Athletic Training FAQs

As described by the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA),

"Athletic trainers (ATs) are highly qualified, multi-skilled health care professionals who collaborate with physicians to provide preventative services, emergency care, clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions. Athletic trainers work under the direction of a physician as prescribed by state licensure statutes. The NATA Code of Ethics states the principles of ethical behavior that should be followed in the practice of athletic training.

Athletic trainers are sometimes confused with personal trainers. There is, however, a large difference in the education, skill set, job duties and patients of an athletic trainer and a personal trainer. The athletic training academic curriculum and clinical training follows the medical model. Athletic trainers must graduate from an accredited baccalaureate or master’s program, and 70% of ATs have a master’s degree. Learn more about the education of athletic trainers.

The Guide to Athletic Training Services (pdf) describes the qualifications of athletic trainers and the clinical tasks they routinely perform in the delivery of quality health care."

The application cycle for Fall 2023 admission is open! You can view application details HERE. 

As our clinical sites are continually changing, we encourage you to refer to the Clinical Site and Preceptor Information page for an updated list of our current preceptors and clinical sites.

All admission requirements and prerequisite course requirements are listed here.

Details on tuition and additional costs for the program can be found here.

The Master of Science in Athletic Training Program will matriculate a new class every year. Courses will start late July/ early August.

Yes, you are able to submit your application for the Master of Science in Athletic Training Program while courses are still in progress, however, the following guidelines must be followed:

• Five of the eight required prerequisites must be completed at time of application
• A plan to complete outstanding coursework must be documented in the application
• Any outstanding prerequisites must be completed with a grade of “B” or higher
  • Any grades under “B” can disqualify an applicant from matriculating into the program

All transcripts for outstanding prerequisite coursework must be received by CMU no later than July 1

We recommend when tracking your hours, record the location, supervisor, contact information, your position, and a short description and the number of hours you completed at each location. When applying, you will put your total hours either within your resume/CV or within your Statement of Intent. 

Yes, there are minimum GPA requirements to be admitted into the entry-level Master of Science in Athletic Training (MSAT) Program. A minimum overall GPA must be at least 3.0 (on 4.0 scale). Additionally, you must have a minimum science GPA of 3.0 (on 4.0 scale)- Sciences include courses such as biology/zoology, chemistry, and physics. Additional information on admission requirements and prerequisite course requirements can be found in the Admission Requirements page.

If you do not have a CMU ID (700#), please use 700 plus your 6 digit birthday (mm/dd/yy) as your CMU ID when registering for the CASPer Exam. (Example for a 1/26/1999 birthday: 700012699)