Athletic training: what to know
What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.
What athletic training is
Athletic training is work with an athletic trainer, who works with athletes on conditioning, injury prevention and return to play, using exercises and basic care under the guidance of a health team. Many athletic trainers are credentialed health professionals.
Signs you need it
- An athlete is coming back from an injury
- A team wants injury prevention
- An athlete needs support at events
- Sport specific conditioning is lacking
- A coach wants a health pro on staff
What the pro does
- Intake on sport, history and goals
- Screening of movement and risk
- Prevention and conditioning exercises
- Basic on-site care and referral when needed
- Return to play steps with the health team
What changes the price
Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.
- Athlete level
- On-site coverage versus sessions
- Team or individual
- Event length
- Equipment
- Credentials
What a written quote should spell out
- Coverage hours or sessions
- What is included: prevention, care, referral
- Cancellation terms
- Who the trainer reports to
- Emergency plan
Questions to ask before you hire
- What credentials do you hold, and how can I verify them?
- How do you work with doctors?
- What is your emergency plan?
- How do you decide return to play?
- What injuries do you refer out?
- Do you cover events?
Red flags
- Diagnosing without credentials
- Clearing return to play without health team input
- Ignoring head injuries
- No emergency plan
- Cannot show credentials
What you can do yourself
Athletes can warm up, rest and report pain early. Seek a doctor for injuries, and seek emergency care for head injuries, severe pain or numbness.
Licenses and permits
Athletic trainers are commonly licensed or credentialed by the state, and the title is often protected. Ask for the credential and check it with your state licensing board.
Athletic training questions
Is an athletic trainer the same as a personal trainer?
No. Athletic trainers work with injury prevention and care. Ask about credentials.
Do they work with doctors?
Often yes, athletic trainers work with physicians and share information with permission.
Can they cover events?
Many do. Ask about coverage hours and the emergency plan.
Is it covered by insurance?
Sometimes, depending on the setting and your plan. Ask the trainer and your plan.
Pro reviewers
Pros who offer athletic training remotely can improve this guide, like Wikipedia. We check every edit before it goes live. Every approved edit is credited in the edit history and on the pro's profile.
Edit history
- Oct 29, 2026: Drafted by infinibell to our content guidelines.
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