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Why are athletic trainers stepping away from PRN work? Over the past year, I’ve noticed more ATs turning down per diem opportunities—or leaving the PRN pool altogether. PRN roles were once seen as flexible, supplemental, and a great way to stay active in the profession. Now, it seems the value proposition is shifting. I’d love to hear directly from you: 💥 Are there too many responsibilities/liability involved? 💥 Bad experiences with coaches/athletes/parents/event operators?

When Hollywood Gets Athletic Training Wrong (and Why It Matters) Lately, two major TV shows — Landman and Grey’s Anatomy — have spotlighted athletic training in very different ways. In Landman (S2 Ep 9), an athletic training student appears unsupervised, using questionable techniques like spatting for “weak ankle ligaments” and functioning independently — something that would violate both clinical and educational standards. In Grey’s Anatomy (S22 Ep10), a community college te

“Entry-Level” — and How It’s Being Misused “Entry-level” is supposed to mean you’re new to the profession, not new to being undervalued. For most employers, “entry-level” signals a position designed for those just starting out: mentorship, structured development, and realistic expectations for growth. But in healthcare (especially athletic training), the term has been twisted. The issue, many “entry-level” positions now ask for: 2–3 years of experience Multiple credentials Fu

Why Are Athletic Trainers Still Treated Like Support Staff? We’re licensed, credentialed, and trained to evaluate, treat, and manage injuries and illness. So why are we still often treated like “support staff”? 1. The Legacy Problem Athletic training started inside athletics, not medicine. For years, ATs worked under coaches, not directly with clinicians, and even though our education evolved, the perception didn’t always follow. 2. Reporting Lines That Don’t Match Our Scope

Advocating for Athletic Training in Alaska 🩺❄️ I had the opportunity to attend Bernadette Wilson’s fundraiser for Alaska’s governor, and it was great to connect with someone who already understands what athletic trainers do — she was a former figure skater and has firsthand experience with the AT profession. What surprised her, though, was how much athletic training has evolved beyond the traditional sports setting. We talked about how athletic trainers are now embedded in i

South Carolina is showing what local advocacy can do for AT compensation South Carolina is setting an example for the nation when it comes to advocating for athletic trainer compensation & it’s happening at the local level. Recently, Aiken County Public Schools voted to raise the minimum salary for ATs by more than $9,000 paired with a lump sum $5,000 sign on bonus. The district had been struggling to fill several open AT positions; community members, administrators, and hea

A Guided Map for Every Stage of Your Athletic Training Career The BOC Athletic Training Pathfinder Program isn’t just a concept, it’s a tool designed to help athletic trainers navigate their professional journey with confidence and direction. Here’s how it works: 1. Self-Assessment Athletic trainers begin by identifying where they are in their professional journey, from entry-level clinician to advanced practice or leadership. The Pathfinder helps you recognize your current c

Out of curiosity, I asked AI why strength and conditioning coaches are paid more than athletic trainers — & looked at it through a business lens. What can ATs learn within the sports performance ecosystem. 1. Perceived Contribution to Winning S&C coaches are viewed as performance assets. They’re directly tied to measurable outcomes — faster athletes, more explosive performance, better combine numbers. ATs are seen as cost mitigation. Their role is often framed around injury p

When the Classroom Meets the Contract: Accountability in the Era of NIL and the Transfer Portal The University of Georgia’s lawsuit against former defensive end Damon Wilson II, seeking $390,000 in damages after he entered the transfer portal, isn’t just a headline about NIL gone wrong. Last year, Wilson, a highly-recruited edge rusher who played two seasons at Georgia, signed a name, image, and likeness (NIL) agreement with Georgia’s Classic City Collective that was reported

Innovation or the Beginning of the End for College Athletics? The University of Utah Just Redefined the Game. Last month, the University of Utah became the first major public institution to sell equity in its athletics department, a historic partnership with Otro Capital, forming a new for-profit company: Utah Brands & Entertainment LLC. Under this structure, the new entity will manage ticketing, media rights, sponsorships, concessions, and merchandising. The University of Ut

Does the Transfer Portal Build Resilient Athletes - or Restless Ones? Nearly one-third of college athletes have now entered the transfer portal. That’s not just a statistic; it’s a cultural signal. Athletes today face pressures that look nothing like the college experience of even five years ago. They navigate contracts, brand deals, mental health expectations, academic demands, and public judgment; all before turning 22. In one sense, that has to build resilience. They’re ad

Why Even Salaried Professionals Should Track Their Hours Exempt (salary) employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) are not required to track hours for pay purposes. You’re paid to perform the job, not for the number of hours worked. Many salaried employees assume that once you’re “exempt,” your time doesn’t need to be tracked. But research increasingly suggests the opposite, that keeping a personal record of your hours can improve both performance and well-being. Ev

Entering 2026: IRS 1099 reporting threshold is now $2,000 (previously $600) 2026 Mileage Reimbursement: $0.72/mile

Welcoming the new year: IRS Mileage Reimbursement $0.72/mile 1099 Reporting: The threshold increases to $2,000 (up from $600) for payments made in 2026.

2026 "Baseline" geographical minimum wage set by The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). FLSA is a US labor law that sets minimum wage, overtime pay, child labor protections, and recordkeeping requirements. It applies to most private sector employees, as well as federal, state, and local government employees. This table is to help formulate and compare an athletic trainer's wage compared to minimum federal/state standards, organized by athletic training district Different states

How Do Athletic Training Salaries Stack Up Against Federal Standards? Here’s a snapshot of where we stand after 2024 - comparing the median athletic training salary (BLS) in each state to the FLSA exempt salary threshold. Across the U.S., most states show AT salaries 150–200% above the FLSA minimum, suggesting the profession generally meets or exceeds wage thresholds for exempt status (with the exception of Washington State). But what percentage over the threshold should we r

When are we going to start editing down the curriculum of athletic training programs? Are we asking the right question about athletic training education? Currently, most conversations focus on: “How do we fit more into entry-level programs?” But maybe the better question is: “How do we ensure what’s already there is mastered?” Under the structure of CAATE, programs are required to: • Map curriculum • Assess outcomes • Demonstrate competency • Maintain accreditation standards

Ever wonder how something with little to no value can suddenly become priceless? In the movie The Kill Room, a hitman’s sloppy paintings become overnight sensations in the art world — not because they’re good, but because the story around them changes. That story is a metaphor for every undervalued profession....Including ours. I’ll share six lessons athletic trainers can learn from The Kill Room about creating value, legitimacy, and visibility in a system that often overlook

Part 1: The Decline of Volunteerism - and Why It Matters for All of Us Over the past two decades, volunteerism in the United States has quietly, but dramatically, declined. Only 23% of Americans volunteered in 2021, down from nearly 30% in the early 2000s.¹ That means millions fewer people helping their communities, serving on boards, or lending professional expertise. Researchers call this a symptom of “time poverty” when people feel they no longer have the hours, energy, or

Alabama and South Dakota have officially finalized legislation to join the Athletic Training Interstate Compact. Alabama’s SB160 has been enacted, establishing participation in the compact and allowing licensed athletic trainers to practice across participating states without obtaining additional licenses. South Dakota has followed suit, with HB1149 passed and signed into law—further expanding the reach and momentum of the compact nationwide. So what does this actually mean?

Happy 6-Year Anniversary of COVID and Athletics Trainers Stepping Up Around this time seven years ago, the world shut down due to COVID-19. Sports stopped. Schools closed. Entire systems paused. When sports began returning, athletic trainers were placed on the front lines of reintegrating athletics back into society. Athletic trainers suddenly became responsible for: • Daily symptom screenings and temperature checks • Isolation and quarantine protocols • Contact tracing for t

Athletic training doesn’t need more content. It needs better mastery. Somewhere along the way, we started equating: ➡️ More curriculum ➡️ More competencies ➡️ More exposure With producing a better entry-level AT. But what if we’ve been solving the wrong problem? What if the real issue is: • Not enough repetition • Not enough clinical volume • Not enough emphasis on “bread and butter” skills The foundation of this profession has always been: • Orthopedic evaluation • Acute car

Volunteerism, CE Incentives, and the Future of Athletic Training

Domain 5 (Health Administration & Professional Responsibility) dropped from 13% (PA7) to just 8% (PA8).