Athletic Trainer Interstate Compact Makes Progress
BOC continues to support the professional mobility of licensed athletic trainers (ATs) by developing a new interstate compact with the Council of State Governments (CSG) via a cooperative agreement with the Department of Defense (DoD). An interstate compact will allow ATs to practice across state lines physically and remotely (e.g., via telehealth), improving continuity of care.
ATs have the knowledge and skills to be effective in many health care settings, including virtual care. Digital health expands ATs’ reach and provides patients with increased access to qualified health care professionals. An interstate compact is the most efficient way for ATs to use telehealth in multiple states.
Occupational licensure compacts represent the gold standard of policy options for states to improve licensure portability. The AT Compact will enhance reciprocity among compact member states to reduce barriers to employment and care delivery.
An interstate compact is also a more efficient and effective way for AT regulators to exchange licensure and disciplinary data, which would further improve public protection.
Licensure compacts are created by gathering input from various stakeholders (such as regulatory boards, professional organizations and state officials) and are based on a collaborative decision-making process. The development of these compacts follows a structured approach that seeks agreement among stakeholders and builds on the existing policies across different states. The goal is to create a standardized framework that allows licensed professionals to practice across state lines while respecting each state’s regulatory requirements.
History, Progress & Next Steps
The AT Compact’s development was launched with a kick-off meeting on June 5, 2024, through the CSG’s National Center for Interstate Compacts.
Throughout fall 2024 and early 2025, CSG utilized two work groups comprised of state regulators, state board/agency members, and ATs to assist in developing the proposed compact legislation. A technical advisory group was assembled to help identify any uniformity among state and practitioner licensure requirements and to identify any unique characteristics or concerns within the profession that may impact the compact. A document team was assembled to help draft and review the proposed legislation based on recommendations from the technical assistance group.
Informational review sessions to review the legislation and provide a forum for questions were held on April 3 and 10, 2025, for ATs and the public to attend. An informational review session was held on April 8, 2025, for state regulators and board members to provide feedback.
The open comment period is open until April 25, 2025, to ensure stakeholders in the athletic training profession reviewed the compact’s model legislation prior to implementation. The initial draft of the legislation and a section-by-section summary have been provided for review. ATs, regulators and other stakeholders can review the materials and complete a survey to express their feedback
For the latest updates and more information regarding the AT Compact please visit the Council for State Governments website. For additional project background, visit the BOC website.
