Athletic training is an allied healthcare profession in the United States and is analogous to the profession of Athletic Therapy in Canada. Athletic trainers and Athletic Therapists work with physically active individuals.
“Athletic training is recognized by the American Medical Association (AMA), Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as an allied health care profession. Athletic trainers (ATs) are highly qualified, multi-skilled health care professionals who collaborate with physicians to provide preventative services, emergency care, clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions. Athletic trainers work under the direction of a physician as prescribed by state licensure statutes.” NATA website; for more information please visit the NATA website.
“Athletic Therapy Certified Athletic Therapists are best known for their quick-thinking on-field emergency care of professional and elite athletes. The first to respond when someone gets hurt, they are experts at injury assessment and rehabilitation. It’s that same mix of on-site care and active rehabilitation skills that makes Athletic Therapists so effective in treating the musculoskeletal (muscles, bones, and joints) injuries of all Canadians, whether on the field or in the clinic. Athletic therapists adhere to the Sports Medicine Model of care. They treat a wide range of patients, from kids with concussions to seniors recovering from hip replacement surgery, using various manual therapies, modalities, exercise prescription and even bracing and taping. The treatment varies but the objective doesn’t: an Athletic Therapist's goal is to help clients return to their usual activities, whether that means playing competitive sports or walking to the mailbox and back.” CATA website; for more information please visit the NATA website.
In order to become a certified athletic trainer, you must first graduate from a CAATE (Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education) accredited program or hold a credential recognized by the mutual recognition arrangement (MRA). Daemen College is a CAATE accredited athletic training program. You must also pass the Board of Certification (BOC) Certification Examination. For more information, please visit the Board of Certification website.
In order to become a certified athletic trainer you must first graduate from a CAATE (Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education) accredited program or hold a credential recognized by the mutual recognition arrangement (MRA). Daemen College is a CAATE accredited athletic training program. You must also pass the Board of Certification (BOC) Certification Examination. For more information please visit the Board of Certification website.
Individuals who obtain their undergraduate degree from a Canadian institution may not have the same credit distribution as someone who obtains their undergraduate degree from a U.S. based institution. Our prerequisite requirements state either 3 or 4 credit in particular coursework. For example, we require 4 credits of anatomy with a lab. This is analogous to a full semester lecture course that also has a lab. In the case of a required 3 credit prerequisite course (example exercise physiology), we would also require a full semester lecture course. For additional information, please contact the Program Director.
Observation hours must be fulfilled under the direction of a Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC credential). If the individual you are observing has both the ATC and the CATA (Athletic Therapist) credential, you may use this individual and any observation hours to count towards your requirement. If the individual only has the CATA credential, you may not use these hours to count towards your requirement. Please keep in mind that 15 of these observation hours must be completed in a traditional athletic training setting such as a high school, college/university, or professional sport setting. Daemen College athletic trainers are happy to allow you to complete your observation hours with them. Please contact Karen Roehling ( in order to facilitate this.
Yes, we do accept CPR, AED, and First Aid certification obtained in Canada or the United States.
“In July 2005, the BOC and the Canadian Athletic Therapists Association (CATA) signed a mutual recognition arrangement (MRA). The agreement allows BOC Certified Athletic Trainers and CATA Certified Athletic Therapists to write/take each other’s certification exams. This allows certified individuals’ access to professional requirements for employment in both countries.” BOC website
For more information, please visit the Canadian Athletic Therapists Association website.