Featured BOC Approved Provider: National Athletic Trainers’ Association
The BOC regularly features BOC Approved Providers for notable efforts to enhance its continuing education programs for Athletic Trainers (ATs). Featured organizations follow the guidelines set forth by the BOC. Senior Knowledge Initiatives Manager Karly Foster, Professional Development/LMS Manager Andrea Hooper and Senior Knowledge Initiatives Coordinator Velma Meza from the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) share their organization’s experience.
Why does your organization choose to participate in the BOC Approved Provider Program?
The NATA values education as a priority in advancing the athletic training profession. This aligns directly with our mission to represent, engage and foster the continued growth and development of the athletic training profession and ATs as unique health care providers. By participating in the BOC Approved Provider Program, we give ATs access to high-quality continuing education that supports best practices and lifelong learning. Being a BOC Approved Provider allows us to provide educational opportunities that not only help ATs maintain their credentials but also enhance their ability to deliver high-quality patient care.
As an organization committed to professional growth, we recognize the importance of aligning with industry standards to ensure our programs remain relevant, evidence-based and impactful. Through this commitment, we strive to empower ATs with the knowledge and skills necessary to advance their practice and strengthen the profession. Our robust education offerings include our diverse educational programming during the NATA Clinical Symposia & AT Expo and NATA EducATe, a learning management system specifically designed to support ATs with flexible, on-demand learning. These platforms allow us to provide high-quality education tailored to ATs’ needs, ensuring accessible and engaging continuing education opportunities.
How have the BOC standards and guidelines for BOC Approved Providers impacted your program development and administrative processes to offer continuing education programs for ATs?
The BOC standards and guidelines have provided a strong foundation for NATA’s education initiatives, helping us stay up to date with the latest recommendations and best practices in continuing education program development. By adhering to these guidelines, we have been able to streamline our program development and administrative processes, creating greater efficiencies while maintaining high-quality standards. The framework set by BOC serves as a guide for our programming, ensuring that our educational offerings are compliant and meaningful in advancing the profession. These standards allow us to focus on delivering impactful learning experiences that directly contribute to the professional growth of ATs and, ultimately, better outcomes for the patients they serve.
How do you design your curriculum to help participants improve outcomes in the patients they serve?
Our curriculum is designed with real-world applications in mind, ensuring that ATs can immediately integrate new knowledge and skills into their practice. In addition to our asynchronous offerings, we incorporate hands-on learning opportunities, allowing ATs to refine their clinical expertise in practical settings. To keep our courses relevant and effective, we also use session evaluations to continuously improve our content and teaching methods.
By collaborating with subject matter experts, we provide education that reflects the latest advancements in the profession. Additionally, we emphasize reflection as a critical component of learning, giving ATs the opportunity to process and apply new information in ways that enhance their patient care. Through initiatives such as NATA EducATe, which was designed with ATs in mind, we continue to deliver innovative and engaging educational experiences that elevate the profession.
What advice do you have for organizations looking to be on the cutting edge and maintain compliance, as they develop education programs?
Organizations looking to lead in education should prioritize collaboration and continuous improvement. Engaging with subject matter experts and forming committees of experienced ATs guarantees that educational content is both evidence-based and relevant to current practice. It is also crucial to design programs with the AT in mind, understanding their similarities and distinctions from other health care professionals.
Developing a comprehensive program handbook helps maintain consistency and compliance while fostering a structured approach to education. Staying current with technological advancements, position statements and industry trends is essential to keeping educational offerings relevant and forward-thinking. Most importantly, it is the foundation for advancing the athletic training profession, enhancing career opportunities and improving patient care. A strong educational framework ensures that ATs are equipped with the latest evidence-based practices, uphold the highest standards of health care and continue to play a critical role in injury prevention, rehabilitation and overall athlete well-being. By committing to these principles, organizations can create high-quality learning experiences that support ATs in their professional growth while maintaining compliance with BOC standards.
Leveraging platforms such as NATA EducATe enable organizations to provide engaging, self-paced courses while also supplementing learning with hands-on sessions at major events such as the annual NATA Clinical Symposia & AT Expo.
