About the NATA Research & Education Foundation

Mission: To support and advance the athletic training profession through research and education.

The NATA Research & Education Foundation was established in 1991 as a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization.

Since our founding, we have awarded $2 million in undergraduate and graduate scholarships, enabling more than 1,000 outstanding athletic training students to advance their education. And the organization’s support does not stop after graduation. To date, the NATA Foundation has funded research grants totaling more than $3.1 million. The studies provide invaluable information for clinical practice, enhanced patient care and ongoing education.

Without research, the profession will not continue to advance. Bottom Line – the NATA Foundation’s work benefits EVERY athletic trainer and EVERY company associated with the profession, as well as the physically active community at-large. The NATA Foundation leadership is dedicated to continuing this good work and elevating the status of the profession.

What’s an Athletic Trainer?
Athletic training is practiced by athletic trainers, health care professionals who collaborate with physicians to optimize activity and participation of patients and clients. Athletic training encompasses the prevention, diagnosis, and intervention of emergency, acute, and chronic medical conditions involving impairment, functional limitations, and disabilities. Students who want to become certified athletic trainers must earn a degree from an accredited athletic training curriculum. Accredited programs include formal instruction in areas such as injury/illness prevention, first aid and emergency care, assessment of injury/illness, human anatomy and physiology, therapeutic modalities, and nutrition. Classroom learning is enhanced through clinical education experiences. More than 70 percent of certified athletic trainers hold at least a master’s degree.

To learn more about the profession, visit the National Athletic Trainers’ Association.

Certification
The Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC) credential is the entry-level credential required to practice as an athletic trainer. To become a certified athletic trainers, an individual must hold a bachelors or masters degree from an accredited professional athletic training education program and pass a comprehensive test administered by the Board of Certification. Once certified, athletic trainers must meet ongoing continuing education requirements in order to maintain their credential.

Visit the Board of Certification for more information.