Context: The clinical immersion experience is a key part of the socialization of the professional athletic training student. Clinical immersion offers the student the chance to experience the totality of the role of the athletic trainer. Programmatic autonomy allows many athletic training educators the opportunity to be creative in the…

Context: In previous research, athletic trainers (ATs) have identified the formal coursework and clinical experiences of their professional program as contributing to preparedness for autonomous practice. However, new graduates have reported a perceived lack of skills necessary for practicing autonomously. Objective: The purpose of this study was…

Context: Clinical immersion is a newly required concept within athletic training education, and preceptors play a critical role in facilitating athletic training students' learning during those experiences. Objective: To explore the perceptions of preceptors currently supervising athletic training students who participate in immersive clinical…

Context: Entry-level athletic trainers (ATs) often lack tools necessary to help build confidence and professional networks, especially if they are the only clinicians in their facility. One-way athletic training education can help is to encourage preceptors to assist in mentoring athletic training students (ATSs) as they navigate the shift from…

Context: Health care professions use a unique learning pattern in which education occurs both didactically and clinically. Previous research has focused on preceptor selection and training, but there has been limited emphasis on the perceived roles of didactic and clinical educators. Identifying potential discrepancies in perceived roles in…

Context: Understanding potential barriers that prevent program administrators from providing high-quality preceptor development opportunities will help inform strategies of preceptor development. Objective: To explore the challenges program administrators encounter when developing preceptors for graduate, professional athletic training programs.…

Context: As professional athletic training programs transition to the graduate level, administrators will need to prepare preceptors to teach advanced learners. Currently, preceptor development is variable among programs and ideal content has yet to be identified. Exploring the development of preceptors teaching graduate learners can lead to an…

Context: Preceptors serve to model behaviors for athletic training students (ATSs) and provide meaningful practical experiences. Preceptor development in athletic training has been described as both formal and informal training. Whereas regular and ongoing formal preceptor training is common and an expectation of accreditation, informal training…

Context: Each country has a unique history in the development of its athletic training professionals and education and credentialing systems. In Japan, the majority of athletic trainers hold a domestic credential (JSPO-AT) obtained from the Japan Sport Association (JSPO) or a US-based credential from the Board of Certification (BOC-AT). Objective:…

Context: Athletic training programs blend didactic experiences with clinical practice opportunities with varied patient populations. Traditionally, clinical education relies heavily on the preceptor to supervise, instruct, and mentor the professional athletic training student (P-ATS) during clinical education. Objective: To describe a…

Context: Educational reform is occurring again in athletic training. The profession, at this time, should reflect on the structure of clinical education, particularly with direct supervision. Clinical education plays a critical role in the development of future practitioners and should provide students with a chance to gain autonomous experience,…

Context: Athletic training students acquire clinical hours under the direct supervision of athletic training preceptors. Objective: The purpose of this project was to explore what characteristics preceptors desire in their athletic training students. Design and Setting: Online survey instrument. Patients or Other Participants: A total of 286…

Context: The position of clinical education coordinator has been identified as a required one in athletic training education. However, the literature has yet to address the job responsibilities of clinical education coordinators and the commensurate work load/release time needed to accomplish these responsibilities in athletic training education.…

Context: The Fifth Edition of the National Athletic Trainers' Association Athletic Training Education Competencies includes the significant addition of competencies covering evidence-based practice (EBP). While the concept of EBP is not new, the terminology in the Competencies may be new to clinical practitioners who did not receive the same…

Context: The 2012 Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) standards include several changes that allow more institutional autonomy when determining the qualifications and preparation of preceptors. Clinical education coordinators (CECs) must make educated decisions in this area, yet minimal research exists to guide their…