CHAPTER
5.8. Athletic Trainers
2697.2.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the Athletic Training Practice Act.2697.4.
For the purposes of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply:(a) “Athletic trainer” means a person who meets the requirements of this chapter, is licensed by the committee, and practices under the direction of a licensed physician or surgeon.
(b) “Board” means the Physical Therapy Board of California.
(c) “Committee” means the Athletic Trainer Licensing Committee.
2697.6.
(a) A person shall not engage in the practice of athletic training unless licensed pursuant to this chapter.(b) A person shall not use the title “athletic trainer,” “licensed athletic trainer,” “certified athletic trainer,” “athletic trainer certified,” “a.t.,” “a.t.l.,” “c.a.t.,” “a.t.c.,” or any other variation of these terms, or any other similar terms indicating that the person is an athletic trainer unless that person is licensed pursuant to this chapter.
(c) Notwithstanding subdivisions (a) and (b), a person who practiced athletic training in California for a period of 15 consecutive years prior to July 1, 2014, and is not eligible for an athletic training license may use
the title “athletic trainer” without being licensed by the committee, upon registration with the board. However, on and after January 1, 2017, no person may use the title “athletic trainer” unless he or she is licensed by the committee pursuant to this chapter.
(d) This section shall become operative on July 1, 2014.
2697.8.
(a) There is established the Athletic Trainer Licensing Committee within the Physical Therapy Board of California. The committee shall consist of seven members.(b) The seven committee members shall include the following:
(1) Four licensed athletic trainers. Initially, the committee shall include four athletic trainers who have satisfied the requirements of subdivision (a) of Section 2697.12 and who will satisfy the remainder of the licensure requirements described in Section 2697.12 as soon as it is practically possible.
(2) One public member.
(3) One
physician and surgeon licensed by the Medical Board of California or one osteopathic physician and surgeon licensed by the Osteopathic Medical Board of California.
(4) One physical therapist licensed by the Physical Therapy Board of California.
(c) Subject to confirmation by the Senate, the Governor shall appoint two of the licensed athletic trainers, the public member, and the physician and surgeon or osteopathic physician and surgeon. The Senate Committee on Rules and the Speaker of the Assembly shall each appoint a licensed athletic trainer. The Physical Therapy Board of California shall appoint the licensed physical therapist.
(d) (1) All appointments shall be for a term of four years and shall expire on June 30 of the year in which the term expires. Vacancies shall be filled for any
unexpired term.
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), for initial appointments made on or after January 1, 2014, the public member appointed by the Governor shall serve a term of one year. The athletic trainers appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules and the Speaker of the Assembly shall serve terms of three years, and the remaining members shall serve terms of four years.
(e) Each member of the committee shall receive per diem and expenses as provided in Section 103.
(f) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2019, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2019, deletes or extends that date. The repeal of this section renders the committee subject to the review required by Article 7.5 (commencing with Section 9147.7) of Chapter 1.5 of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
2697.10.
(a) The committee shall adopt, repeal, and amend regulations as may be necessary to enable it to carry into effect the provisions of this chapter. All regulations shall be in accordance with this chapter.(b) In promulgating regulations, the committee may consult the professional standards issued by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA), the Board of Certification, Inc. (BOC), the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE), or any other nationally recognized professional organization.
(c) The committee shall approve programs for the education and training of athletic trainers.
(d) The committee shall investigate each applicant, before a license is issued, in order to determine whether the applicant meets the qualifications required by this chapter.
(e) Protection of the public shall be the highest priority for the committee in exercising its licensing, regulatory, and disciplinary functions. Whenever the protection of the public is inconsistent with other interests sought to be promoted, the protection of the public shall be paramount.
2697.12.
Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the committee shall issue an athletic training license to an applicant who meets all of the following requirements:(a) Has submitted an application developed by the committee that includes evidence that the applicant has graduated from a professional degree program in athletic training accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education, or its predecessors or successors, and approved by the committee, at an accredited postsecondary institution or institutions approved by the committee. The professional degree program shall consist of didactic, clinical, and research experiences in athletic training using critical thinking and weighing of evidence.
(b) Has passed an athletic training certification examination offered by the Board of Certification, Inc., its predecessors or successors, or another nationally accredited athletic trainer certification agency approved and recognized by the committee.
(c) Possesses an emergency cardiac care certification from a certification body, approved by the committee, that adheres to the most current international guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and emergency cardiac care.
(d) Has paid the application fee established by the committee.
2697.14.
Notwithstanding Section 2697.12, the committee shall issue an athletic training license to an applicant who did not graduate from an accredited athletic training education program as described in subdivision (a) of Section 2697.12, but who received athletic training via an internship, if the applicant meets all of the following requirements:(a) Furnishes evidence satisfactory to the committee of completion of a degree at an accredited postsecondary institution that included instruction in basic sciences related to, and on the practice of, athletic training.
(b) Passes the examination described in subdivision (b) of Section 2697.12.
(c) Completes at least 1500 hours of clinical experience under an athletic trainer certified by the Board of Certification, Inc.
(d) Possesses an emergency cardiac care certification from a certification body, approved by the committee, that adheres to the most current international guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and emergency cardiac care.
(e) Has paid the application fee established by the committee.
2697.16.
A license issued by the committee pursuant to Section 2697.12 or 2697.14 shall be valid for two years and thereafter shall be subject to the renewal requirements described in Sections 2697.18 and 2697.20.2697.18.
The committee shall establish license application and renewal fees in an amount sufficient to cover the reasonable regulatory costs of carrying out this chapter.2697.20.
The committee shall renew a license if an applicant meets all of the following requirements:(a) Pays the renewal fee as established by the committee.
(b) Submits proof of all of the following:
(1) Satisfactory completion of continuing education, as determined by the committee.
(2) Current athletic training certification from a certification body approved by te
the committee, including, but not limited to, the Board of Certification, Inc., or its predecessors or successors.
(3) Current emergency cardiac care certification meeting the requirements of subdivision (d) of Section 2697.12.
2697.21.
(a) The committee may deny a license or the renewal of a license for an applicant or licensee who is described by any of the following:(1) Does not meet the requirements of this chapter.
(2) Has had an athletic training license, certification, or registration revoked or suspended by an accredited organization, state, or territory.
(3) Has been convicted of a felony or any other crime that substantially relates to the functions or duties of an athletic trainer.
(4) Has committed unprofessional conduct, as described in subdivision (b).
(b) The committee may order any of the following actions relative to an athletic training license after a hearing for unprofessional conduct, which includes, but is not limited to, a violation of this chapter, any regulation adopted by the committee pursuant to this chapter, and revocation or suspension of an athletic training license, certification, or registration by an accredited organization, state, or territory:
(1) Issuance of the athletic training license subject to terms and conditions.
(2) Suspension or revocation of the athletic training license.
(3) Imposition of probationary conditions upon the athletic training license.
2697.22.
(a) The practice of athletic training includes all of the following:(1) Risk management and injury or illness prevention.
(2) The clinical evaluation and assessment of an injury or an illness sustained or exacerbated while participating in physical activity, or both.
(3) The immediate care and treatment of an injury or an illness sustained or exacerbated while participating in physical activity, or both.
(4) The rehabilitation and reconditioning from an injury or an illness sustained or exacerbated while participating in physical activity, or
both.
(b) The practice of athletic training does not include the practice of physical therapy, the practice of medicine, the practice of osteopathic medicine, the practice of chiropractic medicine, the practice of nursing, or medical diagnosis or treatment.
(c) An athletic trainer shall refer a patient to an appropriate licensed health care provider when the treatment or management of the injury, illness, or condition does not fall within the practice of athletic training.
(d) An athletic trainer shall not provide, offer to provide, or represent that he or she is qualified to provide any treatment that he or she is not qualified to perform by his or her education, training, or experience, or that he or she is otherwise prohibited by law from performing.
(e) For purposes of this section, “injury” or “illness” means an injury or illness sustained as a result of, or exacerbated by, participation in athletics or physical activity for which the athletic trainer has had formal training during his or her professional education program, including nationally recognized educational competencies and clinical proficiencies for the entry-level athletic trainer or advanced postprofessional study, and falls within the practice of athletic training.
(f) This section shall become operative on July 1, 2014.
2697.24.
(a) An athletic trainer shall render treatment within his or her scope of practice under the direction of a physician and surgeon licensed by the Medical Board of California or an osteopathic physician and surgeon licensed by the Osteopathic Medical Board of California. This direction shall be provided by verbal order when the directing physician and surgeon or osteopathic physician and surgeon is present and by written order or by athletic training treatment plans or protocols, to be established by the physician and surgeon or osteopathic physician and surgeon, when the directing physician and surgeon or osteopathic physician and surgeon is not present.(b) Notwithstanding any other law, and consistent with this chapter, the committee may
establish other alternative mechanisms for the adequate direction of an athletic trainer.
(c) This section shall become operative on July 1, 2014.
2697.26.
The requirements of this chapter do not apply to the following:(a) An athletic trainer licensed, certified, or registered in another state or country who is in California temporarily, traveling with a team or organization, to engage in the practice of athletic training for, among other things, an athletic or sporting event.
(b) An athletic trainer licensed, certified, or registered in another state who is invited by a sponsoring organization, such as the United States Olympic Committee, to temporarily provide athletic training services under his or her state’s scope of practice for athletic training.
(c) A student enrolled in an
athletic training education program, while participating in educational activities during the course of his or her educational rotations under the supervision and guidance of an athletic trainer licensed under this chapter or other licensed health care provider.
(d) A member or employee of the United States Armed Forces, licensed, certified, or registered in another state, as part of his or her temporary federal deployment or employment in California for a limited time.
2697.28.
This chapter does not limit, impair, or otherwise apply to the practice of any person licensed and regulated under any other chapter of Division 2 (commencing with Section 500).2697.30.
This chapter does not require new or additional third-party reimbursement for services rendered by an individual licensed under this chapter.2697.32.
The Athletic Trainers’ Account is hereby established in the Physical Therapy Fund. All fees collected pursuant to this chapter shall be paid into the account. These fees shall be available to the committee, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for the regulatory purpose of implementing this chapter.