AT Terms
Using proper athletic training terminology helps eliminate confusion or inconsistencies when explaining the AT’s role in the health care arena.
Update: The Athletic Training Strategic Alliance Inter-Agency Terminology Work Group compiled the Athletic Training Glossary to provide common definitions to be used across the athletic training profession.
Terminology Tips
- "Athletic trainer" or "AT" are the preferred terms. NEVER use "trainer" or "certified trainer." If this occurs in a direct quote, use "[athletic] trainer" or "certified [athletic] trainer."
- Use AT as the abbreviation for athletic trainer. Use ATC only when referring to the credential.
- Do not use ATC/L, ATC/R, LATC or any other combination of ATC, as the credential is trademarked.
- NATA does not use the term “certified athletic trainers” unless the circumstance requires distinction. We do allow this term within BOC submissions to NATA publications.
Athletic Training
- "Athletic training" and "athletic trainer" are not capitalized unless part of a proper noun.
- Avoid using "AT" as an acronym for the term athletic training as a noun. It may be used as an acronym in the adjective form.
- Correct: "The new AT facility was unveiled."
- Incorrect: "When studying AT, a student should…"
Athletic Training Facility
- The preferred term is "athletic training facility."
- Do NOT use "training room."
- The Uniform Terminology Project group said, "We should refer to our secondary school and college-based work spaces as facilities or clinics."
Athletic Training Students
- High school students are referred to as athletic training student aides, NEVER student trainers.
- College students are referred to as athletic training students, NEVER student trainers.
Athletic Training Education Programs
- The new acronym is "ATP." We no longer use "ATEP."
NATA
- Plural possessive: National Athletic Trainers’ Association
- When using the abbreviation NATA as a noun, do not precede it with ‘the;’ rather, "When NATA was founded…”
- When “NATA” is used as an adjective, it’s proper to use “the,” as in "the NATA Governmental Affairs Committee."
NATA Research & Education Foundation
- Write out the full name upon first reference and use “NATA Foundation” for subsequent references. Do NOT use “the Foundation.”
NATA Committees
- When referring to NATA committees, always include NATA in front of the committee name upon first reference (ie: NATA Young Professionals Committee). Upon second reference, use the acronym without NATA (ie: YPC).
Convention Terminology
- The proper name is {insert appropriate number} NATA Clinical Symposia & AT Expo. On second reference, acceptable terms are convention, NATA convention or NATA {insert year}.
- Examples: 70th NATA Clinical Symposia & AT Expo, convention, NATA convention, NATA 2020
- The correct names and treatment of various functions at the convention include:
- Athletic Training Student Seminar, or ATSS
- ATSS Ron Culp – NBATA Cadaver Workshop, or cadaver workshop
- AT Expo
- National Quiz Bowl, or quiz bowl, or student quiz bowl, which awards The Eve Becker-Doyle Quiz Bowl Championship Cup
- NATA Foundation Pinky Newell Scholarship & Student Leadership Reception