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VSU ATEP ACademic program information
The Athletic Training program at Valdosta State University was granted NATA approval in 1990. The program underwent the CAAHEP self study process and received accreditation in 1995. In September 1999, the program completed it's second CAAHEP self study process and site visitors came to campus Spring 2000. October 20, 2000 the program was granted continuing accreditation by CAAHEP. As of July 2006 all athletic training education programs are accredited through the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE).
Admission to the Athletic Training program is a separate process from admission to Valdosta State University. The program is designed so that a student begins the process towards admission in the Fall semester of the sophomore year. This allows those students who wish to attend one year of junior college or community college. Once a student is admitted (Admissions Process) to the program there are 5 semesters of course work to be completed.
The incoming class of athletic training students are enrolled Spring semester in course work and are placed in a clinical assignment with a certified athletic trainer on staff either at VSU, at an affiliated high school setting, or on a general medicine rotation (orthopaedic surgeon, family practice, VSU Student Health, physical therapy clinic). Each semester the athletic training student receives a new clinical rotation IE: Equipment Intensive, Upper Extremity, Lower Extremity, General Medical. The following are experiences athletic training students may receive during his/her education: high school, preseason football camp, in-season football, assistant to another athletic training student, head athletic training student responsible for a particular sport. This allows the athletic training student to receive clinical instruction from 5 of the 9 Certified Athletic Trainers at VSU, LHS and VHS. During the General Medicine rotation athletic training students shadow physicians and physical therapists and clinical athleic trainers. Athletic training students also shadow Team Physician, Kurt Jacobson, M.D. in clinic .