Interested in making a difference? As an athletic trainer, you are considered a health professional and can work to help people improve their lives. Athletic trainers can diagnose and treat pain or injury.
Along with providing rehabilitation services for injury and pain, athletic trainers can also educate and provide preventative care to clients.
According to the National Athletic Training Association, athletic trainers must graduate from an accredited master's program. Earning a master's in athletic training degree increases your knowledge in the field and can allow you to specialize in an area of interest.
Featured Online Master's in Athletic Training Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Best Master's in Athletic Training Programs
What Can You Expect in an Athletic Training Program?
Depending on the program, you can expect earning a master's in athletic training to take you 1-3 years to complete. You'll have to take 30-60 credits. Typically, athletic training programs will include coursework, labs, and hands-on clinical hours. Some programs may require you to complete a capstone project in order to graduate.
Although each program may have its own unique requirements, you should expect to take courses like:
Anatomy: A foundational course that overviews the human body, including the muscular, skeletal, and nervous systems. You study different parts of the body and how those systems interact.
Biomechanics and kinesiology: Building on your understanding of human anatomy, biomechanics and kinesiology courses look at how the body moves and how outside forces can impact the moving body.
Clinical: Hands-on, supervised practice as an athletic trainer. Typically, programs have you cycle between different locations to get a wide variety of experiences.
What Can You Do With a Master's in Athletic Training?
Before committing to a master's in athletic training, you should carefully review the career opportunities after graduation.
Salaries for master's graduates in athletic training can vary significantly. Because of this, you should think carefully about how you want to position your career early on to meet income aspirations. Graduates work in many different areas, including personal training, sports, pain management, kinesthetics, and athletics.
| Job | Median Annual Salary (May 2024) |
|---|---|
| Athletic Trainer | $60,250 |
| Exercise Physiologist | $58,160 |
| Coach or Scout | $45,920 |
| Recreational Therapist | $60,280 |
| Health Education Specialist | $63,000 |
Frequently Asked Questions About Athletic Training Programs
The AT Alliance has approved a requirement for all future athletic trainers to hold a master's in athletic training. If you want to pursue a career in athletic training, you will need a master's degree. Typically, those who hold a master's degree earn a higher salary than those who only hold a bachelor's degree.
