Guidelines for the clinical education of students enrolled in accredited athletic training education programs
Pedagogy
The clinical education experiences used to meet the
requirements of the Joint Review Committee B Athletic
Training may be offered using academic courses or academic
credit.
The contact hours included in clinical education course
may be determined in accordance with each institution's
academic guidelines.
A clinical academic course could include a laboratory
class, an internship, a practicum, and/or a field experience
course.
All accredited athletic training education programs
should include clinical education courses, or related
courses that incorporate an academic syllabi or clinical
instruction manual that includes educational objectives
and specific clinical skill outcomes.
The clinical education program must include the presentation
and evaluation of the Entry Level Athletic Training
Clinical Proficiencies.
All "Athletic Training Clinical Proficiency" outcomes must be measurable and the evaluations of those outcomes must be documented.
Duration of the Clinical Experience
- The clinical education experience should be offered in no less than two academic years..
- There should be no fewer than four clinical education courses in semester-based programs or six courses in a quarter-based program.
- The athletic training program director must ensure that the Athletic Training Clinical Proficiencies are taught, evaluated and practiced in a progression over time.
Supervision
- A "approved clinical instructor" must supervise all students participating in a clinical education experience.
- A Supervision is defined as Aconstant visual and auditory interaction between the student and the "approved clinical instructor".
- The daily supervision of students must include multiple opportunities for evaluation and feedback between the student and "approved clinical instructor".
- Students are permitted to gain adjunct affiliated professional clinical experiences (e.g., hospital emergency rooms, exercise physiology labs) during the clinical education course or experience
Clinical Experience Assignment
Students should be assigned to a "approved clinical
instructor", not to facilities or sports.
A student's clinical education experience should include
exposure to a physically active population that is,
and has been, involved with high-risk physical activity.
The students clinical education component should include a variety of clinical experiences, such as:
- Four year colleges and universities
- Two year colleges
- High schools
- Clinics
- Hospitals
- Industrial health care and rehabilitation clinics
- Professional sports
- Olympic sports
The students clinical experiences must include:
- Practice and game coverage
- Pre-event preparation
- Athletic training room coverage
At no time during the clinical education component
shall students be used as a labor force or be used in
the replacement of clinical staff.
Clinical Instructor Development
The requirement for the involvement of an "approved clinical instructor" (ACI) dictates the development of a system to educate these individuals. Such a mechanism must be accessible to all NATA members and low cost, yet still deliver the quality and quantity of content needed to develop the skills needed to become an effective clinical instructor.
The first step in this process is developing Clinical Instructor Educators (CIE) who, following the completion of an educational program, will be recognized as being capable of instructing and approving ACIs. During the initial phases of development, CIE programs will be offered to program directors directors, and/or clinical coordinators of accredited athletic training programs, or other interested certified athletic trainers. The workshop will be offered in conjunction with national, regional, or state level meetings and symposia.
Individuals who have completed the CIE development course will be recognized as being CEU providers and then may provide national, district, and local workshops to credential ACIs. Other than possessing an ATC credential, there are no restrictions on who may become an ACI. To maintain their status, an ACI must acquire a minimum of five hours of continuing education (0.5 CEUs) ) in an NATA approved Clinical Instructor's Workshop within the 3 year reporting period.
Individual CIEs may tailor their programs to meet institutional and/or geographic needs, including the use of distance learning tools. However, all course materials shall remain the property of the National Athletic Trainers' Association, Inc. and may only be used with the permission of the designated authority. Costs associated with the development of these course materials and their delivery may be recouped through course fees.
The athletic training program director is responsible for documenting that all clinical instructors are recognized as CIEs and remain current with the CEU requirement.
The content of the CIE development course will be created by the Education Council's Clinical Education Committee, with the Continuing Education Committee working out the particulars of the delivery phase. The content of the CIE development courses will include various methods and theories on teaching clinical education, evaluation of students' clinical skills, and managing the clinical education environment. Once the Education Council's Executive Committee has approved this construct, the proposal will be forwarded to the NATA Board of Directors for final approval.
Glossary
CIE B Clinical Instructor Educator: Individuals who become qualified to develop clinical instructors. This individual can also supervise students.
ACI B Approved Clinical Instructor: An individual who is qualified to provide student clinical instruction.