Advancing Recognition: How One AT Elevated the BCS-O® Credential

For Athletic Trainers (ATs) pursuing advanced orthopedic practice, earning the Board Certified Specialist in Orthopedics (BCS-O®) credential is more than professional growth, it’s an opportunity to elevate the profession within health care systems. For one AT it became a mission.

JJ Wetherington, MS, ATC, LAT, BCS-O, earned the credential in 2021 and practices at St. Luke’s Sports Medicine in Boise, Idaho. Specializing in shoulder pathology, he works alongside a fellowship-trained sports medicine surgeon and focuses on patient optimization, clinical efficiency and team-based care. He also serves as core faculty for St. Luke’s CAATE-accredited orthopedic residency program.

The BOC is highlighting how ATs have leveraged the Orthopedic Specialist role within their workplaces to promote professional advancement. Here is how Wetherington championed the BCS-O® credential to create value for this specialty credential within his organization.

A Vision Beyond Recognition

From the outset, Wetherington’s goal went far beyond simply having the credential acknowledged. He said his drive to bring recognition to the BCS-O® wasn’t just about the credential: “It was about demonstrating that ATs in advanced orthopedic practice bring the same level of training, capability and clinical value as other allied health professionals.”

Wetherington emphasized that ATs are more similar to peer professions like Registered Nurses and Physical Therapists than they are different, and that recognition is a critical step toward establishing that parity within health care systems.

Building Within the System

Rather than attempting to create a new pathway, Wetherington took a strategic approach: he studied how other allied health professionals achieved specialty recognition and aligned his efforts accordingly.

By modeling a formal petition after existing processes used by RNs and PTs, Wetherington demonstrated that the BCS-O® naturally fits within established credentialing frameworks. This approach reinforced a key principle that parity isn’t created by building something separate, but by being included in what already exists.

Turning Barriers into Education

One of the most significant challenges was not procedural but cultural. In a system largely structured around nursing, many decision-makers had limited exposure to ATs in clinical settings and little understanding of their capabilities in modern orthopedic care.

What began as advocacy for a credential quickly became broader education about the profession itself. Wetherington engaged in ongoing conversations with leadership, helping them understand not only the rigor of the BCS-O®, but also how ATs contribute to patient outcomes, clinic efficiency, access to care and interdisciplinary collaboration.

The process required persistence, relationship-building and a willingness to challenge long-standing assumptions while consistently framing the conversation in terms leaders value: quality, efficiency and system impact.

A Meaningful Outcome

Ultimately, the organization granted full recognition of the BCS-O®, treating it the same as specialty certifications held by other allied health professionals.

While the recognition did not immediately result in a new role or title, it achieved something significant: BCS-O® credential holders now qualify for the same specialty certification bonus as their peers. More importantly, it established the credential as a validated and valued component of the organization’s clinical framework.

Creating Lasting Impact

Just as important as the outcome is the pathway that now exists. Future ATs within the system who earn the BCS-O® will receive recognition automatically without needing to repeat the advocacy or education efforts.

“The process is built. The door is open,” Wetherington said. “That’s how progress works—one person pushes the barrier, and the next moves forward without resistance.”

Advice for Others

Wetherington encourages other BCS-O® credential holders to take an active role in advancing the profession. Here are his top tips to get started:

• Learn how your organization recognizes specialty credentials and follow that process
• Communicate your value using measurable outcomes for efficiency and system alignment
• Use recognition as a starting point to advocate for expanded roles and integration
• Mentor and support others to build collective momentum

He also emphasizes the importance of unity across the profession, noting that progress accelerates when ATs present a consistent, confident voice grounded in capability and value.

Shaping the Future

For Wetherington, recognition is only the beginning. BCS-O® credential holders are uniquely positioned to demonstrate what advanced orthopedic practice in athletic training can look like, and to help redefine how the profession is viewed within health care.

“The future of athletic training will be defined by the choices we make right now,” he said. “We are not waiting for permission, we are claiming our place, shaping our identity and building what comes next.”