Georgia Athletic Trainers Association

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Georgia's Athletic Training Practice Act

The State of Georgia was one of the first states to require licensure for the profession of athletic training.  The Act was updated in 1991 and is now considered to be one of the strongest practice acts in the country.  Below are excerpts of the Practice Act. (Georgia Code Section 43-5)

Section 43-5-1. (Definitions)--As amended by HB217, July 1, 2005

As used in this chapter, the term:

(1) "Athletic injury" means any injury sustained by a person as a result of such person's participation in exercises, sports, games, or recreation requiring physical strength, agility, flexibility, range of motion, speed, or stamina or any comparable injury which prevents such person from participating in such activities.

(2) 'Athletic trainer' means a person with specific qualifications, as set forth in Code Section Code Sections 43-5-7 and 43-5-8 who, upon the advice and consent of a physician, carries out the practice of prevention, recognition, evaluation, management, disposition, treatment, or rehabilitation of athletic injuries; and, in carrying out these functions, the athletic trainer is authorized to use physical modalities, such as heat, light, sound, cold, electricity, or mechanical devices related to prevention, recognition, evaluation, management, disposition, rehabilitation, and treatment. The term 'athletic trainer' shall not include any student, teacher, or other person who serves as an athletic trainer for an elementary school or high school, either public or private, within this state Nothing in this Code section shall be construed to require licensure of elementary or secondary school teachers, coaches, or authorized volunteers who do not hold themselves out to the public as athletic trainers.

Section 43-5-8. (Qualifications for Licensure)

 An applicant for an athletic trainer's license must possess one of the following qualifications:

(a) An applicant for an athletic trainer's license must have met the athletic training curriculum requirements of a college or university approved by the board and give proof of graduation.
(b) The board shall be authorized to grant a license, without examination, to any qualified athletic trainer holding a license in another state if such other state recognizes licensees of this state in the same manner.
(c) The board may grant a license without examination to any qualified applicant who holds a certification from the National Athletic Trainers Board of Certification.
(d) Any person who was issued a license prior to July 1, 2004, shall remain qualified for licensure, notwithstanding the requirement for proof of graduation in subsection (a) of this Code section, so long as the license remains current.

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