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1998 SESSION


SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 122
Requesting the Board of Health Professions to conduct a study on whether the practice of athletic trainers should be regulated.

Agreed to by the Senate, February 13, 1998
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, March 12, 1998

WHEREAS, athletic trainers are employed by physical therapists, physicians, corporations, private rehabilitation clinics, and many athletic teams in the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, the role of athletic trainer has become increasingly more significant to the safety and well-being of active people; and

WHEREAS, in many instances the first responder to an accident which occurs during a sporting event is an athletic trainer, who must make an immediate, independent decision as to the severity of an injury; and

WHEREAS, the athletic trainer develops conditioning and training regimens for active children, adolescents and adults, and works with physicians and physical therapists to develop and implement treatments to heal injuries; and

WHEREAS, the National Athletic Trainers Association requires all applicants for certification to possess a college degree and to have completed an athletic training program, approved by the National Athletic Trainers Association, of at least two years of study, including 800 hours of supervised athletic training experience; and

WHEREAS, presently there are more than 900 athletic trainers practicing in the Commonwealth, many without national certification; and

WHEREAS, presently there are individuals in the Commonwealth who are serving in the capacity of athletic trainers, without national certification, at the high school, college, industrial, professional and clinical level, and this lack of certification or of a required training level could result in serious injury to the active citizens of the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, in the Commonwealth there is presently no regulation of athletic trainers, nor are there education or experience requirements for those who practice as athletic trainers; and

WHEREAS, there are presently no state standards of qualifications or competency provided for those who employ athletic trainers; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the Board of Health Professions be requested to conduct a study to determine whether the practice of athletic trainers should be regulated. As a part of the study, the Board shall determine the fiscal impact of any such regulation.

All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Board, upon request.

The Board shall complete its work in time to submit its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the 1999 Session of the General Assembly as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents.