Subchapter H. ATHLETIC TRAINERS
Sec.
18.501. Purpose.
18.502. Definitions.
18.503. Licensure requirement.
18.504. Application for licensure.
18.505. Educational requirements.
18.506. Examination requirement.
18.507. Temporary licensure.
18.508. Renewal of license.
18.509. Practice standards for athletic trainers.
18.510. Refusal, suspension or revocation of license.
18.511. Continuing education.
Authority The provisions of this Subchapter H issued under section 51.1 of the Medical Practice Act of 1985 (63 P.S. § 422.51a(d)); amended under sections 8 and 51.1(d) of the Medical Practice Act of 1985 (63 P.S. § § 422.8 and 422.51a(d)), unless otherwise noted.
Source The provisions of this Subchapter H adopted July 13, 2007, effective July 14, 2007, 37 Pa.B. 3230; amended April 19, 2013, effective April 20, 2013, 43 Pa.B. 2142, unless otherwise noted. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (328704), (348679) to (348682) and (361225).
§ 18.501. Purpose.
This subchapter implements section 51.1 of the act (63 P. S. § 422.51a) to provide for the licensure and practice standards of athletic trainers.
§ 18.502. Definitions.
The following words and terms, when used in this subchapter, have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
Approved athletic training education programs—An athletic training education program that is accredited by a Board-approved Nationally recognized accrediting agency.
Athletic training services—The management and provision of care of injuries to a physically active person, with the direction of a licensed physician.(i) The term includes the rendering of emergency care, development of injury prevention programs and providing appropriate preventative and supportive devices for the physically active person.
(ii) The term also includes the assessment, management, treatment, rehabilitation and reconditioning of the physically active person whose conditions are within the professional preparation and education of a licensed athletic trainer.
(iii) The term also includes the use of modalities such as: mechanical stimulation, heat, cold, light, air, water, electricity, sound, massage and the use of therapeutic exercise, reconditioning exercise and fitness programs.
(iv) The term does not include surgery, invasive procedures or prescription of any medication or controlled substance.
BOC—The Board of Certification, Inc., a National credentialing organization for athletic trainers.
Direction—Supervision over the actions of a licensed athletic trainer by means of referral by prescription to treat conditions for a physically active person from a licensed physician, dentist or podiatrist or written protocol approved by a supervising physician, except that the physical presence of the supervising physician, dentist or podiatrist is not required if the supervising physician, dentist or podiatrist is readily available for consultation by direct communication, radio, telephone, facsimile, telecommunications or by other electronic means.
Licensed athletic trainer—A person who is licensed to perform athletic training services by the Board or the State Board of Osteopathic Medicine.
Physically active person—An individual who participates in organized, individual or team sports, athletic games or recreational sports activities.
Referral—An order from a licensed physician, dentist or podiatrist to a licensed athletic trainer for athletic training services. An order may be written or oral, except that an oral order must be reduced to writing within 72 hours of issuance.
Standing written prescription—A portion of the written protocol or a separate document from a supervising physician, which includes an order to treat approved individuals in accordance with the protocol.
Written protocol—A written agreement or other document developed in conjunction with one or more supervising physicians, which identifies and is signed by the supervising physician and the licensed athletic trainer, and describes the manner and frequency in which the licensed athletic trainer regularly communicates with the supervising physician and includes standard operating procedures, developed in agreement with the supervising physician and licensed athletic trainer, that the licensed athletic trainer follows when not directly supervised onsite by the supervising physician.§ 18.503. Licensure requirement.
(a) A person may not use the title ‘‘athletic trainer’’ or ‘‘licensed athletic trainer’’ or use any abbreviation including ‘‘A.T.,’’ ‘‘A.T.L.’’ or ‘‘L.A.T.’’ or any similar designation to indicate that the person is an athletic trainer unless that person has been licensed by the Board.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, a person may not perform the duties of an athletic trainer unless that person is licensed by the Board. This provision is not intended to prevent the following:
(1) A person trained and licensed or certified under any other law from engaging in the licensed or certified practice in which the person is trained.
(2) An athletic trainer from another state, province, territory or the District of Columbia, who is employed by an athletic team or organization that is competing in this Commonwealth only on a visiting basis, from providing athletic training services, provided the practice of the athletic trainer is limited to the members of the team or organization.
(3) An athletic training student practicing athletic training that is coincidental to required clinical education and is within the scope of the student’s education and training.
(c) Athletic trainers licensed by the State Board of Osteopathic Medicine are deemed licensed by the Board.
§ 18.504. Application for licensure.
(a) The applicant shall submit the following on forms supplied by the Board:
(1) A completed application and the fee set forth in § 16.13 (relating to licensure, certification, examination and registration fees).
(2) Verification of professional education in athletic training in accordance with § 18.505 (relating to educational requirements).
(3) Documentation of passage of the National examination in accordance with § 18.506 (relating to examination requirement).
(4) Documentation of practice as an athletic trainer, if licensed or certified in another jurisdiction, and verification as to whether there has been disciplinary action taken in that jurisdiction.
(5) Verification of having completed at least 3 hours of approved training in child abuse recognition and reporting in accordance with § 16.108(a) (relating to child abuse recognition and reporting—mandatory training requirement).
(b) To qualify for licensure, an applicant shall be at least 20 years of age and may not be addicted to alcohol or hallucinogenic, narcotic or other drugs which tend to impair judgment or coordination.
Authority The provisions of this § 18.504 amended under section 8 of the Medical Practice Act of 1985 (63 P.S. § 422.8); and 23 Pa.C.S. § 6383(b)(2).
Source The provisions of this § 18.504 amended March 25, 2022, effective March 26, 2022, 52 Pa.B. 1899. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (366380) to (366381).
§ 18.505. Educational requirements.
An applicant for licensure shall comply with one of the following:
(1) Be a graduate of an approved athletic training education program.
(2) Hold and maintain current credentialing as a certified athletic trainer (ATC) from the BOC or another credentialing body approved by the Board.
Cross References This section cited in 49 Pa. Code § 18.504 (relating to application for licensure).
§ 18.506. Examination requirement.
An applicant for a license to practice as a licensed athletic trainer shall submit to the Board written evidence that the applicant has passed the BOC examination for athletic trainers, or its equivalent as determined by the Board.
Cross References This section cited in 49 Pa. Code § 18.504 (relating to application for licensure).
§ 18.507. Temporary licensure.
An applicant who is a graduate of an approved athletic training education program and who has applied to take the examination may be granted a temporary license to practice athletic training under the onsite direct supervision of a licensed athletic trainer. The temporary license expires 1 year from issuance or upon licensure as an athletic trainer by the Board, whichever comes first, and may not be renewed.
§ 18.508. Renewal of license.
(a) A license issued under this subchapter expires on December 31 of every even-numbered year unless renewed for the next biennium.
(b) Biennial renewal forms and other forms and literature to be distributed by the Board will be forwarded to the last mailing address given to the Board.
(c) To retain the right to engage in practice, the licensee shall renew licensure in the manner prescribed by the Board and pay the required fee prior to the expiration of the next biennium.
(d) When a license is renewed after December 31 of an even-numbered year, a penalty fee of $5 for each month or part of a month of practice beyond the renewal date will be charged in addition to the renewal fee as set forth in section 225 of the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs Fee Act (63 P. S. § 1401-225).
(e) As a condition of renewal, a licensee shall comply with the continuing education requirements in § 18.511 (relating to continuing education).
§ 18.509. Practice standards for athletic trainers.
(a) Athletic trainers licensed by the Board or certified or licensed by the proper licensing authority of another state, province, territory or the District of Columbia shall comply with the following:
(1) Ensure that the physically active person has secured a written referral or prescription from a licensed physician, dentist or podiatrist or is subject to a written protocol for treatment by a licensed or certified athletic trainer from a licensed physician.
(2) Comply strictly with conditions or restrictions that may be placed on the course of athletic training services by the referring physician, dentist or podiatrist.
(3) Ensure that the physically active person has undergone a medical diagnostic examination or has had the results of a recently performed medical diagnostic examination reviewed by the referring physician, dentist or podiatrist.
(4) Keep a copy of the referral or prescription and the results of the medical diagnostic examination in the physically active person’s file.
(5) Consult promptly with the referring physician, dentist or podiatrist regarding a new ailment or condition or a worsened ailment or condition of the physically active person.
(6) Consult with the referring physician, dentist or podiatrist upon request of either the referring physician, dentist or podiatrist or the physically active person.
(7) Refer a physically active person with conditions outside the scope of athletic training services to a licensed physician, dentist or podiatrist.
(b) Athletic trainers licensed by the Board or certified or licensed by the proper licensing authority of another state, province, territory or the District of Columbia who are working in a team setting, treating injuries which arise in the course of practices or team sports events, may treat the participant at the events under the conditions of the referral, or the standing written prescription or written protocol.
(c) An athletic trainer shall obtain the standing written prescription or protocol annually from the supervising physician and review it at least annually. The standing written prescription or written protocol shall be retained at or near the treatment location or facility. An individual referral or prescription from a referring physician, dentist or podiatrist is required in the absence of a standing written prescription or written protocol.
§ 18.510. Refusal, suspension or revocation of license.
(a) The Board may refuse to issue a license, and after notice and hearing, may suspend or revoke the license of a person who is subject to disciplinary action under section 41 of the act (63 P. S. § 422.41) as set forth in § 16.61 (relating to unprofessional and immoral conduct).
(b) Actions taken by the Board regarding the refusal, suspension or revocation of a license are taken subject to the right of notice, hearing and adjudication and appeal under 2 Pa.C.S. § § 501—508 and 701—704 (relating to Administrative Agency Law).
§ 18.511. Continuing education.
(a) Beginning with the biennial period commencing on the next biennial renewal period following July 14, 2007, athletic trainers shall complete the continuing education requirements prescribed by the BOC.
(a.1) Applicants for renewal of a license shall, as a condition of biennial renewal, complete at least 2 hours of approved training in child abuse recognition and reporting in accordance with § 16.108(b) (relating to child abuse recognition and reporting—mandatory training requirement).
(b) Applicants for renewal of a license shall provide a signed statement verifying that the continuing education requirement has been met.
(c) Proof of completion of the required continuing education shall be retained for at least 2 years after completion.
Authority The provisions of this § 18.511 amended under section 8 of the Medical Practice Act of 1985 (63 P.S. § 422.8); and 23 Pa.C.S. § 6383(b)(2).
Source The provisions of this § 18.504 amended March 25, 2022, effective March 26, 2022, 52 Pa.B. 1899. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (366383).
Cross References This section cited in 49 Pa. Code § 18.508 (relating to renewal of license).
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