Clinical Education Information

The Intercollegiate Athletic Training Rooms are the designated physical facilities where comprehensive health care is provided to student athletes. These same facilities are used by athletic training students to develop their clinical skills in a structured laboratory environment. Each semester students are assigned to one of the two athletic training rooms staffed by a faculty member providing athletic training services to an assigned athletic population. Each semester a specific clinical emphasis is implemented utilizing the facility and sports most likely to enhance development in those clinical skills. The clinical emphasis and sports coverage are: upper extremity - baseball, football, volleyball, tennis, track (throwers), and cheerleading; lower extremity - football, soccer, cross-country, track, and basketball; general medical - all sports ; and equipment intensive - football. Athletic training students are directly supervised by a faculty athletic trainer providing athletic medicine services to these sports including but not limited to the following: practice preparation, practice coverage, game preparation, game coverage, first aid, injury/illness evaluation, follow up care, therapeutic modalities, rehabilitation, and other athletic medical services. Students are evaluated on their clinical skill development and proficiencies through written tests, skill tests, and oral practical tests.

Clinical Education Requirements

The clinical education experience within the profession of athletic training is an opportunity for students to practice and refine skills and knowledge learned throughout the education process. Therefore, students are required to work a minimum of 10 hours per week as an athletic training student while enrolled in the ATEP. The intent of the clinical education is to expose students to various components of the athletic training profession (e.g., coaches, athletes, equipment, clinical settings, injury/illnesses). At no time are the athletic training students expected or required to take the responsibilities of a certified athletic trainer. Clinical rotations will vary in length and settings during the ATEP.

Based on a student’s past experiences and skill level, each student will be assigned to a clinical instructor for supervision. Academic classes should remain the students’ primary responsibility; however, they should make every effort to schedule classes before 1 pm, allowing for clinical rotations in the afternoon.

Pre-Professional Phase Procedures

Students are assigned two eight week rotations within clinical sites at Emporia State University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, under the direct supervision of a certified athletic trainer (ACI). Students must obtain a minimum of 80 clinical education hours per semester and be enrolled in PE 271 and PE 272, Introduction to Athletic Training Injuries and Lab as the associated courses.

Professional Phase (Sophomore - Senior Year)

Sophomore Clinical Procedures

Students are assigned two clinical rotations; 1 per semester, some of which may be off campus. Each of these rotations is approximately 5 weeks in length and students must be enrolled in PE 274 and 275, Clinical Education I and II as the associated course. Students must obtain a minimum of 150 clinical education hours per semester, which is about 10 hours/week. The students are supervised by an ACI.

Junior Clinical Procedures

Students are assigned two clinical rotations, some of which may be off campus. Each of these rotations is approximately 16 weeks in length and students must be enrolled in PE 346 and 347, Clinical Education III and IV as the associated courses. Students must obtain a minimum of 225 clinical education hours per semester, which is about 15 hours/week. The students are supervised by an ACI.

Senior Clinical Procedures

Students are assigned two clinical rotations, some of which may be off campus. Each of these rotations is approximately 16 weeks in length and students must be enrolled in PE 483 and PE 484, Clinical Education V and VI as the associated courses. Students must obtain a minimum of 225 clinical education hours per semester, which is about 15 hours/week. The students are supervised by an ACI.