25 TAC §313.5, §313.13
The Advisory Board of Athletic Trainers (board) proposes
amendments to §313.5 and §313.13 concerning the regulation and licensure
of athletic trainers. Specifically, the sections cover qualifications and
continuing education. Section 313.5(b)(1)(B) is proposed for amendment to
increase the educational requirements for licensure from a baccalaureate or
a post-baccalaureate degree which includes 15 hours of college or university
academic credit in topics related to athletic training to a baccalaureate
or a post-baccalaureate degree which includes 24 hours of college or university
academic credit in topics related to athletic training effective September
1, 2004. Section 313.13 is proposed for amendment to provide continuing education
credit for athletic trainers who serve as skill examiners at the state licensure
examination and for athletic trainers who publish a book or an article in
a peer review journal relating to athletic training or sports medicine.
The amendments will ensure that the regulation of athletic trainers continues
to identify competent providers. Section 9(1) of Texas Civil Statutes, Article
4512d states that one of the qualifications for a license is that the applicant
must meet "the athletic training curriculum requirements of a college or university
approved by the board." The amendments to the educational requirements for
licensure add a rehabilitation course and eliminate the option of taking human
physiology instead of physiology of exercise. The increase in hours is intended
to fully reflect the domains and competencies of athletic training practice
in the course work requirements and enhance the knowledge of athletic trainers.
The continuing education amendments will recognize additional athletic training
activities which enhance the knowledge and professionalism of athletic trainers.
Kathy Craft, Program Director, has determined that for the first five-year
period the sections as proposed are in effect, there will be no fiscal implications
to state or local governments as a result of enforcing or administering the
sections.
Ms. Craft has also determined that for each of the first five years the
sections are in effect, the public benefit as a result of enforcing or administering
the sections will be to clarify the qualifications and requirements for examination,
licensure, and continuing education. The sections assure that the regulation
of athletic trainers continues to identify competent providers. There will
be no cost to small businesses. There are no anticipated economic costs to
persons who are required to comply with the sections as proposed. There will
be no impact on local employment.
Comments on the proposal may be submitted to Kathy Craft, Program Director,
Advisory Board of Athletic Trainers, 1100 West 49th Street, Austin, Texas
78756-3183, telephone (512) 834-6615. Comments will be accepted for 30 days
following the date of publication of this proposal in the
Texas Register
.
The amendments are proposed under Texas Civil Statutes, Article
4512d, §5(a), which provides the board with the authority to adopt rules
consistent with the Act which are necessary for the performance of its duties
and under §5(c), which provides the board with the authority to establish
guidelines, which may include requirements for continuing education, for athletic
trainers in the state.
The amendments affect Texas Civil Statutes, Article 4512d.
§313.5. Qualifications.
(a)
(No change.)
(b)
Each applicant must have a baccalaureate or post-baccalaureate
degree from a college or university which held accreditation, at the time
the degree was conferred, from an accepted regional educational accrediting
association reported by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars
and Admissions Officers.
(1)
The requirements approved by the Advisory Board of Athletic
Trainers (board) for applicants qualifying under Texas Civil Statutes, Article
4512d (Act), §9(1), are as follows.
(A)
(No change.)
(B)
In place of the requirements in subparagraph (A) of this
paragraph, a person shall have:
(i)
for all applications filed on or before August 31,
2004,
a baccalaureate or post-baccalaureate degree
which includes
at least three hours of academic credit from each of the following course
areas:
(I)
human anatomy;
(II)
health, disease, nutrition,
fitness, wellness, emergency care, first aid, or drug and alcohol education;
(III)
kinesiology;
(IV)
human physiology or physiology
of exercise;
(V)
athletic training, sports
medicine, or care and prevention of injuries; and
(VI)
effective for all applications
filed on or after September 1, 2000, advanced athletic training, advanced
sports medicine, or assessment of injury;
(ii)
for all applications filed on or after September
1, 2004, a baccalaureate or post-baccalaureate degree which includes at least
24 hours of combined
[
at least three hours of
] academic credit
from each of the following course areas:
(I)
human anatomy;
(II)
health, disease, nutrition, fitness, wellness,
emergency care, first aid,
or drug and alcohol education;
(III)
kinesiology
or biomechanics
;
(IV)
[
human physiology or
] physiology of exercise;
(V)
(No change.)
(VI)
[
effective for all applications filed on or after
September 1, 2000, three hours of academic credit in
] advanced athletic
training, advanced sports medicine, or assessment of injury; and
(VII)
therapeutic exercise or
rehabilitation or therapeutic modalities; and
(iii)
(No change.)
(2)
(No change.)
(c)-(d)
(No change.)
§313.13. Continuing Education Requirements.
(a)-(b)
(No change.)
(c)
Continuing education credit undertaken by a licensee for
renewal shall be acceptable if the experience falls in one or more of the
following categories:
(1)-(2)
(No change.)
(3)
in-service educational programs, training programs,
institutes, seminars, workshops and conferences in sports medicine or athletic
training; [
or
]
(4)
instructing or presenting education programs or activities
without compensation at an academic course, in-service educational programs,
training programs, institutes, seminars, workshops and conferences in athletic
training or sports medicine not to exceed five clock-hours each continuing
education period[
.
]
;
(5)
publishing a book or
an article in a peer review journal relating to athletic training or sports
medicine not to exceed five clock-hours each continuing education period;
or
(6)
serving as a skills examiner
at the state licensure examination not to exceed one clock-hour of continuing
education credit for each examination date for a maximum of six clock- hours
of credit each continuing education period.
(d)-(k)
(No change.)
This agency hereby certifies that the proposal has been reviewed
by legal counsel and found to be within the agency's legal authority to adopt.
Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State, on
June 3, 1999.
TRD-9903271
Michael Daniel Saly
Chair
Texas Department of Health
Earliest possible date of adoption: July 18, 1999
For further information, please call: (512) 458-7236