craigdailypress.com

I recently read your article "Trainers help keep Bulldogs afloat" and would like to correct misinformation about the education and practice of certified athletic trainers that appeared in David Pressgrove's article.

The National Athletic Trainers' Association Board of Certification Inc. is the only accredited certification program for athletic trainers in the United States. The BOC has been responsible for the certification of athletic trainers since 1969. The Mission of the Board of Certification is as follows:

"To certify athletic trainers and to identify for the public, quality healthcare professionals through a system of certification, adjudication, standards of practice and continuing competency programs."

The BOC was incorporated in 1989 to provide a certification program for entry-level athletic trainers and recertification standards for certified athletic trainers. The purpose of this entry-level certification program is to establish standards for entry into the profession of athletic training. Additionally, the BOC has established the continuing education requirements that a certified athletic trainer must satisfy to maintain current status as a BOC certified athletic trainer.

To attain certification as an athletic trainer, a candidate must satisfy education and exam requirements.

Education requirements: completion of an entry-level CAAHEP Accredited Athletic Training Curriculum (a minimum of a bachelor's degree). Currently, there are four institutions in Colorado that have CAAHEP accredited athletic training programs:

n Colorado State University -- Pueblo,

n Fort Lewis College ,

n Mesa State College,

n University of Northern Colorado.

Exam requirements: Candidates must pass a national certification examination.

In direct response to your article, high school students are not certified athletic trainers. In fact, it is dangerous practice to allow a high school student who has no training or education to practice as an athletic trainer. As described previously, certified athletic trainers have met rigorous and necessary requirements to practice athletic training.

The high school's athletic trainer, Jeff Pleasant, is correct, 43 of the 50 states regulate the practice of athletic training. Almost all of these states require BOC certification. Athletic trainers in Colorado are pursuing statewide regulation for athletic trainers.

I hope this information is helpful when your readers or your readers' sons, daughters, grandchildren, nieces and nephews need to seek the expertise of a certified athletic trainer. Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

Shannon L Leftwich,

Director of Credentialing Services

Board of Certification Inc.

Omaha, Neb.