Athletic Trainer (High School & College)

• Athletic trainers are employed at almost every high school, college or other secondary educational institution that offers athletic competition. Trainers are required by the school to help provide and ensure physical safety, well-being and care. High schools generally hire one athletic trainer to cover all sports. Some larger high schools may employ a small team or staff. Colleges hire specific athletic trainers (and a team) for each sport. Trainers prepare the athletes for practice or competition (taping ankles, etc), respond to injuries on the field/court and assist in treatment after the practice or game.
  
  

Athletic Trainers (Professional Sports)

• Professional franchises pay athletes millions of dollars each year to perform at an extremely high level and help the team win. Since professional athletes are such a special, rare and fragile investment, franchises will hire some of the best athletic trainers in the business. The large staff (sometimes five to 10 for sports such as basketball, 10 to 20 for football), works with the professional athletes constantly. A great deal of time and preparation is dedicated to injury prevention. Professional franchises also provide the latest technology and newest machines to help combat injuries.
  
  

Physician at Clinic or Small Practice

• Clinics and small practices hire athletic trainers, or an athletic trainers open their own personal practice. Clinics and small offices provide specialized treatment and care. Their primary goal is to work with average citizens with current physical therapy issues. Athletic trainers at small clinics rarely work with professional athletes unless the clinic is highly coveted as one of the best in the nation. Athletic trainers in clinics are very active in the rehab phase of many individuals struggling to return to original form.
  
  

Hospital-Employed Athletic Trainers

• Hospitals may also employ athletic trainers to work alongside physical therapists. Athletic trainers also study kinesiology and exercise physiology, which allows them to fill in for physical therapists when in need. Athletic trainers also understand sports psychology, which allows them to contribute to specific rehabilitation involving athletes and others.
  
  

Other Employers

• A wide range of other employers also hire athletic trainers. Government programs such as NASA hire athletic trainers to assist in training and preparation for astronauts. The military hires athletic trainers, as do particular law-enforcement programs. The performing arts may actually hire athletic trainers on a case-by-case basis, such as a film about hockey or a play with actors required to test their physical limits.