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Graduate Athletic Training Frequently Asked Questions

Questions that are answered on this page include:

  What is an Athletic Trainer?

What many people think of as Sports Medicine is actually Athletic Training.  In 2010, US News & World Reports named Athletic Training as one of the best careers and one of the fastest growing profession in the country. The Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC®) works with physicians and other medical personnel, employers, patients, parents, guardians, and athletic personnel in the development and coordination of efficient and responsive health care delivery systems. Athletic trainers are integral members of the health care team in secondary schools, colleges and universities, professional sports programs, sports medicine clinics, corporate /industrial, and other health care settings. The athletic trainer’s professional preparation is based on the development of specified educational competencies and clinical proficiencies. Through a combination of formal classroom and clinical instruction and clinical experience, the athletic trainer is prepared to provide health care within each of the following content areas: 

  • Risk management and injury prevention
  • Pathology of injuries and illnesses 
  • Clinical examination and diagnosis 
  • Acute care of injury and illness 
  • Pharmacology 
  • Therapeutic modalities 
  • Therapeutic and rehabilitative exercise 
  • General medical conditions and disabilities 
  • Nutritional aspects of injury and illness 
  • Psychosocial intervention and referral 
  • Health care administration 
  • Professional development and responsibilities

The National Athletic Trainers' Association has a very nice web page that summarizes and explains what athletic training is all about. 

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Is an Athletic Trainer the same thing as a Personal Trainer or Strength & Conditioning Coach?

NOT EVEN CLOSE!!!!  The name of our profession is sometimes confusing because Athletic Trainers don't "train" athletes.  Instead, Athletic Trainers are healthcare providers who provide care for both athletes and non-athletes alike!  In most states Athletic Trainers must obtain a license to practice and the nationally recognized ATC® credential requires at least a bachelors degree from an accredited program, extensive clinical practice time under the supervision of credentialed professional, repeated demonstration of proficiency in over 680 clinical skills, and passing a very rigorous national certification examination. Personal trainers, on the other hand, are fitness professionals and NOT healthcare professionals.  There is little or no regulation of their professional practice and there are very few requirements to obtain a personal training credential (some of which can be obtained with as little as a weekend course).  The only similarity between Athletic Trainers and personal trainers is that both work with athletes, but we do VERY different jobs. If you are interested in becoming a personal trainer, you should consider majoring in exercise science.

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Do I have to have a Bachelor's Degree in a certain area or major in order to be accepted into the UTC Graduate Athletic Training Program?

No. In fact, our students have come to our program from a variety of majors. These include athletic training related fields such as health, physical education, exercise science, exercise physiology, movement sciences, pre-physical therapy, pre-med, biology, chemistry and biochemistry. We have also had a number of individuals come to our with other "non-related" majors such finance, marketing, English, math, social sciences and history. The important part is that you have a Bachelor's Degree and that you full-fill the pre-requisites. (See below for specifics on pre-requisites.)

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Do you offer a Post-Certification/Post-Professional/Advanced Master's degree program?

UTC only offers an Entry Level Mater's Degree program. For a listing of Post-Certification/Post Professional/Advanced Athletic Training Education Programs, please visit the NATA Education Council's website.

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Is the program accredited?

Yes, the UTC ATEP is accredited by Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE). We had a successful site visit in October and anticipate continual accreditation by CAATE.

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What degree will I receive?

Student who are admitted and matriculate through the GATEP will have earned a Master of Science in Athletic Training. 

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What can I do with a degree in Athletic Training?

Students who complete the Athletic Training Major are eligible to sit for the Athletic Trainer Certification Exam offered by the Board of Certification, Inc. The exam is typically taken in the final semester of the second year in the UTC GATEP.  Students who pass this exam and complete their degree are awarded the professional credential ATC®.  ATC is the entry-level credential for practicing Athletic Training. In 47 states (and counting), Athletic Trainers are regulated by the state (typically requiring a license to practice). In order to practice in Tennessee, you must obtain a license.  Licensure information in Tennessee is available from the Tennessee Department of Health: Board of Athletic Trainers.

There are a variety of work settings where Athletic Trainers are employed and providing care for both athletes and non-athletes alike. Most of our program graduates enter the workplace after completing their masters degree, the most common settings nationwide are outpatient clinics with high school coverage, intercollegiate and professional athletics. Emerging employment settings where certified athletic trainers are working include the industrial/occupational settings, the military, performing arts, law enforcement, police, and as physician extenders. UTC GATEP graduates general are employed in the setting of their first choice. Through the 2012 graduating class, UTC GATEP has a 99% placement rate. More information about where Athletic Trainers work is available from the National Athletic Trainers' Association.

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What are the educational requirements for the program?

An overview of what is required of an accredited athletic training educational program is provide at this link. Click HERE to read the overview of athletic training education.

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Where can I find more information about the UTC Graduate Athletic Training Education Program?

The program website is where you will find all of the information about the program. It contains the most current program information as well as important announcements during the admission period.

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Are there any pre-requisite courses for your program?

Yes. They are listed on THIS PAGE. Click the name of the course and you can see the specific content information that it will be evaluated on.

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When do you begin accepting applications for the program?

We begin accepting applications in mid-August/early September. Candidates are through a variety of criteria. Student who have a cumulative undergraduate grade point average tend to have a better chance of being selected for the GATEP than students will less than a 3.0 cumulative undergraduate grade point average. Students will then be selected for Skype interviews and then further selection is achieved by inviting candidates for one of two campus visits. 

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How many students are accepted into the program each year?

Approximately 15-20 depending on the number of students in the previous class. Our goal is to strive for 40 students to be in the Program.

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What are my chances of being accepted into the program?

Admission into the program is VERY competitive. Routinely there are anywhere between 150-180 students who express interest in the UTC GATEP.  Approximately 100 will actually apply to the program and of these applicants, 60-80 applicants will be selected for further evaluation. Approximately 40 candidates will be invited to campus for an on-campus visitation. 

Generally speaking the odds are 1 out of 10 chance when you first express interest in the program. By the time we conduct Skype interview your chances have improved to approximately 1 out of 6 to 1 out of 4. By the time we have worked through our selection process and candidates have been eliminated by the selection committee or the candidate has eliminated UTC from their potential choices for graduate school, one's chances of being invited to be a part of the UTC GATEP family is about 1 out of 2 to 1 out of 3.

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When does the program start?

First year students are asked to report a couple of days before the start of the Summer AM III semester. This is traditionally the last week of June or first week of July, (usually right around the 4th of July).

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Do most of the applicants for the program come from the state of TN or from out of state?

Since 2005 there have been 229 students graduate from the UTC Graduate Athletic Training Education Program. Of those students only 38(15.8%) of our students have come from Tennessee. We proudly boast having grads from all regions of the US and 41 different states. We believe that this diversity of backgrounds has made for a very strong and vibrant program. 

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Are there any extra commitments we must fulfill in addition to our class requirements?

Yes, students must attend medical grand rounds, UTC in-services, and GATEP meetings.

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What expenses will I be responsible for?

Students are responsible for the following expenditure: Tuition, fees, on-campus parking, textbooks, ID fee, clinical and liability health requirements (criminal background check, needed immunization updates, student liability insurance). You are encouraged to contact the Bursar's office to determine what all of the costs of attending UTC might be for you and in your situation. Completing all of the necessary paperwork is vital to determining the financial aid you might qualify for.

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Where can I find out more information about the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga?

The university's department of Planning Evaluation & Institutional Research has put together a very thorough collection of statistics as the university's fact summary.

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How much does it cost to attend UTC?

For the 2012-2013 academic year, it costs an in-state, TN graduate student $8,350 for the fall and spring semesters. For an out-of-state student that cost is $22,696. The TN State System of Higher Education has asked for over 10% increases each of the last 3 years. The state legislature has granted them 7-9% increases.  So if you use 10% as the high end, you can get an idea of what you will pay during your 2 years here at UTC. (Note these costs do not reflect the cost of the 1st summer session.) Please go to the Bursar's web page to see a fee schedule.

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Are scholarships offered to Entry Level students?

Yes, scholarships are offered to students based on academic and clinical performance. You can apply for scholarships after the first full semester in the program. A limited number of partial graduate assistant positions are available to second year students as well.

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What financial aid options are there?

Several options are available, yet also highly individualized depending on numerous circumstances. The UTC Financial Aid Office can provide considerable assistance.  Another location that may be of some assistance is at a web site called "FastWeb."  This site can provide you with a list of options that may fit  your circumstances.

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Can I teach undergraduate courses as an adjunct instructor?

Due to the time demands placed on students in the GATEP, these requests are handled on an individual basis, with grades and clinical performance strongly considered.

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How can I get in touch with current students in the GATP to ask them questions?

Go to the Current Students section of the webpage and click on their name to email them.

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What is the weather in Chattanooga like?

January, the coldest month has average high of 49° and low of 30° (USA Today)
July, the warmest month has average high of 90° and low of 69° (USA Today)
Chattanooga Weather History from CityRating.com

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Where is Chattanooga located?

Chattanooga is located in Southeastern Tennessee on the Northwest Georgia border. Think of Chattanooga as the hub of a bicycle wheel with the spokes going out to several different cities and locations. Generally speaking you can be to many major cities in about two (2) to two and a half (2.5) hours. Driving distances to surrounding cities are:

  • Atlanta, GA = 120 miles
    • Birmingham, AL = 148 miles
    • Huntsville, AL = 100 miles
    • Knoxville, TN = 115 miles
    • Nashville, TN = 135 miles.

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What time zone is Chattanooga located in?

Chattanooga is in the Eastern Time Zone. Here is some other information related to Chattanooga:

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What apartments are available in Chattanooga?

Once you are accepted we will provide a listing of apartments and other information that are the most convenient. You can also check www.chattanoogaapartmentguide.com for a detailed listing.

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Graduate Athletic Training

Graduate Athletic Training