Athletic Training major

Athletic Training: courses, careers, and where to study

Athletic Training prepares students to prevent, evaluate, and rehabilitate injuries in physically active people, suiting those who want a hands-on clinical role in sports and orthopedic care.

An undergraduate Athletic Training major builds the science foundation for musculoskeletal care: anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, biomechanics, injury prevention and evaluation, therapeutic modalities and exercise, emergency care, and pharmacology, paired with supervised clinical hours alongside sports teams, clinics, and other physically active populations. Coursework emphasizes hands-on assessment of joints and soft tissue, recognition of acute and emergency conditions, and the design of rehabilitation programs.

Athletic training is now practiced as a master's-level clinical field. Many students complete a bachelor's in athletic training, exercise science, or a related area and then enter a graduate program; the credential to practice as a Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC) is earned through a CAATE-accredited master's degree. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the typical entry-level education for athletic trainers is a master's degree.

Graduates work on the sidelines and in clinics, performing on-field injury evaluation, taping and bracing, concussion screening, and return-to-play decisions, and collaborating with physicians and physical therapists. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of athletic trainers to grow 11.1% from 2024 to 2034, and reports a 2024 median wage of $60,250 per year.

Academic classification (CIP)

In the federal Classification of Instructional Programs, Athletic Training maps to CIP 51.0913, Athletic Training/Trainer, within the HEALTH PROFESSIONS AND RELATED PROGRAMS family. The official definition:

A program that prepares individuals to work in consultation with, and under the supervision of physicians to prevent and treat sports injuries and associated conditions. Includes instruction in the identification, evaluation, and treatment of athletic injuries and illnesses; first aid and emergency care; therapeutic exercise; anatomy and physiology; exercise physiology; kinesiology and biomechanics; nutrition; sports psychology; personal and community health; knowledge of various sports and their biomechanical and physiological demands; and applicable professional standards and regulations.

Source: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020. View on nces.ed.gov

What you'll study

  • Functional anatomy, physiology, and kinesiology of the musculoskeletal system
  • Injury prevention, risk reduction, and protective taping and bracing
  • Clinical evaluation and orthopedic assessment of joints and soft tissue
  • Therapeutic modalities and therapeutic exercise for rehabilitation
  • Emergency and acute care, including concussion recognition and management
  • Biomechanics and exercise physiology applied to physically active populations
  • General medical conditions, pharmacology, and nutrition for the active patient
  • Supervised clinical rotations with teams, clinics, and other patient settings

Typical careers

  • Athletic trainers
  • Rehabilitation Technician
  • Strength and Conditioning Coach
  • Physical Therapist Assistant
  • Physical Therapist (with DPT)
  • Physician Assistant (with master's)

Typical salary range: BLS reports a 2024 median wage of $60,250 for athletic trainers.Ranges are early-career estimates. Any BLS figure shown is the occupation-wide median across all experience levels, not a starting wage, and is informational only.

Related occupations

Occupations the federal CIP–SOC crosswalk associates with Athletic Training. Linked titles open a CampusPin career page with BLS pay and outlook data; others are listed for reference.

Source: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), Crosswalk: CIP 2020 to SOC 2018. A program of study does not guarantee any specific occupation.

Before you commit to a Athletic Training major

CampusPin does not rank programs. Use these prompts to pressure-test whether a specific Athletic Training program fits your goals, they are decision questions, not claims about any school.

Ask the Athletic Training department

  • Which concentrations or specializations are offered, and which faculty lead them?
  • What does the typical course sequence look like, and how much is required vs. elective?
  • What labs, studios, clinical placements, or research opportunities are available to undergraduates?
  • Is there a capstone, thesis, internship, or co-op requirement?

Ask current students & check the curriculum

  • How heavy is the workload, and how accessible is the faculty?
  • What internships or co-ops did you do, and where do recent graduates end up?
  • Does the required curriculum actually match the careers listed above?
  • How easy is it to add a minor, double major, or switch tracks later?
Accreditation & licensure: Athletic training is now a master's-level field: becoming a Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC) generally requires a CAATE-accredited master's program, the Board of Certification (BOC) exam, and state licensure in most states. Confirm CAATE accreditation and your state's rules.
Degree level & graduate study: Many Athletic Trainingcareers are open with a bachelor's degree, but some, such as research, advanced-practice, or licensure-track roles, require a master's or doctorate. Check the typical entry-level education on each linked career page above before assuming a bachelor's is enough.

Find a Athletic Training program

CampusPin lists U.S. universities and community colleges that offer Athletic Training programs. Filter by state, tuition, school size, acceptance rate, and campus setting, no account required.

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How this guide is sourced

This is an editorial guide from the CampusPin Editorial Team. Career and wage figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, occupation-wide medians across all experience levels, not starting wages, and link to each career page. Program availability comes from CampusPin's free institution search; CampusPin does not assert that any specific school offers this exact major until that program data is verified. Last reviewed 2026-06-15. How CampusPin sources data · Report a correction.