Athletic Training

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Program Overview : Admission Requirements : Prerequisite Courses : Curriculum : Articulation Agreements : Faculty : Students and Alumni : Tuition and Expenses : Financial Assistance : Research : Graduate Assistantships : Clinical Rotations : FAQs : Downloadable Documents : Accreditation : Fact Sheet

Clinical Education

Clinical Rotations : Graduate Assistantships : Deadlines : FAQs : Links

A major component of the Athletic Training Program at the Arizona School of Health Sciences is the opportunity for student involvement in a wide range of supervised clinical experiences. The learning experiences provided are designed to enhance the student's professional growth as an athletic training clinician, educator, researcher, and administrator. In consultation with the clinical education coordinator (arsnyder@atsu.edu), the athletic training student will develop their proposed clinical education plan from activities in these categories:

Clinical Rotations

Clinical Rotations involve direct delivery of sports health care services by a qualified ASHS Athletic Training Program student under appropriate clinical supervision. Students are able to:

• Work with a variety of allied health care professionals (e.g., orthopedists, osteopaths, internists, prosthetists, physical therapists, athletic trainers)
• Experience diverse health care settings (e.g., clinics, athletic training rooms, physician offices, professional sports)
• Participate in athletic training research settings
• Assist in the administration of athletic training education programs
• Gain formal supervised college teaching experience

Clinical Rotations are not paid positions as are Graduate Assistantships.
Any questions regarding Clinical Rotations should be directed to:

Alison R. Snyder, PhD, ATC
Clinical Education Coordinator
5850 E. Still Circle
Mesa, AZ 85206
(480) 219-6034
Fax (480) 219-6100
Email: arsnyder@atsu.edu

Rotation Opportunities

Clinical Rotations are available with numerous physicians, physical therapist, performance specialists, surgeons, and athletic trainers. Opportunities include, but are not limited to, the following:

Graduate Assistantships

Graduate Assistantships place the student in athletic training positions in local high schools, clinics, and colleges and apply only to those students who have been awarded graduate assistantship positions. Athletic Training graduate assistantship students must practice in accordance with the ASHS Agreement for Graduate Athletic Training Internships and the laws of the State of Arizona. More info...

Deadlines

August 1

• BOC certified
• Licensed by State of Arizona Board of Athletic Trainers
• Fingerprinting and Background Check
  • PreCheck  (All Students)
  • A second background check may be required by Graduate Assistantship Employer
• Immunizations
  • MMR- immunization after 1985 or evidence of a positive titre for antibodies against rubella (German Measles)
  • DT (Diphtheria, Typhoid) – latest booster within 10 years
  • Chickenpox
  • Tuberculosis Skin Test (PPD) – within six months of anticipated September enrollment
  • Polio
  • Hepatitis B
• CPR/First Aid
• Health Insurance

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do I have to be a BOC certified ATC and licensed in Arizona to participate in Clinical Rotations?
2. Do I have to be a BOC certified ATC and licensed in Arizona to obtain a Graduate Assistantship?
3. What if I am not certified before August 1?
4. What is a typical day like for a full-time graduate assistantship?
5. What is a typical day like for a part-time graduate assistantship?
6. When do I start work for my Graduate Assistantship?
7. Do I receive a tuition waiver with my Graduate Assistantship?
8. Can I have a Graduate Assistantship and also do Clinical Rotations?
9. How long is a typical Graduate Assistantship position?
10. Can I have a part-time job while I have my Graduate Assistantship?
11. Does my Graduate Assistantship provide me with Liability Insurance?
12. Do I have to be licensed before I start my Graduate Assistantship?
13. Is there information regarding state licensure in Arizona that I should be aware of?
14. What is the process for obtaining a Graduate Assistantship?

Answers:

1. Do I have to be a BOC certified ATC and licensed in Arizona to participate in Clinical Rotations?
   
   No. Clinical Rotations are available to all students enrolled in the Athletic Training Program at A.T. Still University/Arizona School of Health Sciences. Any student, whether or not a certified athletic trainer, is welcome and encouraged to participate in Clinical Rotations.
2. Do I have to be a BOC certified ATC and licensed in Arizona to obtain a Graduate Assistantship?
   
   Yes. Graduate Assistantships are open only to BOC certified and Arizona state licensed athletic trainers.
3. What if I am not certified and licensed before August 1st?
   
   If you are not certified and licensed before August 1st, it is likely that you will not be hired as a graduate assistant. The high schools, colleges, universities, and clinics we coordinate graduate assistantship opportunities with are looking for certified and licensed athletic trainers. Therefore, the employer will likely not hire someone who is not ready to begin work as a certified athletic trainer at the beginning of August.
4. What is a typical day like for a full-time graduate assistantship?
   
   A student who chooses a full-time graduate assistantship will be very busy! Typically, courses in the Athletic Training Program are scheduled between 7am and 1pm. It is common that after class a full-time graduate assistant will leave the ASHS campus and head to his/her school to begin work around 2:00pm. The graduate assistant will then work until all events are complete. The full-time graduate assistantship does not leave as much time for activities outside of school and work because the student is required to work Monday - Friday (and maybe Saturday, too).
5. What is a typical day like for a part-time graduate assistantship?
   
   A student who chooses a part-time graduate assistantship will be busy but not to the same degree as a full-time graduate assistant. Part-time graduate assistantships typically require the student to work, on average, three days per week. Similar to the full-time graduate assistant, the part-time graduate assistant will leave ASHS following classes and report to his/her school. However, this schedule does not require work Monday – Friday which allows the student a bit more freedom to participate in activities outside of school and work.
6. When do I start work for my Graduate Assistantship?
   
   Exact start dates for graduate assistantships are determined by the place of employment. However, as a general rule, a student should be ready to report to his/her place of employment by August 1st. This means that certification (BOC), state licensure, and fingerprinting must be completed by the August 1st deadline.
7. Do I receive a tuition waiver with my Graduate Assistantship?
   
   No. Tuition waivers are not available at A.T. Still University/Arizona School of Health Sciences.
8. Can I have a Graduate Assistantship and also do Clinical Rotations?
   
   Yes. It is possible to have a graduate assistantship and to participate in Clinical Rotations as well. It is easier for students who are part-time graduate assistants to participate in Clinical Rotations than full-time graduate assistants because of the time constraints associated with full-time positions.
9. How long is a typical Graduate Assistantship position?
   
   Graduate assistantship positions are one year terms with the high school, college, or clinic with the option for the employer to renew for a second year. In general, it is expected that the graduate assistantship will be renewed, and the student will spend a total of two years at that graduate assistantship. There is no switching of graduate assistantships after one year.
10. Can I have a part-time job while I have my Graduate Assistantship?
    
    Some students are able to manage a part-time job in addition to the requirements of the Athletic Training Program and either Graduate Assistantship or Clinical Rotation responsibilities. However, this is a personal decision that depends on the individual student. Occasionally, there are opportunities for per diem work (e.g., tournaments, one day sporting events, etc.), where students are able to make extra money.
11. Does my Graduate Assistantship provide me with Liability Insurance?
    
    Whether or not a graduate assistantship provides liability insurance is dependent upon the place of employment and should be verified by the student seeking the graduate assistantship. It is strongly recommended that each student who accepts a graduate assistantship purchase his/her own liability insurance. The following links are to liability insurance companies. A.T. Still Univerisity/Arizona School of Health Sciences does not have a financial interest in any of these companies and is providing the links for your convenience.
    1. HPSO (Healthcare Providers Service Organization)
    2. MARSH Affinity Group Services
12. Do I have to be licensed before I start my Graduate Assistantship?
    
    Yes. You must be licensed by the State of Arizona Board of Athletic Training before you start work as a certified athletic trainer. Please review the schedule below for the upcoming board meetings and application due dates:
    
    

    Meeting Date	Application Deadline
    May 7, 2007	April 30, 2007
    June 4, 2007	May 29, 2007
    July 2, 2007	June 25, 2007
    August 6, 2007	July 30, 2007

13. Is there information regarding state licensure in Arizona that I should be aware of?
    
    It is STRONGLY recommended that you familiarize yourself with the Statutes and Rules of the Arizona Board of Athletic Trainers. State regulations differ between states as well as with the NATA, and it is extremely important to be aware of the Statutes and Rules associated with the state of Arizona.
14. What is the process for obtaining a Graduate Assistantship?
    
    Applicants will be contacted by the Clinical Education Coordinator to discuss possible Graduate Assistantship opportunities after they have been offered admissions into the Post-Professional Athletic Training Education Program. Early applicants who gain admissions into the program will therefore have priority for available Graduate Assistantships. Once a Graduate Assistant opportunity has been identified, the potential employer will contact the student for a phone interview. From this point forward, the employer and the applicant must work together to establish employment. A.T. Still University/Arizona School of Health Sciences does not employ students as Graduate Assistants and does not guarantee Graduate Assistantship employment.

Links

• BOC
• AZBAT
• HPSO
• MARSH Affinity Group Services
• American Red Cross, Arizona