• The small size of the program (an average of 20 athletic training students in clinical internships) fosters strong peer support and networking.
• Work and learn alongside Pac-12 athletic trainers.
• Accredited by CAATE (Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education)
• Work with Pac-12 athletes in a state-of-the-art facility with the latest diagnostic and treatment equipment.

All students completing the 5 year professional program in athletic training will complete requirements for the BS in Sports Medicine degree as well as the Master's in Athletic Training curriculum and a minimum of 1200 hours of clinical experience. Due to the intensity and availability of the clinical internship, the program admits a limited number of students.

Hands-on clinical experience hours are arranged over six consecutive semesters. Clinical internships are offered in partnership with the WSU Department of Intercollegiate Athletics and several off-campus sites, including clinical experiences at high schools and a variety of sport medicine facilities.

Clinical education

Semester 1

You will have an opportunity to become oriented with all of the athletic training facilities and staff certified athletic trainers as you rotate through assignments with most of the sports offered on campus.

Semester 2

With one of the University's certified athletic trainers as your mentor, you'll gain valuable experience working in the specific sports that your mentor supports.

Semesters 3 and 4

You will spend your entire second year of clinicals rotating through a variety of different sessions. These rotations include time spent in a physical therapy clinic, high school, general medical clinic, local NAIA college, and at the University of Idaho.

Semesters 5 and 6

Your third year in the program, you will become a mentor's senior student. You'll assist with the daily responsibilities of providing treatment and care for the teams your mentor supports, and also gain familiarity with an athletic trainer's administrative duties.

Opportunities for more experience

Hosting

Throughout your clinical education you will have opportunities to “host” visiting teams. This includes setting up the sidelines and being available to assist visiting athletic trainers and student-athletes.

Special events

Athletic training students have opportunities to work with special events in the area such as high school state tournaments and the NAIA World Series.

Graduation requirements

See the WSU Catalog for degree requirements and talk with your academic advisor about planning and scheduling your courses. All students must meet requirements as outlined in the catalog in order to graduate.

The 5 year professional program in athletic training includes requirements for the BS in Sports Medicine degree as well as the Master’s in Athletic Training curriculum and a minimum of 1200 hours of clinical experience. Because of the intensity and close mentoring of the clinical internship, a limited number of students are admitted to the program.

Due to the condensed nature of the 5 year program, students will need to take 16-18 credits per semester in order to finish within the 5 years. Students who begin WSU taking the minimum 12 credits per semester may need to take summer courses in order to catch up and meet requirements.

A variety of state, federal, and university-sponsored programs are available to help students with educational costs.

For all students at WSU

Washington State University awards millions of dollars in financial aid and scholarships to students every year based on financial need, academic merit, or a combination of the two.

To get all the financial help WSU can provide, you'll need to do these two things:

• Complete the University's general scholarship application so you can be eligible for scholarship consideration, including departmental awards.
• Complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) so WSU can consider you for aid (scholarships, grants, loans, etc.) based on financial need. Get started here.

Click here for more info about about WSU scholarships and financial aid

For sports medicine and athletic training students

Students are eligible for scholarships from the College of Education. Visit the college's scholarships page for more information.

A strong desire to help people and make an immediate difference in their lives

Enjoyment of sports and interacting with athletes

Athletic training careers include employment in:

• Universities (as staff within the athletic program or as a teacher of athletic training or a combination of both)
• Public or private high schools (teaching courses and preventing athletic injuries)
• Sport medicine clinics (providing athletic injury rehabilitation)
• Professional sports (conditioning and rehabilitating athletes)
• Corporate health programs
• Health clubs
• Clinical and industrial health care programs
• Athletic training education programs