Continuing Education Options Expanded for AT Educators

There have been recent changes to the “2024-2025 Certification Maintenance Requirements” that guide certification maintenance for Athletic Trainers (ATs). An expanded definition of continuing education (CE) increases opportunities and options for educators. CE programs can now include content that provides knowledge and skills to enhance one’s ability to be an effective educator. Keep in mind that continuing education units are not awarded for the educator role itself; they are only awarded for skills improvement, such as a course on pedagogy or the practice of teaching.

The updated definition is as follows: “CE activities that enhance educational knowledge and skills necessary to educate athletic training students are acceptable.” While this is a new definition, it is not based on new category rules or expanded domains. Several domains in “Practice Analysis, 8^th Edition” (PA8) currently include being able to improve the education of others.

The BOC definition of CE is broad, to encompass activities that assist ATs in carrying out their professional responsibilities effectively and efficiently. Educators can earn credit based on coursework to become a better educator, not just on how to teach a clinical skill. Examples of topics that are included in the new BOC definition of CE include:

• Clinical knowledge and skills

• Facility and/or practice management

• Educational methodology

The BOC Standards Committee reviewed PA8, which was implemented for CE in January 2024 and discovered that with broad interpretation, there are areas where programs related to education, including methodology, could be acceptable for continuing education. Examples of this include the following:

• Domain I: Risk Reduction, Wellness and Health Literacy is defined as “Promoting healthy lifestyle behaviors with effective education and communication to enhance wellness and minimize the risk of injury and illness.

• • Task 3: Promote health literacy by educating patients and other stakeholders in order to improve their capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information needed to make appropriate health decisions.

• • • Skill In – Educating stakeholders on available resources and healthcare procedures

• • • Skill In – Teaching stakeholders to communicate and advocate effectively with healthcare providers

• Domain II: Assessment, Evaluation and Diagnosis

• • Task 5: Educate the patient and stakeholders on the clinical diagnosis, prognosis, and plan of care.

• Domain III: Critical Incident Management

• • Task 1: Skill In – Educating individual (e.g., facilities, health care professionals, patients, guardians, organizational personnel) regarding standard emergency care procedures

• Domain IV: Therapeutic Intervention

• • Task 2: Educate patients and appropriate stakeholders using pertinent information to optimize patient-centered care and patient engagement throughout the therapeutic intervention process.

• • • Knowledge Of: Educational material and methods

• Domain V: Healthcare Administration and Professional Responsibility

• • Task 1: Skill In – Educating stakeholders

• • Task 1: Skill In – Educating the public and stakeholders on the profession of athletic training to ensure patient protection and care across all job settings