2026 Best Master’s in Athletic Training Programs
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A master’s in athletic training is the main graduate pathway for students who want to become athletic trainers and work at the intersection of sports medicine, injury prevention, rehabilitation, emergency care, and human performance. The decision matters because athletic training is no longer just a sideline role in competitive sports. Athletic trainers now work across schools, colleges, clinics, hospitals, military settings, industrial workplaces, and performance organizations.
Employment of athletic trainers is projected to grow 11% through 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025). At the same time, students must be careful when choosing a program because accreditation, clinical placement quality, certification eligibility, cost, and state licensure rules can directly affect whether the degree leads to the career they want.
This guide explains what athletic training master’s programs teach, how much they cost, what jobs they can lead to, what requirements applicants should expect, how to compare programs, and when a different healthcare or sports science degree may be the better fit.
Quick Answer: Is a Master’s in Athletic Training Worth It?
A master’s in athletic training can be worth it if you want to become an athletic trainer, enjoy hands-on patient care, and are comfortable working in sports, clinical, school, or performance-based environments. The degree is especially important because aspiring athletic trainers need to complete a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) to qualify for the certification pathway used in the profession.
The degree may not be the best choice if your main priority is a high-paying healthcare career with predictable hours. The BLS reports a median annual wage for athletic trainers of $60,250, with the lowest 10% earning less than $45,380 and the highest 10% earning more than $84,100. Athletic training can also involve evenings, travel, weekend events, and seasonal schedules.
| Choose a master’s in athletic training if... | Consider another path if... |
| You want to work directly with athletes and active populations. | You want a healthcare role with fewer event-based or irregular hours. |
| You are interested in injury prevention, evaluation, emergency response, and rehabilitation. | You prefer administrative, data, policy, or technology-focused healthcare work. |
| You are prepared to complete supervised clinical experiences. | You need a faster or lower-cost entry into healthcare. |
| You plan to pursue certification and state licensure where required. | You are unsure whether you want patient care responsibilities. |
Master’s in Athletic Training Programs Table of Contents
- What is an athletic training master’s program?
- How much does an athletic training degree cost?
- What jobs can you get with an athletic training degree?
- What are the requirements for athletic training master’s programs?
- What should you look for in an athletic training program?
- 2026 best master’s degree programs in athletic training
- How can you gain experience before applying?
- How should you choose the right athletic training program?
- How can athletic trainers use continuing education to advance?
- How does ROI compare with other healthcare degrees?
- Can athletic training and healthcare administration work together?
- What faster healthcare degree alternatives should you consider?
- What are the fastest ways to finish a master’s in athletic training?
- Can an online master’s in athletic training help your career?
- Why do accreditation and certification matter?
- How are healthcare technologies changing athletic training?
What is an Athletic Training Master’s Program?
An athletic training master’s program is a graduate-level healthcare program that prepares students to prevent, recognize, assess, treat, and rehabilitate injuries and medical conditions affecting athletes and other physically active people. These programs combine sports medicine, anatomy, biomechanics, emergency care, therapeutic interventions, and supervised clinical practice.
Unlike general fitness or coaching programs, athletic training programs are designed for healthcare preparation. Students learn to make clinical decisions, document care, communicate with physicians and other providers, and support safe return-to-play or return-to-activity decisions.
Students comparing graduate options should understand the difference between athletic training, exercise science, physical therapy, sports management, and sports psychology. Athletic training is focused on immediate and ongoing healthcare support for active populations. Exercise science is broader and may lead to fitness, wellness, research, or graduate health programs. Physical therapy requires a separate professional pathway. Sports management emphasizes business and operations. Sports psychology focuses on performance, motivation, and mental well-being; students interested in that direction can explore sports psychology careers.
Common Courses and Training Areas
Curricula vary by institution, but athletic training master’s programs usually combine classroom instruction, laboratories, simulation, and clinical rotations. Students often study the following areas:
- Human anatomy and physiology: Students examine body systems, including the musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, respiratory, and nervous systems. Students comparing undergraduate preparation can also review the top athletic training programs.
- Biomechanics: This area focuses on movement, force, mechanics, and how motion patterns affect performance and injury risk.
- Injury prevention and rehabilitation: Students learn how to reduce injury risk, design conditioning and recovery strategies, and support safe progression after injury.
- Emergency care and first aid: Programs train students in urgent assessment, CPR, basic life support, emergency response, and appropriate use of medical equipment.
- Sports nutrition: Students study how nutrition supports performance, recovery, and overall health in active populations.
- Pharmacology and therapeutic modalities: Coursework may cover medications, therapeutic agents, and treatment tools such as ultrasound, electrical stimulation, heat therapy, and cold therapy.
- Sports psychology: Students explore motivation, stress, goal-setting, confidence, and mental wellness. Those interested in rehabilitation-focused clinical careers may also compare this route with online doctor of physical therapy programs.
- Clinical experience: Students complete supervised practice in real-world settings, often under certified athletic trainers and other healthcare professionals.
What Can You Do With an Athletic Training Degree?
An athletic training degree can lead to roles in sports medicine, school and collegiate athletics, clinical rehabilitation, workplace health, military or public safety settings, and wellness-focused organizations. The article source notes that more than 33,900 athletic trainers are currently employed in the United States alone.
Graduates of a master of science in athletic training commonly pursue athletic trainer roles, but the degree can also support adjacent careers in sports medicine, rehabilitation support, performance training, education, and research. Some graduates later pursue additional credentials or degrees for roles such as physical therapist, physician assistant, occupational therapist, or healthcare administrator.
Students who want a broader health and fitness foundation can also compare athletic training with exercise science career paths. Exercise science can support careers such as exercise physiologist, wellness coach, strength and conditioning specialist, or sports analyst, and it can also prepare students for graduate study in physical therapy, occupational therapy, and other health fields.
Cost of Athletic Training Degree
The cost of an athletic training degree depends on the institution, residency status, program length, required credits, clinical expenses, technology fees, transportation, housing, and whether the school is public or private. Tuition is only one part of the total cost, so students should compare the full cost of attendance rather than the advertised per-credit price alone.
How Much Does It Cost to Get an Athletic Training Degree?
To become an athletic trainer, students must complete a degree program accredited by CAATE. Athletic training and related pathways may be offered at different academic levels, including associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate study, although professional eligibility depends on the specific credential and accreditation requirements.
The following table summarizes the average tuition fee range provided in the source article:
| Degree Type | Public Institution | Private Institution |
| Associate | $16,000 | $16,000 |
| Bachelor’s | $9,212 - $27,023 | $28,936 |
| Master’s | $8,350 - $19,048 | $21,075 |
| *Values are estimates. |
When comparing costs, ask each school for a complete estimate that includes tuition, university fees, clinical placement costs, uniforms, equipment, books, background checks, immunizations, transportation, housing, and exam-related expenses. Students who are more interested in sports leadership, operations, or business roles may also compare athletic training with an online advanced degree in sports management.
Is a Degree in Athletic Training Worth It?
An athletic training degree is most valuable for students who specifically want to practice in athletic training or sports medicine environments. The degree can be worthwhile if you are motivated by hands-on care, injury management, performance support, and working closely with athletes, coaches, physicians, and other providers.
The trade-off is that athletic training may involve long days, game coverage, travel, nights, weekends, and event-based schedules. The article source also notes concerns about low pay compared with some other healthcare professions. For that reason, applicants should compare tuition, debt, expected wages, job settings, and lifestyle before enrolling.
| Potential Advantages | Potential Drawbacks |
| Direct work with athletes and active patients | Irregular hours during athletic seasons or events |
| Clear professional pathway through accredited education and certification | Salary may be lower than some other healthcare careers |
| Opportunities in schools, colleges, clinics, hospitals, military settings, and industry | Clinical placements may require commuting or relocation |
| Strong fit for students interested in sports medicine and injury prevention | Not ideal for students who prefer desk-based or non-clinical roles |
If you like healthcare but are more interested in systems, data, or administration, compare athletic training with a health informatics online degree or an online master’s degree in healthcare administration.
Athletic Training Degree Jobs
A master’s in athletic training can prepare graduates for direct patient care in sports medicine and active-population healthcare. It can also serve as a foundation for related careers, although some roles require additional graduate education, certification, licensure, or state-specific approval.
Is Athletic Training in High Demand?
Employment of athletic trainers is projected to grow 11% through 2034. The BLS also reports a median annual wage for athletic trainers of $60,250. About 2,400 to 2,800 openings for athletic trainers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Employment data cited in the source also indicate that Connecticut, California, and New Jersey are the highest-paying states for athletic trainers in the U.S.
Related sports occupations are also changing. Employment of coaches and scouts is projected to grow by 6% during the same period, and about 43,500 openings for coaches and scouts are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
What Jobs Can You Get With an Athletic Training Degree?
| Role | What the Work Involves | Important Note |
| Athletic trainer | Provides injury prevention, assessment, treatment, emergency care, rehabilitation support, and return-to-activity guidance. | This is the most direct career outcome for a master’s in athletic training. |
| Physical therapist | Helps patients improve movement, function, and pain management after injury, illness, or chronic conditions. | This role requires a separate physical therapy pathway. |
| Physician assistant | Practices medicine under physician supervision, including exams, diagnosis, treatment, prescriptions, and patient education. | This career requires additional PA education and credentialing. |
| Strength and conditioning coach | Designs training programs to improve strength, speed, agility, power, endurance, and injury resilience. | Often overlaps with performance training rather than clinical care. |
| Personal trainer | Assesses fitness, creates exercise plans, coaches clients, and monitors progress. | May require separate fitness certifications depending on employer expectations. |
| Physical education teacher | Teaches sports, movement, and fitness concepts and promotes physical activity. | Public school teaching may require state teaching certification. |
| Occupational therapist | Helps people perform daily activities affected by physical, mental, emotional, or developmental challenges. | Requires occupational therapy education and licensure. |
| Sports psychologist | Supports athlete performance, mental wellness, motivation, stress management, and team dynamics. | Requires psychology training and appropriate credentials. |
| Exercise physiologist | Studies and applies exercise responses to improve health, fitness, and disease prevention or management. | May work in clinical, wellness, or performance settings. |
What Salary Can You Earn With an Athletic Training Degree?
Salary depends on education, experience, certification, employer type, work setting, geographic area, and whether the role includes travel, events, teaching, administration, or supervisory responsibilities. Graduates should not assume that the degree guarantees a specific income.
According to the BLS, the median annual wage for athletic trainers was $60,250. The lowest 10% earned less than $45,380, and the highest 10% earned more than $84,100.
Students should also review certification expectations early. The National Athletic Trainers’ Association explains the professional certification process for those who want to obtain athletic training certification.
Athletic Training Master’s Program Requirements
Admissions requirements vary by school, but applicants should expect programs to review academic preparation, prerequisite coursework, exposure to the profession, communication skills, and readiness for intensive clinical training.
Common Admission Requirements
- A high school diploma or equivalent with a minimum GPA of 2.5 or higher for undergraduate pathways
- Prerequisite coursework in subjects such as biology, chemistry, physics, math, anatomy, physiology, and English
- Official transcripts from all colleges attended, including transfer or online programs such as a health science associate degree online
- A personal statement explaining career goals and interest in athletic training
- Letters of recommendation from instructors, coaches, supervisors, or mentors
- A resume or curriculum vitae showing relevant experience, service, leadership, athletics, healthcare exposure, or research
- Standardized test scores such as the SAT or ACT for some undergraduate programs or the GRE for some graduate programs
- An interview with faculty, staff, or admissions representatives
- Health documentation, physical examination, and immunization records
- Criminal background check and drug screening, especially before clinical placement
Some programs also require observation hours or volunteer experience with a certified athletic trainer or in a sports medicine environment. Applicants should verify deadlines, prerequisites, observation requirements, and clinical eligibility rules directly with each program.
Skills Students Need to Build
- Clinical reasoning: Applying evidence, science, and patient information to assess injuries and choose appropriate care.
- Communication: Explaining findings, plans, risks, and progress clearly to athletes, patients, families, coaches, physicians, and other providers.
- Professional judgment: Following ethical standards, documentation expectations, scope of practice, and legal requirements.
- Leadership: Coordinating care, managing emergency situations, organizing services, and collaborating with teams.
- Research literacy: Understanding evidence, interpreting findings, and applying best practices to clinical situations.
- Adaptability: Continuing to learn as treatment methods, technologies, employer needs, and regulations change.
What to Look for in an Athletic Training Program
The best athletic training program is not always the highest-ranked or most recognizable school. The right program is the one that is accredited, affordable for your situation, clinically strong, aligned with your career goals, and able to support your certification and licensure plans.
| Factor | Why It Matters | Questions to Ask |
| Accreditation | CAATE accreditation is central to professional preparation and certification eligibility. | Is the program currently accredited, and does it meet requirements for my state? |
| Curriculum | Coursework should cover injury prevention, evaluation, rehabilitation, emergency care, documentation, and evidence-based practice. | How does the curriculum prepare students for the BOC exam and clinical work? |
| Clinical placements | Clinical quality can shape your confidence, skills, and employment network. | Where do students complete rotations, and who supervises them? |
| Faculty | Experienced faculty can provide mentorship, research guidance, and career connections. | Do faculty have current clinical, research, or professional experience? |
| Facilities | Labs, simulation spaces, athletic facilities, and clinics support hands-on learning. | What equipment and practice environments are available? |
| Outcomes | Graduation, retention, certification pass, and placement data help evaluate program performance. | What are recent student outcomes, and how are they documented? |
| Total cost | Fees, travel, equipment, and living expenses can change affordability. | What is the full cost of attendance after aid? |
2026 Best Master’s Degree in Athletic Training
The programs below were selected in the source article for 2026 based on features such as curriculum, clinical experiences, accreditation, cost, and program structure. Use this list as a starting point, not as the only basis for enrollment. Always confirm current accreditation status, tuition, admission requirements, clinical expectations, and state licensure alignment directly with the school.
| Program | Format and Focus | Key Details |
| University of South Florida Athletic Training, M.S. | On-campus MSAT with classroom instruction, clinical experiences, and research areas such as Rehabilitation, Biomechanics, and Prevention of Sudden Death in Athletics. | Program Length: 2 years (4 semesters) Tracks/concentrations: None Cost per Credit: $348 (in-state), $425 (out-of-state) Required Credits to Graduate: 60 Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) |
| The George Washington University GW Master of Science (MS) Exercise Science in Strength and Conditioning | Online program with synchronous and asynchronous modules, plus a three-day on-campus capstone course focused on resistance training, performance, and inactivity-related health disorders. | Program Length: 2 years (4 semesters) Tracks/concentrations: None Cost per Credit: $1,040 Required Credits to Graduate: 36 Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) |
| University of Tulsa Master of Athletic Training | MAT program with academic preparation and supervised practice in Division I collegiate athletics, local high schools, and sports medicine clinics. | Program Length: 2 years (4 semesters) Tracks/concentrations: None Cost per Credit: $1,100 Required Credits to Graduate: 60 Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) |
| Appalachian State University Master of Science in Athletic Training | On-campus program using problem-based learning, simulated patients, advanced teaching laboratories, clinical rotations, and a full semester of immersive clinical experience. | Program Length: 2 years (4 semesters) Tracks/concentrations: None Cost per Credit: $266 (in-state), $666 (out-of-state) Required Credits to Graduate: 60 Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) |
| University of Houston Master of Athletic Training | MAT program covering resistance training, athletic performance, injury prevention, exercise physiology, and strategies related to obesity, osteoporosis, and sarcopenia. | Program Length: 2 years (4 semesters) Tracks/concentrations: None Cost per Credit: $1,000 Required Credits to Graduate: 57 Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) |
How Can You Gain Relevant Experience Before Starting an Athletic Training Program?
Relevant experience can strengthen your application and help you confirm whether athletic training fits your interests and temperament. The goal is not only to build a resume but also to understand the daily reality of the profession.
- Shadow certified athletic trainers: Contact schools, clinics, sports teams, recreation centers, or universities and ask whether you can observe a certified athletic trainer during practices, games, evaluations, or rehabilitation sessions.
- Volunteer with sports or fitness organizations: Local teams, youth leagues, tournaments, and fitness programs can introduce you to athlete communication, injury prevention basics, event logistics, and team-based care.
- Complete basic safety certifications: First aid and CPR certification can show commitment and may help you meet program expectations.
- Take foundational science courses: Anatomy, physiology, biology, kinesiology, chemistry, and exercise science courses can make graduate coursework more manageable.
- Work as a rehabilitation or physical therapy aide: Aide roles can expose you to patient care, therapeutic exercise, documentation, and recovery planning.
- Attend workshops and seminars: Events related to sports medicine, conditioning, injury prevention, and rehabilitation can expand your professional network.
How to Choose the Best Athletic Training Program for You
Start with your end goal. If your goal is to become a practicing athletic trainer, prioritize CAATE accreditation, clinical placement strength, certification preparation, and state licensure alignment. If your goal is sports performance, coaching, administration, or public health, compare athletic training against related degrees before committing.
- Verify accreditation first. Do not rely on marketing language. Confirm whether the program is accredited by CAATE and whether graduates are eligible for the certification pathway.
- Compare clinical sites. Look for placements across multiple settings, such as collegiate athletics, high schools, clinics, hospitals, and sports medicine environments.
- Review outcome data. Ask for graduation rates, retention rates, certification pass rates, job placement data, and recent employer or alumni feedback.
- Calculate total cost. Include tuition, fees, living expenses, travel to clinical sites, equipment, background checks, and lost income if you cannot work full time.
- Check flexibility honestly. Online or hybrid coursework can help some students, but athletic training still requires hands-on clinical training.
- Match the curriculum to your interests. Some students want emergency care and sideline coverage; others prefer rehabilitation, performance, occupational health, or prevention.
- Ask about faculty access. Strong mentorship can matter when applying for clinical placements, graduate assistantships, research projects, and jobs.
- Think beyond graduation. Choose a program that prepares you for certification, licensure, continuing education, and advancement.
Students interested in population health, prevention, and wellness may also compare athletic training with the most affordable online MPH programs.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
| Mistake | Better Approach |
| Choosing a program before confirming accreditation | Verify accreditation directly with the accreditor and the school. |
| Comparing tuition only | Compare the complete cost of attendance, including clinical-related costs. |
| Assuming online means fully remote | Ask how clinical placements are arranged and where in-person training occurs. |
| Ignoring state licensure rules | Confirm whether the program supports eligibility in the state where you plan to work. |
| Relying only on rankings | Use rankings as one input, then evaluate outcomes, clinical sites, cost, and fit. |
| Assuming salary outcomes are guaranteed | Review employer type, location, experience level, and labor market conditions. |
How Can Athletic Trainers Advance Their Careers Through Continuing Education?
Continuing education helps athletic trainers maintain competence, adapt to new clinical expectations, and move into more specialized or senior roles. Career growth may involve advanced coursework, specialty certifications, leadership training, research participation, conference attendance, or education in business and healthcare operations.
Athletic trainers who want to move toward billing, documentation, revenue cycle support, or administrative roles may also explore medical billing and coding online schools as a way to understand healthcare systems beyond direct patient care.
How Does the ROI of an Athletic Training Master’s Program Compare to Other Healthcare Degrees?
ROI depends on tuition, debt, time to completion, clinical placement demands, certification costs, expected earnings, location, and the type of job you pursue after graduation. Athletic training can offer meaningful work and steady demand, but its earning profile may be more moderate than some other healthcare careers.
Before enrolling, compare athletic training with other healthcare pathways using the same criteria: total cost, time out of the workforce, licensure requirements, job openings, salary range, schedule, advancement options, and personal fit. A student considering broader clinical or pharmaceutical careers, for example, may want to compare athletic training with a pharmacy degree online option to understand differences in duration, cost, and career trajectory.
Can Combining Athletic Training and Healthcare Administration Boost Your Career?
Combining athletic training with healthcare administration can make sense for professionals who want to lead sports medicine departments, manage clinics, coordinate services, supervise staff, oversee compliance, or build programs for schools, teams, or community organizations.
This combination is most useful after you understand clinical practice and want to move into operations or leadership. Students who want administrative skills without a long additional program can compare options such as the quickest online healthcare administration degree.
What Are Alternative Healthcare Degrees With Faster Completion Timelines?
A master’s in athletic training is not the fastest way to enter healthcare. If your primary goal is to begin working quickly, consider shorter healthcare programs that may take less time than a graduate clinical degree.
Options such as medical billing and coding programs or physical therapy assistant degrees may have shorter timelines while still supporting healthcare employment. Some students also explore diagnostic imaging, nursing pathways, and other allied health programs. To compare faster options, review 2-year medical degrees that pay well.
The right choice depends on whether you want direct patient care, administrative work, technical healthcare training, rehabilitation, sports medicine, or a pathway that can later stack into a higher credential.
What Are the Fastest Ways to Complete a Master’s in Athletic Training?
Some students look for accelerated athletic training pathways so they can move into the workforce sooner. Fast-track programs may use condensed calendars, heavy course loads, summer enrollment, hybrid coursework, or coordinated bachelor’s-to-master’s pathways.
The source article notes that some accelerated programs may allow students to complete degrees in as little as 12-18 months. These formats are usually best for students who already have strong preparation in sports medicine, kinesiology, exercise science, or related coursework. Speed should not come at the expense of accreditation, clinical quality, certification preparation, or licensure eligibility.
Students comparing accelerated options can also review broader fast degree programs to understand how compressed formats work across fields.
Can an Online Master’s in Athletic Training Accelerate Your Career?
Online and hybrid formats can make graduate study more flexible, especially for students balancing work, family, or relocation concerns. However, athletic training is a hands-on healthcare field, so even programs with online coursework must provide supervised clinical experiences.
Before choosing an online or hybrid athletic training program, ask where clinical placements occur, who arranges them, whether placements are available in your state, and whether the format meets certification and licensure requirements. Students comparing speed and flexibility across graduate programs can also review the fastest masters degrees.
How Important is Accreditation and Certification for Athletic Training Programs?
Accreditation and certification are essential in athletic training. CAATE accreditation indicates that a program meets professional education standards. Certification helps validate that graduates have met professional expectations for entry into practice. State licensure or regulation may also apply, depending on where you plan to work.
Do not enroll until you have confirmed the program’s accreditation status, certification eligibility, and fit with your state’s requirements. Students who are still exploring fields can compare athletic training with other majors in college before choosing a specific path.
How Can Athletic Training Leverage Emerging Healthcare Technologies?
Athletic training is being shaped by technologies that support monitoring, communication, documentation, and rehabilitation. Wearable devices, telemedicine tools, digital records, movement analysis platforms, and data-informed recovery plans can help athletic trainers track athlete status and personalize care when used appropriately.
Technology does not replace clinical judgment. Instead, it gives athletic trainers more information to interpret. Students interested in digital healthcare, remote care, and technology-enabled clinical work may also compare athletic training with an online medical degree pathway.
Athletic Training as a Career Decision
Athletic training is a strong fit for students who want a healthcare career connected to movement, sport, performance, and injury care. It requires scientific knowledge, calm decision-making, communication, physical stamina, professionalism, and a willingness to work in dynamic environments.
Before applying, research accredited programs, speak with certified athletic trainers, shadow professionals, compare costs, and ask schools for outcome data. If you are drawn to prevention and community health but do not necessarily want a traditional clinical role, you may also compare athletic training with what you can do with a public health degree.
Key Insights
- Accreditation comes first: For athletic training, CAATE accreditation is not a minor detail. It affects certification eligibility and professional preparation.
- Demand is favorable, but salaries vary: Athletic trainer employment is projected to grow 11% through 2034, and the BLS reports a median annual wage of $60,250.
- Clinical experience is central: Strong programs should provide supervised practice in varied settings, not just classroom instruction.
- Cost comparisons must include more than tuition: Fees, clinical travel, equipment, housing, and lost work time can change the true price of attendance.
- The degree is best for hands-on sports medicine careers: If you want administration, data, public health, or a faster healthcare role, compare alternative degrees before enrolling.
- Online does not mean fully remote: Athletic training programs may offer online coursework, but students still need in-person clinical training.
- Career growth often requires continuing education: Specialization, leadership training, healthcare administration, and technology skills can expand long-term options.
- Fit matters as much as reputation: The best program for you is the one that aligns with your goals, budget, location, learning style, and licensure plans.
References:
- Fortune Business Insights. (2025). Health and Fitness Club Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, 2025-2032. Fortune Business Insights.
- Healthy Roster. (2025, May 2). 2024 Athletic Training Job Market Report Reveals Salary Trends. Healthy Roster.
- PayScale. (2026). Athletic Director salary in 2026. PayScale.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2025). Athletic trainers: Occupational outlook handbook: U.S. bureau of labor statistics. BLS.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2025). Coaches and scouts: Occupational outlook handbook: U.S. bureau of labor statistics. BLS.
Other Things You Should Know About A Master’s in Athletic Training Programs
In 2026, athletic trainers typically need to graduate from a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE). After completing a master's degree, they must pass the Board of Certification (BOC) exam to become certified. Licensure requirements vary by state, necessitating verification with the specific state board.
In 2026, most athletic training master's programs require a bachelor's degree, prerequisite coursework in sciences such as biology and anatomy, relevant experience, and letters of recommendation. Some programs may also require GRE scores and a completed application by a specific deadline.
The cost varies by institution and degree level. Public institutions generally have lower tuition fees compared to private ones. On average, a master's degree in athletic training can cost between $8,350 and $21,075 per year.
Yes, many programs offer scholarships, grants, loans, and assistantships to help students cover tuition and other expenses. Prospective students should explore financial aid options provided by their chosen institutions and external organizations.
Essential skills include clinical reasoning, decision-making, communication, professionalism, leadership, research, and lifelong learning. These skills are developed through coursework, clinical experiences, and professional activities.
Graduates must pass the Board of Certification (BOC) exam to become certified athletic trainers. Additionally, they must meet state-specific licensure requirements, which may include additional exams or continuing education.
Employment of athletic trainers is expected to grow 11% through 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations. The demand is driven by increasing awareness of sports-related injuries and the need for preventive care.
Consider factors such as program accreditation, curriculum, faculty expertise, facilities, clinical experiences, student outcomes, cost, and financial aid options. Accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) is crucial.
Clinical experiences provide hands-on training under the supervision of experienced professionals, allowing students to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world settings. These experiences are essential for developing practical skills and preparing for certification and licensure exams.
