Overview
Athletic Training Students must be able to perform certain mental, physical, and other tasks that are essential in providing care for their patients. These requirements are outlined in the Division’s Technical Standards for Athletic Training Students.
After being admitted to the program, Athletic Training students must submit a signed certification statement stating that they believe that they can meet these standards with or without accommodation. The student’s statement is also confirmed through a physical examination by a licensed healthcare provider of the student’s choosing who also signs a statement on the form (Physician, PA, or Advanced Nurse Practitioner). The certification form must be on file before beginning the courses or clinical experiences of program. If a student believes they may require accommodation(s) in order to meet these requirements, they must have their need for accommodation validated through the Office for Disability Services (150 Pomerene Hall, 614-292-3307). ODS works jointly with the student and the Division of Athletic Training to explore accommodation options. Accommodation may not be possible in some cases.
1. Any student who cannot meet each of the Technical Standards with or without accommodation can not be enrolled in the Athletic Training Education Program.
2. Students requesting accommodations must have their need for accommodation validated through the Office of Disability Services.
3. Requests for accommodation are not used prejudicially against students.
4. Students are responsible for informing their instructors about needs for accommodation for courses or clinicals.
5. Accommodation requests must be made in a timely fashion in order to permit adequate time to arrange the accommodation. It may not be possible to provide some accommodations on short notice.
Technical Standards for Athletic Training Students
Certified Athletic Trainers are medical professionals who are experts in injury prevention, assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation, particularly in the orthopedic and musculoskeletal disciplines. They provide care to athletes and other patients in a variety of settings and situations. The Division of Athletic Training at The Ohio State University offers an entry-level educational program in athletic training. This program is rigorous and intense and places specific requirements and demands on the students enrolled in the program. Athletic Trainers and Athletic Training Students must possess certain mental, physical, and other abilities that are essential in providing care for their patients.
The technical standards set forth in this document by the Division of Athletic Training establish the essential functional requirements that are necessary for enrolled students to acquire the knowledge, skills, competencies and values of an entry-level Certified Athletic Trainer. They are also required to meet the expectations of the program's accrediting agency (Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education [CAATE]).
The following essential functional requirements must be met by all students after acceptance into the major in order to enroll in or complete the Athletic Training Educational Program. In the event that a student is unable, or becomes unable to fulfill these technical standards with or without reasonable accommodation, the student can not enroll or remain enrolled in the program.
Athletic Training students must demonstrate:
1. …the ability to perform appropriate, effective and complete physical examinations and treatments including the safe and efficient use of equipment and materials; this includes, but is not limited to the ability to convey and set-up equipment for clinical or on-field use, to reach in a timely fashion injured patients who are down on athletic fields, to assess their condition where they lie, to perform appropriate emergency procedures, to fully participate in patient extrication and transport, to perform appropriate therapeutic and prophylactic procedures, and to demonstrate rehabilitative exercises;
2. …the ability to communicate effectively and sensitively with patients and colleagues, including individuals from different cultural and social backgrounds and in stressful and emergency situations; this includes, but is not limited to the ability to establish rapport with patients and communicate judgments and treatment information effectively. Students must be able to understand and speak the English language at a level consistent with competent professional practice;
3. …the ability to record physical examination results, treatment plans, patient notes and outcomes clearly and accurately;
4. …the ability to assimilate, analyze, synthesize, integrate concepts and problem solve that form the basis for making diagnoses, therapeutic judgments, and distinguishing deviations from the norm;
5. …the ability to maintain composure and continue to function well during emergency situations and periods of high stress;
6. …the ability to adjust to changing situations and uncertainty in clinical situations;
7. …the ability to develop professional values, ethics, appropriate demeanor and rapport that are essential for professional education and quality patient care.
Following their acceptance into the Athletic Training Education Program, students are required to verify that they understand and meet these technical standards or that they believe that, with certain accommodations, they can meet the standards. This is accomplished using the Technical Standards Certification Statement . For students who believe that they can meet these standards with accommodation, the University’s Office for Disability Services will validate their need for accommodation and will work with the Division of Athletic Training to determine if reasonable accommodation can be made. This determination will take into account whether accommodation would jeopardize clinician/patient safety or undercut an essential element of a course, clinical experience or internship. |
