Continuing Education
When an Athletic Trainer (AT) renews their national certification, it shows they value professional development, evidence based practice and are committed to the BOC mission of serving in public protection. We are your partner in promoting excellence in practice throughout your career.
The BOC sets the national standards for certification and through our list of BOC Approved Providers, we offer tools to maintain your continuing education (CE). CE requirements are intended to promote continued competence, development of current knowledge and skills and enhancement of professional skills and judgment. They must focus on increasing knowledge, skills and abilities related to the practice of athletic training. CE programs must also be intended for credentialed health care providers and wellness professionals.
ATs must complete a predetermined number of continuing education units (CEUs) during the certification maintenance period. The current period ends December 31, 2021.
| Requirements |
|---|
| ATs certified in 2019 or before must complete 50 CEUs, which must include at least 10 Evidence Based Practice (EBP) CEUs. |
| ATs certified in 2020 must complete 25 CEUs, which must include at least 5 Evidence Based Practice (EBP) CEUs. |
| The continuing education (CE) reporting function within your BOC profile was disabled on Nov. 2, 2020, as part of our recently announced system conversion plan. Track ongoing CE details via an alternative method until the system launches. The BOC has developed a tracking form for your convenience. This form is for tracking purposes only and you will still be required to record entries (not saved by Nov 1) in the new system upon launch. |
All CE programs described for each category must be intended for an audience of credentialed health care and/or wellness providers (i.e., ATs, PTs, RNs, PAs, PTAs, MDs, CPTs) and the content must be at least entry level and pertain to the domains identified in the "Practice Analysis, 7th Edition."
There is no cost to use the BOC’s online CE reporting system. There is a $25 processing fee to submit CEUs using a paper CE reporting sheet.
More information about CE requirement is available in the Certification Maintenance Requirements document.
The Evidence Based Practice (EBP) Category was developed to help ATs infuse evidence into clinical decision making for their patients. As you consider your EBP requirement, remember EBP is the integration of clinical expertise, patient values and the best research evidence into the decision making process for patient care. An EBP program adds value to your clinical toolkit and EBP programs listed on our website are eligible for EBP Category CEUs on or after the approval date.
| Required Minimum |
|---|
| ATs with 50 CEUs due must complete at least 10 EBP CEUs |
| ATs with 25 CEUs due must complete at least 5 EBP CEUs |
| No maximum limit (you can obtain all CEUs due in this category) |
| Live events or home study programs are available through BOC Approved Providers and pre-approved to meet basic EBP principles |
Two types of EBP programs
|
| Possible Activities | Number of CEUs |
|---|---|
| Approved workshops, seminars, conferences, coursework, webinars, home study programs (including peer reviewed journals) offered by BOC Approved Providers | As assigned by BOC |
| Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) Category 1 CME programs offered by BOC Approved Providers and pre-approved by the BOC | As approved by ACCME |
| Post-certification coursework from a CAATE accredited athletic training post professional program | 10 CEUs per credit hour |
| Graduate of a PhD/EdD/DSc/DAT program may qualify if dissertation has a narrow focus of athletic training | 10 CEUs/if 50 CEUs required 5 CEUs/if 25 CEUs required |
| Presenter or author of a BOC Approved EBP Program | 10 CEUs per EBP topic |
| CAATE accredited athletic training residency/fellowship | 25 CEUs per year |
Accredited medical or healthcare provider residency/fellowship with a focus closely related to athletic training. This may include, but is not limited to:
|
25 CEUs per year |
Author of a peer-reviewed journal article addressing patient-oriented clinical research or translational research. This may include, but is not limited to:
|
Primary=15 CEUs per article Secondary=10 CEUs per article |
Category A programs are available through BOC Approved Providers. If you’re interested in live events, think about attending workshops, seminars, conferences, webinars, or other events. If you prefer taking CE programs in the comfort of your own home or while on the road, there are home study programs available for your convenience.
| Requirement |
|---|
| 40 CEUs is the maximum number you can use if you have 50 CEUs due |
| 20 CEUs is the maximum number you can use if you have 25 CEUs due |
| No minimum number of CEUs required |
| Possible Activities | Number of CEUs |
|---|---|
| Live events and home study programs (workshops, seminars, conferences, webinars, etc.) | As awarded by provider |
Category B programs include professional and scholarly activities. If you participate in speaking engagements, this activity could be counted once per topic. If an abstract and/or poster is connected to a presentation, CE credit can only be obtained for one activity or the other. If you’d like to use articles, textbooks, abstracts, home study programs and multimedia for your CE requirements, remember they must be published during the reporting period to receive CE credit.
| Requirement |
|---|
| 33 CEUs is the maximum number you can use if you have 50 CEUs due |
| 17 CEUs is the maximum number you can use if you have 25 CEUs due |
| No minimum number of CEUs required |
| The number of CEUs awarded have been defined by the BOC |
| Possible Activities | Number of CEUs |
|---|---|
| Program faculty at a conference/seminar1 | Primary2=10 CEUs per topic
Secondary3=5 CEUs per topic |
| Panelist at a conference/seminar | 5 CEUs per topic |
| Primary author of an article in a non-refereed journal4 | 5 CEUs per article |
| Author of an article in a refereed journal1,4 | Primary=15 CEUs per article Secondary=10 CEUs per article |
| Author of an abstract in a refereed journal4 | Primary=10 CEUs per article Secondary=5 CEUs per article |
| Author of a published textbook1,4 | Primary=33 CEUs per book Secondary=20 CEUs per book |
| Contributing author of a published textbook1,4 | 10 CEUs per book |
| Author of a poster presentation - peer reviewed or refereed4 | Primary=10 CEUs per presentation Secondary=5 CEUs per presentation |
| Primary author of published multimedia material (CD ROM, audio or video)4 | 10 CEUs per publication |
| Participating member of a clinical research team | 10 CEUs per research project |
| Primary author of a home study program1 | 10 CEUs per home study course |
| Reviewer of a refereed publication | 5 CEUs per publication (limit 10 CEUs per year) |
| Exam item writer5 | 5 CEUs per year of active item writing |
| Preceptor for a CAATE accredited athletic training program | 5 CEUs per year (a minimum of 200 hours per calendar year) |
1Does not qualify for the EBP Category (does not address patient-oriented clinical research or translational research.)
2Primary faculty refers to the presenter of a conference/seminar who prepares the presentation.
3Secondary faculty refers to those who assist with conducting lectures, workshops or labs who must prepare based on the primary faculty's instructions. A lead lab instructor falls under secondary faculty.
4The following explanations apply to publication activities:
- Published: prepared for commercial distribution
- Journal: a periodical containing scholarly articles and/or current information on research and development in a particular field
- Refereed: the manuscript/document has been reviewed by an editor and one or more specialists prior to publication
5Includes BOC exam item writers and exam item writers for other health care professional exams.
In some cases, post certification college/university coursework can count for your CE requirements. College courses, including practicum courses (i.e. clinical and internship experiences) must be listed on an official transcript with assigned credit hours. A transcript will be requested if audited.
Teaching a college course is not acceptable for CE credit. Also, non-credit college courses are not acceptable for CE credit in Category C.
| Requirement |
|---|
| 40 CEUs is the maximum number you can use if you have 50 CEUs due |
| 20 CEUs is the maximum number you can use if you have 25 CEUs due |
| No minimum number of CEUs required |
| CEUs are awarded for successful completion of college/university courses if the content of the course falls within the domains identified in the "Practice Analysis, 7th Edition" |
| The college/university attended must be accredited by an agency recognized by the US Department of Education |
| Possible Activities | Number of CEUs |
|---|---|
| College/university official course | 10 CEUs per credit hour |
Category D programs are reserved for a professional program that is sponsored by groups other than BOC Approved Providers. You can include activities that are offered by non-BOC Approved Providers. You can also view videos, DVDs, audiotapes, multimedia or webinars where the content falls within the domains identified in the "Practice Analysis, 7th Edition."
| Requirement |
|---|
| 28 CEUs is the maximum number you can use if you have 50 CEUs due |
| 14 CEUs is the maximum number you can use if you have 25 CEUs due |
| No minimum number of CEUs required |
| Possible Activities | Number of CEUs |
|---|---|
| Activities by non-BOC Approved Providers | 1 CEU per contact hour |
| Videos, DVDs, audiotapes, multimedia, webinars | 1 CEU per contact hour |