RESUMEN
Athletic trainers have assumed several roles and responsibilities over the years, but perhaps there is no more important role than that of a counselor. Are they prepared to do so? One hundred and thirty-two modified Revised Wylie Inventories were mailed to college/university athletic trainers to examine their educational preparation and experiences with counseling in various areas. Most athletic trainers surveyed reported that they were predominantly counseling in the areas of injury prevention, injury rehabilitation, and nutrition, and felt academically prepared to do so. However, it was reported that preparation to counsel in other less common areas (eg, family matters, financial matters, etc) was not adequately addressed in academic programs. The athletic trainers surveyed sought continuing education in order to meet the other counseling needs of student-athletes. Although they used several psychological referral services, it was apparent that most athletic trainers frequently served as counselors on many nonorthopedic topics. We suggest that athletic training educators consider incorporating both academic knowledge and clinical experience in a wider variety of counseling areas into their curricula.
RESUMEN
With the growth of athletic training, many state governing bodies have created regulations concerning the role of athletic trainers in their respective states. Some of these states have included the licensure, certification, and/or registration of athletic trainers as a prerequisite for employment. Although many states have similar requirements, each state differs in its legislation that affects various athletic training domains. Athletic trainers should be aware of these variances in state licensure laws, especially when seeking employment in another state. In May 1991, a survey of the 20 states with licensure laws was conducted to examine application procedures, scope of practice, and other factors related to the licensing of athletic trainers.