WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., Aug. 11, 2017 — Last spring, as the new Athletic Training program graduated its second group of students, it had much to celebrate. The hard-working students not only graduated but scored a 100 percent successful pass rate on the National Athletic Training Board of Certification Exam.
“We are so proud of our students and faculty. This is a challenging exam and requires hard work and the mastery of knowledge. I congratulate them,” said Dr. Cathy Monteroso, interim Dean of the College of Education.
Just one of the degree offerings of the Department of Health and Human Performance in the College of Education at West Liberty University, students earn a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training degree at completion of the program.
The program will transition into a master’s degree format in the near future, according to program director Dr. David R. Hanna, who went on to explain that the CAATE requires that every program be a master’s by the year 2026.
Graduates of the AT program are well equipped with the skills necessary to succeed in graduate school and are ready to take the national certification exam. Most of the current students are applying to graduate programs in athletic training, physical therapy or another health care field.
Some of the professional fields where athletic trainers work include: high school or college level athletic trainers, sports medicine clinics professional team sports. Athletic trainers also find employment in the armed forces, sales and business world, dance and theater professions, and in physician offices.
For more information, please contact Hanna at david.hanna@westliberty.edu or 304-336-8547.