Interested in furthering your career as an athletic trainer?
Accredited athletic training (AT) residency and fellowship is a crucial step of professional development between graduate education and autonomous clinical practice in a specialty area. Residents in accredited programs benefit from structured mentorship, comprehensive specialty training, and education standards- set forth by the CAATE.
Formal clinical development, structured didactic curricula, and scholarship within the specialty area are pillars of residency programs to expand upon the foundational knowledge and experience athletic trainers have acquired during professional education.
Completing an accredited AT residency or fellowship program is a transformative experience that leads to better career outcomes for athletic trainers, including expanded career opportunities and increased compensation.
These eight specialty areas of clinical practice, identified by the CAATE, represent areas of specialty in which ATs clearly demonstrate advanced patient-care knowledge and skills.
Residents who complete an accredited residency gain advanced-level skills and experience in a particular specialty area.
CAATE Residency Specialty Areas
- Orthopaedics
- Rehabilitation
- Performance Enhancement
- Behavioral Health
- Pediatrics
- Primary Care
- Prevention and Wellness
- Urgent and Emergent Care
Fellowship is advanced education and intensive programming for certified athletic trainers who desire to enter more subspecialized practice.
Why should you complete an accredited residency or fellowship program?
Accredited athletic training residency/fellowship programs benefit all involved-- from program faculty, patients, athletic training residents/fellows, to their future patients-- because the rigorous quality standards set forth by the CAATE ensure the best outcomes for athletic trainers.
The communities surrounding accredited residency programs promote innovation, mentorship, and excellent patient care.
Accredited AT residency and fellowship programs are accountable for standards set by the CAATE, ensuring advanced-level practice across the field of AT education.
Find The Right Program
The CAATE has a directory of all accredited programs with detailed information on student outcomes including program retention, completion, and placement rate.
VIEW DIRECTORY
Need more resources?
Athletic Trainers in the Physican Practice Society Residency and Fellowship Publications
This resource was developed by the Association for Athletic Training Education to help you learn more about athletic training, the path to becoming an athletic trainer, the wide variety of career pathways for ATs, advanced degrees and program options, and how to find programs that are right for you. Learn more by clicking the logo below.
Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer: Steps to become orthopedic specialty certified
RF-ATCAS
The Only Centralized Application Service for Residency and Fellowship Athletic Training Programs
The CAATE is partnered with Liaison International, the leader in admissions management solutions, to run RF-ATCAS, a centralized application service for candidates applying to residency and fellowship programs in athletic training. The system allows learners to apply to multiple participating programs with a single application and facilitates a streamlined admissions process for programs.
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CONTACT RF-ATCAS
HOW DOES RF-ATCAS HELP?
RF-ATCAS allows learners to upload their information and supporting documents to one centralized location and select from participating programs. They can have their completed application materials sent directly to the selected programs' administrators. It should be noted to prospective learners that not all Athletic Training Programs subscribe to RF-ATCAS, so you may need to visit additional programs outside the RF-ATCAS system to apply directly for admission.
Benefits for students utilizing ATCAS:
- Single online application
- Easy, intuitive interface
- 24×7 mobile access
- Real-time updates
- One point of contact for support
Fee Waiver Assistance Program:
At the start of the cycle, the CAATE offers a limited number of fee waivers to qualified applicants on a first-come, first-served basis. Each fee waiver covers the initial application fee to one program and can be requested as soon as you create an application. If you received a fee waiver during a previous cycle, you can still apply for another in the next cycle. Contact RF-ATCAS before you submit a fee waiver request to determine if funds are still available.
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Participating Programs