Terminology

The NATA and the BOC put out a clarification last spring on the use of our credential and the proper acronym use. 

From the BOC:

"ATC refers to the credential held by a Certified Athletic Trainer (AT). ATC should only be used when referring to the credential, and it should not be used in singular or plural form (ATC or ATCs) when referring to an individual Athletic Trainer (AT) or a group of Athletic Trainers (ATs)."

http://www.bocatc.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=172&Itemid=131

Proper Term Usage

ATC
1.	May be listed after the name of a Certified Athletic Trainer (without the registered trademark symbol)	Correct: John Doe, ATC
2.	May be used to refer to the credential (with the registered trademark symbol)	Correct: John Doe earned the ATC® credential.
3.	Should not be used to refer to the certified individual	Incorrect: John Doe is an ATC.

NATA Policy on ATC Terminology:

"NATA’s policy is not to use the ATC acronym as a noun. ATC is an acronym that describes a credential, not a person, and it should only be used following the name of a certified individual. Using the ATC acronym as a noun inhibits the Board of Certification’s ability to protect the ATC credential against misuse. In other words, NATA and the BOC cannot protect the copyright on the ATC mark if it becomes known as a common noun."

(Excerpt from Athletic Training Terminology, retrieved from the National Athletic Trainers’ Association website: http://www.nata.org/about_AT/terminology.htm, April 15, 2009)

One of the other recommendations is that we use either the term Athletic Training Clinic or Facility instead of Athletic Training Room. I can go along with this. It is a better representation of our work environment.

We should begin incorporating this terminology as soon as possible. People often complain about the term "trainer" . What better way to phase out the it's use than by referring to yourself and your colleagues as an AT. When we refer to other health care providers we usually use initials such as, PT, PA, EMT, etc. Eventually, our athletes, coaches, administrators and finally the public will associate the term to us.