for those Who need more information

Frequently Asked Questions

The questions below are the most up-to-date frequently asked questions about athletic trainers (ATCs). If you do not see your question below, please don't hesitate to contact PlaySafe USA.

To provide the best possible care for student athletes, athletic training services are needed consistently throughout the afternoons and evenings during practices and sporting events. While public schools have a duty to provide proper supervision during athletic activities, few have the resources to do so.

Certified athletic trainers are allied health professionals who are highly trained to provide emergent care, preventive care, nutritional counseling, healthy conditioning, and exercise prescription. Athletic trainers also advise on facility and environmental safety procedures and act as frontline medical professionals.

Recently, the AT Strategic Alliance has determined the minimal professional degree level for athletic trainers will be at least a master’s degree, effective fall 2022. After graduating with a degree in athletic training from an accredited athletic training education program, students must successfully pass the Board of Certification Exam. To practice as an athletic trainer in most states, including South Carolina and Georgia, they must also be credentialed within the state. Continuing education is also required every two years, as well as CPR certification.

Many schools do not have funding to provide adequate and consistent sports medicine for students. PlaySafe proposes a model to partner with the school district and the community to support the salaries and benefits of the needed athletic trainers. Certified athletic trainer salaries, depending on experience and supervisory requirements, are in the range of $45,000-65,000. PlaySafe also considers the cost of fringe benefits, overhead administration, and general expenses associated with supplies, making the total amount to provide a school with one athletic trainer in the range of $75,000-95,000.

In South Carolina, we have athletic trainers in Aiken, Anderson, Edgefield, Greenwood, Oconee, and Pickens counties:

  • Aiken County - Aiken High School, South Aiken High School
  • Anderson County - Belton-Honea Path High School, Crescent High School, Glenview Middle School, McCants Middle School, Pendleton High School, Riverside Middle School, Robert Anderson Middle School, Starr-Iva Middle School, T.L. Hanna High School, and Westside High School
  • Edgefield County - Strom Thurmond High School
  • Greenwood County - Emerald High School, Greenwood High School
  • Oconee County - Seneca High School, Walhalla High School, West Oak High School
  • Pickens County - D.W. Daniel High School, Liberty High School, Pickens High School

In Georgia, PlaySafe has athletic trainers in four high schools:

  • Franklin County High School in Carnesville
  • Hart County High School in Hartwell
  • Social Circle High School in Social Circle

Athletic trainers are sometimes confused with personal trainers. There is, however, a large difference in the education, skillset, job duties and patients of an athletic trainer and a personal trainer. The athletic training academic curriculum and clinical training follows the medical model. Athletic trainers must graduate from an accredited baccalaureate or master’s program, and 70% of ATs have a master’s degree. Learn more about the education of athletic trainers.

Athletic trainers provide medical services to all types of patients, not just athletes participating in sports, and can work in a variety of job settings. Athletic trainers relieve widespread and future workforce shortages in primary care support and outpatient rehab professions and provide an unparalleled continuum of care for the patients.

Athletic trainers improve functional outcomes and specialize in patient education to prevent injury and re-injury. Preventative care provided by an athletic trainer has a positive return on investment for employers. ATs are able to reduce injury and shorten rehabilitation time for their patients, which translates to lower absenteeism from work or school and reduced health care costs.