To many people, working as an athletic trainer may not be the most appealing
profession. On the one hand, it is a rather new profession and on the other, it
may not sound so “professional.” Still, it’s not easy to be an athletic trainer.
For those who are interested to become a fully certified athletic trainer, start
by preparing for the profession academically. The most important step is to
obtain a college
diploma in sports medicine.
Compared to the classic courses of law, philosophy, medicine, arts, music,
and others, the study of sports medicine is relatively new. For students who
wish to pursue a sports medicine degree, becoming an athletic trainer is not the
only career path, although it is one of the most common jobs after graduation.
The tasks of an athletic trainer are different from those of a fitness trainer
who helps people lose weight, gain muscles, or generally become more physically
fit. As an athletic trainer, you must possess a thorough knowledge in the
maintenance of the body and treatment of injuries.
With a diploma in sports
medicine, you can also become a physical therapist, sports nutritionist,
rehabilitation therapist, fitness instructor, sports dietician, exercise
physiologist, or kinesiologist. Sports medicine graduates can use their
knowledge and skills to jump on to higher medicine studies, as it is an
excellent introductory course to medicine. Still, some students decide to take
on advanced degrees in the same field to up their marketability in the
job-hunting arena.
If you want to earn a college degree in sports medicine, plan ahead and
search for reputable colleges or universities that provide the courses. Your
high school probably has an office that helps its students look for a particular
college. If you have already been accepted by the school in which you applied,
plan ahead to complete the degree much faster. For instance, as early as
the freshman year, start planning the courses to ake in the future, as many
students intentionally or accidentally take up courses not required for
graduation. Since sports medicine is such a specialized course, planning is
crucial.
There are many colleges to earn credits for passing certain tests that prove
your advanced knowledge in certain subjects. If you have worked as an assistant
in your high school’s emergency care unit, then you may be exempted from taking
an emergency care class. These few credits will put you a little ahead in
your goal of achieving a sports medicine school diploma to possibly graduate a
little earlier.
When graduated with a bachelor’s
degree, you will realize the planning and foresight applied during your
college years will be worthwhile. Depending on professions, most sports medicine
graduates would require further training to obtain certification for athletic
training, therapy, and others. No matter the profession, a degree in sports
medicine will certainly put you on the right track to pursue your dream
career.