Clinical Education

Clinical Competencies

Clinical education follows a progressively encompassing educational platform based on the NATA Clinical Proficiencies. Within the five clinical classes in both the undergraduate and graduate ATEP, specific competencies must be assessed to determine if the athletic training student (ATS) has demonstrated proficiency in each of the competencies throughout the time the student is in the Program. The competencies assigned to each level include:

Level 1 Clinical Experience in Athletic Training 

Level 2 Clinical Experience in Athletic Training

Level 3 Clinical Experience in Athletic Training

Level 4 Clinical Experience in Athletic Training

Level 5 Clinical Experience in Athletic Training

Clearance for Clinical Education

Level 1 Clinical Experience in Athletic Training allows students to observe athletic trainers at work. For health and safety reasons, each ATS must provide the following documents to the appropriate Program Director prior to the start of observation hours.

1. Immunization form (as delineated by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts)
2. Signed Technical Standards
3. Signed Oath of Confidentiality
4. Proof of Bloodborne Pathogen Education
5. Signed Communicable Disease Policy

Level 2 Clinical Experience in Athletic Training, which is scheduled for the first year fall semester of the professional program, is the first clinical rotation where each ATS is assigned to a clinical supervisor at an affiliated clinical site. To be cleared for this level of clinical education, each student must provide the following documents to the appropriate Program Director:

1. Physical examination form
2. Immunization form (as delineated by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts)
3. Signed Technical Standards
4. Signed Oath of Confidentiality
5. Proof of Concussion Education
6. Proof of up-to-date Bloodborne Pathogen Education
7. Proof of up-to-date First Aid, CPR/AED certification
8. Signed Communicable Disease Policy

Level 4 Clinical Experience in Athletic Training, which is scheduled for the second year fall semester of the professional program requires the following documents to be submitted to the appropriate Program Director.

1. Proof of up-to-date physical examination form
2. Proof of up-to-date liability insurance
3. Proof of Concussion Education
4. Proof of up-to-date Bloodborne Pathogen Education
5. Proof of up-to-date First Aid, CPR/AED certification

Clinical Education Hour Requirements

The undergraduate Level I Clinical Experience in Athletic Training class requires at least 20 observation hours in addition to those hours required for ATTR 240 Introduction to Athletic Training. The graduate Level I Clinical Experience requires at least 40 observation hours.

Each of the remaining 4 semesters of clinical education requires:200 hours of appropriate clinical experience at approved clinical sites. This translates into approximately 15 – 20 hours per week during the regular semester. Athletic training students are not required to complete hours prior to the start of school, during holiday breaks, or after the start of the final exam period. If an ATS chooses to volunteer to complete clinical hours prior to, or after the start of the semester, the student must be supervised by their clinical supervisor. Clinical hours will count toward the accumulated hours for that semester provided the student is currently registered for the respective Clinical Education course.

In addition to the quantitative hour requirement, each ATS is required to complete:

1. 12-15 hours in a general medication clinical rotation
2. 8 hours shadowing a physician
3. 8 hours observing in an acute care or emergency room at a hospital

Costs Associated with Clinical Education

Students accepted into the ATEP bear all costs associated with admission, didactic, and clinical experiences. These associated expenses may include, but not limited to:

Physical examination and up-to-date immunizations: Physical exams can be performed at BSU Health Services at no cost to the student. Standard immunizations, tetanus (Td), measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) and hepatitis B, are also administered free of cost to registered students. Flu and meningitis immunizations are given 'at cost'. Meningitis immunizations are roughly $100; flu immunizations, when available vary depending on market costs. BSU Health Services does not third party bill (submit fees to insurance companies). If your health insurance covers immunization including the meningitis immunization through your primary care provider, that route may be more cost-effective.

CPR and First Aid Cards ($10.00 each if taken on-campus; off-campus classes may exceed $50 and travel costs

Annual Bloodborne Pathogen training and certification - $15.00 done on-line

National Athletic Trainers’ Association membership - $90.00 (2012 due structure)

Daily travel to/from campus to your clinical site - average 15 - 45 miles one way; students typically have two rotations at sites 35 – 45 miles away from BSU and two rotations 10 – 15 miles away from BSU. When possible, students will be paired up to travel to some affiliated clinical sites to reduce travel expenses.

Travel to/from physician’s office for orthopedic exams or to watch surgical procedures.

Uniform staff shirts $20 – 30 each

Background (CORI) checks (if required by your clinical site) will be paid for by the clinical site.