Athletic Trainer (ATC) vs Physical Therapist (PT). What's the difference?
Athletic Trainer or Physical Therapist, which one should you choose?! These are two very different professions that commonly get confused and used interchangeably. Although there may be overlap in the two fields there are some distinct differences we will look at. Some of the differences we will address include:
Job Description
Education Required
Salary
Work Setting
JOB DESCRIPTION
As per the National Athletic Training Association, or NATA, Athletic trainers (ATs) are highly qualified, multi-skilled health care professionals who collaborate with physicians to provide preventative services, emergency care, clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions. Athletic trainers work under the direction of a physician as prescribed by state licensure statutes. Athletic training encompasses the prevention, examination, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of emergent, acute or chronic injuries and medical conditions. Athletic training is recognized by the American Medical Association (AMA), Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as an allied health care profession
As per the American Physical Therapy Association, or APTA, Physical therapists (PTs) are movement experts who optimize quality of life through prescribed exercise, hands-on care, and patient education. Physical therapists teach patients how to prevent or manage their condition so that they will achieve long-term health benefits. PTs examine each individual and develop a plan, using treatment techniques to promote the ability to move, reduce pain, restore function, and prevent disability. In addition, PTs work with individuals to prevent the loss of mobility before it occurs by developing fitness- and wellness-oriented programs for healthier and more active lifestyles.
EDUCATION
Athletic training is an academic major or graduate equivalent major program that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE). The current minimum entry point into the profession of athletic training is the baccalaureate level, however it was recently decided by the AT Strategic Alliance that the minimum professional degree level will be a master's, a change to be implemented within the next several years. More than 70 percent of athletic trainers hold at least a master’s degree. Upon completion of a CAATE-accredited athletic training education program, students become eligible for national certification by successfully completing the Board of Certification, Inc. (BOC) examination.
Professional (entry-level) pysical therapist education programs in the United States only offer the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree to all new students who enroll. The Master of Physical Therapy (MPT) and Master of Science in Physical Therapy (MSPT) degrees are no longer offered to any new students in the United States. To practice as a physical therapist in the US, you must earn a physical therapist degree from a CAPTE- accredited physical therapist education program and pass a state licensure exam.
So basically ATC is a bachelor’s degree (4 years in college) with a soon to be Master’s degree and Physical therapy is Doctoral degree (4 year undergraduate + 3 year graduate PT).
SALARY
The majority of Professional Athletic Trainer salaries currently range between $35,500 (25th percentile) to $52,000 (75th percentile) across the United States. Head trainers in professional sports such as those that work with NBA teams can make around 60k annually. The average salary for an ATC is ~46.7k and will very from team, level (eg. HS vs Collegiate)
Physical therapists salaries range on average from 58,000 to 90,000. This also varies a great deal from state to state and from setting to setting. According to the APTA, the average is ~85k. Years of experience also play a great deal in PT’s salaries, most new graduates going into orthopedics can expect to make around 68-72k again depending on state.
WORK SETTING
Athletic trainers work, of course, primarily with athletes and can be found court/fieldside. The largest percentage of ATC’s work with Universities and Secondary Schools. Additional examples of settings are listed below.
Public and private secondary schools, colleges and universities, professional and Olympic sports
Youth leagues, municipal and independently owned youth sports facilities
Physician practice, similar to nurses, physician assistants, physical therapists and other professional clinical personnel
Rural and urban hospitals, hospital emergency rooms, urgent and ambulatory care centers
Clinics with specialties in sports medicine, cardiac rehab, medical fitness, wellness and physical therapy
Occupational health departments in commercial settings, which include manufacturing, distribution and offices to assist with ergonomics
Police and fire departments and academies, municipal departments, branches of the military
Performing arts including professional and collegiate level dance and music
Many of the Physical therapy jobs can be found associated with hospitals. Although many physical therapists practice in hospitals, more than 80 percent practice in:
Outpatient clinics or offices
Inpatient rehabilitation facilities
Skilled nursing, extended care, or subacute facilities
Homes
Education or research centers
Schools
Hospices
Industrial, workplace, or other occupational environments
Fitness centers and sports training facilities
SUMMARY
So which one do you chose? You can’t go wrong with either. Obviously people are going to gravitate towards physical therapy because the field tends to pay more but then again you have to go to school for 3 additional years and obtain a doctorate in which those 3 years you could’ve been working making cheddar. Also you have to consider what population and setting you want to work with, do you have a love for the field and athletics or do you vibe more with working in a hospital/clinic?
More information can be found at each field’s respective website nata.org & apta.org.
