The California Physical Therapy Association (CPTA), in a press statement, expresses its concerns on Assembly Bill (AB) 1510, which provides for the licensure of athletic trainers to decrease misrepresentation of individuals claiming to be certified athletic trainers.
In its current form, the bill—introduced by Assemblymember Matt Dababneh (D-Woodland Hills) in February 2017 and scheduled to be heard in January 2018—seeks licensure for athletic trainers AND establishes a scope of practice beyond their level of education and training. As written, AB 1510 would allow athletic trainers to evaluate and treat ANY individual who is physically active in ANY setting, CPTA cautions.
“Currently, athletic trainers are trained only to evaluate and treat athletes in an athletic setting under the supervision of a physician,” says Government Affairs Committee Chair Chris Reed, PT, MPT, ATC, OCS, in the statement. “AB 1510 would allow athletic trainers to address illness outside of an athletic environment and attempts to expand their scope of practice beyond their education and training.”
Per the statement, CPTA agrees that no individual should represent himself/herself as a certified athletic trainer without having acquired the proper education and training and supports granting title protection for certified athletic trainers, rather than an unnecessary licensing process.
“In the case of AB 1510, CATA has not demonstrated the need for yet another healthcare provider beyond the athletic setting,” states CPTA President Christopher M. Powers, PT, PhD, FAPTA.
“Title protection would ensure those who call themselves athletic trainers are actually certified and would give confidence to schools and parents that those providing care to their athletes are properly qualified to safely deliver that care.”
[Source(s): California Physical Therapy Association, PR Newswire]
