How many of you have asked yourself this questions? I know I have been asking myself this ever since I got certified. I have yet to get any other certifications, mainly because I do not know which one I want to pursue. Which ones will help me become a better, more marketable athletic trainer? I have always wanted to get the CSCS certification, and that seems like a good one to start with. We already have the knowledge of the certification, as we have already gone through school to know all the information. But what about PES, FMS, CES? All of these sound very appealing. Thankfully, many schools already teach FMS in athletic training classes. Do any of them actually certify you in FMS? I know mine didn't... we just learned about it and why it's helpful. Don't know what FMS is? Well... It stands for Functional Movement Screening. It is a tool to help you identify movement patterns key to functioning normally. There is a grading system, and it is based on if the individual is able to do the movement correctly and without pain. It helps athletic trainers know what limitations their athletes have. I do not particularly like this screen because it is based on if the individual doesn't have pain. Let's be honest, the only reason an athlete is coming to you is if they HAVE pain! Though I have not learned the technique yet, I know a lot of ATCs like the Selevtive Functional Movement Assesmet (SFMA) better. It is a screening that allows the individual to still be in pain when going through the assessment. You can learn which movements cause pain and which don't. It helps identify the problem and correct it. I think this is a better tool for ATCs to use.
Other certifications that can be used to make yourself marketable are the PES (Performance Enhancement Specialist) and the CSCS (Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist). Both of these certifications help you pass along new and exciting performance information to your athletes. The CSCS certification is more popular that PES, but both are great to have.
Among other certifications that are popular with athletic trainers are: Graston Technique, Kinesio-taping, massage therapy, physical therapist, and others. Though the last 2 require schooling, they could be great to have to make you a more marketable ATC. A forewarning... All of these certifications listed above take time and cost money. If you have the time and the cash for any of these things, do yourself a favor and get some more credentials! It's great to have, and you'll learn so much more about your abilities as an ATC! I can't wait for the day I have some time to get one of these!
Below is a link for more information about how to become a more marketable athletic trainer. Do any of you have any of these certifications? If so, how have they helped you as an ATC? Comment below!!
http://thesportdigest.com/2011/08/athletic-trainers-are-professionals-too/
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