Athletic Training

Since our Athletic Training program is transitioning to a graduate level degree, we are not accepting new applicants. The information on this page only applies to current students who are in the clinical portion of the academic program. We anticipate a start date for Master's degree of May 2020.

Athletic Trainer speaking to UIW football player

The program was established in 2001 to meet the guidelines and standards established by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education, the National Athletic Trainers Association Education Council, and the Texas Advisory Board of Athletic Training.

In cooperation with physicians and other health care professionals, the athletic trainer functions as a member of the athletic health care team in secondary schools, colleges and universities, professional sports programs, sports medicine clinics and other athletic health care settings.

UIW Athletic Training Program Mission Statement

The mission of the athletic training program at the University of the Incarnate Word is to graduate culturally competent and service-oriented health professionals. The program strives to instill the love of the profession of athletic training through stimulating a sense of discovery and confidence with an in-depth study of the knowledge and skills needed to improve athletic training care within our communities.

Outcomes/Objectives

Upon graduation students are expected to: (Student outcomes)

  1. Practice independently as athletic trainers.
    1. Students will demonstrate and apply knowledge, skills and abilities according to the current educational domains.
    2. Utilize current research to determine and independently perform evaluation and treatment techniques with the best results.
    3. Demonstrate ability to independently develop and modify treatment plans.
  2. Demonstrate compassion and care for all healthcare populations utilizing research and cultural sensitivity in a patient-centered approach to generate patient outcomes in treatment, evaluation, and rehabilitation of the physically active.
    1. Experience a variety of clinical practice within healthcare settings with diverse populations
    2. Demonstrate skills necessary for the comprehensive care of diverse patient populations with injuries, incorporating patient-centered objectives into the plan of care (ie: socioeconomic, cultural considerations)
    3. Demonstrate skills necessary for the comprehensive care of diverse patient populations with illnesses, incorporating patient-centered objectives into the plan of care (ie: socioeconomic, cultural considerations)
    4. Successfully utilize evidence-based practice techniques in development and modification of treatment plans to improve patient outcomes.

Annually, the program will: (Programmatic outcomes)

  1. Facilitate educational value outcomes.
    1. Recruit, admit, and retain individuals that will fulfill the community needs for athletic training professionals.
    2. Provide adequate teaching resources for classroom and clinical instruction
    3. Demonstrate curricular integration of all competencies and clinical proficiencies
    4. Provide evidence of individualized attention to student needs.
  2. Demonstrate competence in the art and science of teaching.
    1. Validate effective teaching and instruction in didactic and clinical environments.
    2. Successfully prepare students for the certification examination and entry into the profession of athletic training.

In May 2005, the Athletic Training Education Program was granted initial accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) through the recommendation of the Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Athletic Training (JRC-AT). CAAHEP is the largest external programmatic accreditors for the health sciences fields.

In July 2006, the JRC-AT broke away from CAAHEP to form the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE). This is an independent accreditation agency dedicated toward the advancement of the education of athletic trainers.

The program went through the CAATE accreditation reaffirmation process in the 2009-2010 academic year. This included completing an institutional self study document and a CAATE site visit. The program was re-accredited until the 2019-2020 academic year. The program has been placed on Probation as of February 19, 2016 by the CAATE, 6850 Austin Center Blvd., Suite 100, Austin, TX 78731-3101. This is due to the three year average first time pass rate on the Board of Certification exam being below 70%. Since a major programmatic revision in academic year 2014-2015, the average for first time test takers is 90%. The changes that have been implemented are instrumental to the success of the students and it is anticipated that the probationary status will be removed in 2017.

The program was re-accredited from CAATE until the 2019-2020 academic year.

CAATE program logo

To attain more information on accreditation or find a listing on the accredited programs go the following link  http://www.caate.net

Board of Certification Pass Rate
  2012-2013 2013-2014 2014-2015 2015-2016 2016-2017 2017-2018 2018-2019 3 yr aggregate
Number of students graduating from program. 11 9 9 7 7 16 11 34
Number of students graduating from program who took examination. 11 9 9 7 7 15 11 33
Number of students who passed the examination on the first attempt. 6 0 7 7 6 13 7 26
Percentage of students who passed the examination on the first attempt. 55% 0% 78% 100% 86% 87 64 79%
Number of students who passed the examination regardless of the number of attempts. 10 5 9 7 6 14 9 29
Percentage of students who passed the examination regardless of the number of attempts. 91% 56% 100% 100% 86% 93% 82% 88%
Student Graduation Rate:
  2012-2013 2013-2014 2014-2015 2015-2016 2016-2017 2017-2018 2018-2019 3 yr aggregate
Number of students graduating from program. 11 9 9 7 7 16 11 34
Student Graduation Rate (%) 58 64 53 78 88 89 69 81
Student Employment/Placement Rate
  2012-2013 2013-2014 2014-2015 2015-2016 2016-2017 2017-2018 2018-2019 3 yr aggregate
Number of students Employed as AT 5 5 6 7 5 13 7 25
Student Employment/Placement Rate as AT (%) 45 56 67 100 71 87 70 78
Number of students employed as other 6 4 3 0 1 1 2 4
Student Employment/Placement Rate as other (%) 55% 44% 33% 0% 14% 7% 20% 12%
Number of students not employed 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1
Student Not Employed Rate (%) 0% 0% 0% 0% 14% 0% 0% 3%

*Students in 2012-2013 cohort were required to take BOC exam per program requirement. Prior to that cohort the student could choose either the BOC or State Licensure examination.

Students are expected to follow the University of the Incarnate Word Student Handbook, Student of Conduct, and the Athletic Training Program Policies and Procedures Handbook at all times.

Evidence and Problem Based Learning Tools

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Clinical Field Experience, Observation, and Internship Materials

Emergency Action Plans for Clinical Sites

Administrative and Information

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