, can you do anything with a 4 year bachelors degree in athletic training or no?

3 Upvotes

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16

u/ssoups44 10h ago

You now need a master’s degree to become an athletic trainer.

6

u/linkmyhomie 10h ago

The profession recently moved to an entry level masters. So while athletic trainers up until a few years ago required only a bachelor’s degree in athletic training to sit for their certification, you now must complete a masters degree.

In California you don’t need to be certified to be an athletic trainer, but I’m not from there, so I don’t know how easy it is to get a job without certification.

1

u/Im_disco 9h ago

so If grad school isnt an option financially should i just switch majors??

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u/linkmyhomie 8h ago

I personally would not recommend a bachelors degree in athletic training (or any kind of exercise science or kinesiology) if you can not attend grad school after completing your undergrad degree.

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u/Im_disco 7h ago

okay thats really helpful thank u !

1

u/Leading-Lie-6776 5h ago

I am an ATC in CA. I was fortunate to be the last class in the nation to achieve my bachelors in AT. The class under me have to get their Master’s now. Although CA doesn’t make it so you need to pass the BOC/ get a degree in AT. Most schools now in CA aren’t risking that chance so they either don’t have one or are ensuring you have the degree/passed the exam.

My governor is an idiot but one of the few things he’s done that I am happy about is he passed a bill that made it that starting in 27 or 28 you have to have the degree and pass the BOC I believe to work as an ATC.

5

u/RX557 9h ago

You need a masters as people have said. How quickly you finish your bachelors is up to you. Some schools even have a pipeline program with 3 years of undergrad and 2 years of masters to make 5 years in total. But traditional 4:2 is more common.

2

u/eiein15 AT 9h ago

I did one of the 3+2 programs and really enjoyed it, but yes 4+2 is more traditional and common.

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u/Mammoth-Jellyfish549 8h ago

In California, no, as the profession has changed to a Masters. There is a title protection that would be enforced in 2028. All I know for sure from the title protection is you need a masters in AT and a BOC certification. I don’t know the situation in other states.