College of Education and Human Development
Athletic Training Students Celebrate 100% Pass Rate
March 17, 2015
On March 1 — the first day of Athletic Training Month — nine seniors at George Mason University found out they had together achieved a 100% first-time pass rate on the rigorous, national Board of Certification exam for athletic trainers.
Congratulations to the following seniors for becoming newly certified athletic trainers:
- Bethany Chandler, ATC
- Tory Ferranti, ATC
- Killian Flynn, ATC
- Cheryl Hairston, ATC
- Alyssa Kocik, ATC
- Bryndan Lindsey, ATC
- Brent Morlock, ATC
- Rebecca Potter, ATC
- Michael Trinh, ATC
Students Cheryl Hairston and Bethany Chandler received notification on March 1 that they had passed the athletic training certification exam. Cheryl is the recipient of a National Athletic Trainers’ Association scholarship (see story here) and Bethany received a 2011 Virginia Athletic Trainers' Association scholarship.
Rebecca Potter celebrates her athletic training certification. She is a December 2014 graduate and is currently employed with the ACHIEVES project, Advancing Healthcare Initiatives for Underserved Students.
The Golden Scepter Plaque will soon hold some new names! This is where Athletic Training students who pass the certification exam on the first try are permanently recognized.
The 100 percent first-time pass rate is a testament to the quality of the Athletic Training Education Program (ATEP) at George Mason University. (The national average is an 80 percent first-time pass rate).
"Athletic trainers are highly qualified, multi-skilled, allied healthcare professionals," says Amanda Caswell, associate professor and academic program coordinator. She notes that certified athletic trainers collaborate with physicians to provide care for athletes and those who are physically active in emergency care, clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention, and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions.
The practice of athletic training is regulated in 49 states. To become certified athletic trainers, students must successfully complete a bachelor's or master’s degree from an accredited program such as George Mason's. Students become eligible to sit for the national certification exam in their final semester.
"A hallmark of George Mason's program is the extensive clinical experience that students receive," says Caswell. "Students take part in more than 1,000 hours of clinical education, delivering patient care at schools, colleges, and sports medicine rehabilitation clinics." She notes that students can also take advantage of clinical education opportunities with professionall sports teams, police and fire departments, physician offices, and dance medicine specialists.
George Mason's Athletic Training Education Program is nationally accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE).
To learn more about the program, visit rht.gmu.edu/atep, make an appointment with an advisor at https://rht.gmu.edu/advise/, or email srht@gmu.edu
About CEHD
George Mason University's College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) includes two schools: the Graduate School of Education, one of the most comprehensive education schools in Virginia, and the School of Recreation, Health, and Tourism. CEHD offers a full range of courses, certificates, and degree programs on campus, online, and on site to more than 4,000 students each year. CEHD is fully accredited by NCATE, and all licensure programs are approved by the Virginia Department of Education. George Mason University, located just outside of Washington, D.C., is Virginia's largest public research university.
For additional information:
- CEHD Communications: cehdnews@gmu.edu
- School of Recreation, Health, and Tourism: rht.gmu.edu
- Athletic Training Education Program: rht.gmu.edu/atep
Follow CEHD on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MasonCEHD or Twitter at @MasonCEHD.