Athletic Trainers are multi-skilled health care professionals who are college educated to provide services for those who are physically active. At this time, Athletic Trainers have a minimum of a bachelors degree from a four-year accredited institution; however, more than seventy percent of nationally certified Athletic Trainers have masters or doctoral degrees. The education of Athletic Trainers is steeped heavily in the basic and applied sciences, such as chemistry, physics, biology, physiology, anatomy, psychology, and sociology. There also is a strong clinical internship requirement for all Athletic Training students, mandating experience under a nationally Certified Athletic Trainer.
Athletic Trainers are educated to function within a scope of practice which includes 12 competency areas identified by the Board of Certification (BOC):
Risk Management and Injury Prevention, Pathology of Injuries and Illnesses, Assessment and Evaluation, Acute Care of Injury and Illness, Pharmacology, Therapeutic Modalities, Therapeutic Exercise, General Medical Conditions and Disabilities, Nutritional Aspects of Injury and Illness, Psychosocial Intervention and Referral, Health Care Administration and Professional Development and Responsibilities.
These competency areas fall under the following domains: domains include the prevention of injuries and illness, the recognition, evaluation, and immediate care of injuries (first aid and emergency care), and referral of illnesses, rehabilitation and reconditioning of injuries, health care administration, and professional development and responsibility. Athletic Trainers provide services to athletes and physically active individuals of all levels of physical and mental ability.
Mission Statement
The State University of New York at New Paltz Athletic Training Department will be dedicated to provide comprehensive and quality healthcare to all varsity student-athletes in an effort to prevent, evaluate, treat and manage athletic injuries and illnesses, as well as assisting student-athletes with developing positive habits of wellness. The department will be committed to promoting the ideals set forth by SUNY New Paltz as well as adhering to the guidelines and ethical standards set forth by the National Athletic Trainer’s Association (NATA) and National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA).
Philosophy
The State University of New York at New Paltz Athletic Training Department is committed to providing our athletes with a proactive interdisciplinary approach towards recovery that will focus on flexibility, strength, endurance and sport-specific functional activities. As a team, we will strive for continuous growth as sports medicine professionals. At all times, we will maintain open lines of communication with student-athletes, coaches, assisting healthcare professionals, and administrators in order to provide the student athletes with proper comprehensive health care. In doing so, we will maintain a high level of professionalism. At no time will discrimination based on sex or race be tolerated, for all student athletes will be treated equally.
For more information and specifics, please see our Policies/Procedures and FAQ pages.