216-RICR-40-05-5
216-RICR-40-05-5. Athletic Trainers (version Amendment, 12/10/2012 to 07/12/2018)
RULES AND REGULATIONS
FOR LICENSING
ATHLETIC TRAINERS
(R5-60-AT)
STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS
Department of Health
Board of Athletic Trainers
June 1984
As Amended:
August 1985
February 1994
February 2000
February 2001
November 2001
January 2002 (re-filing in accordance with the
provisions of section 42-35-4.1 of the Rhode Island
General Laws, as amended)
May 2003
January 2007 (re-filing in accordance with the
provisions of section 42-35-4.1 of the Rhode Island
General Laws, as amended)
January 2012 (re-filing in accordance with the
provisions of section 42-35-4.1 of the Rhode Island
General Laws, as amended)
September 2012
i
INTRODUCTION
These Rules and Regulations for Licensing Athletic Trainers are promulgated pursuant to the
authority conferred under section 5-60-5(1) of the General Laws of Rhode Island, as amended, and are
established for the purpose of adopting administrative procedures and minimum standards for the
licensing of athletic trainers.
Furthermore, pursuant to the provisions of section 42-35-3 (c) of the General Laws of Rhode
Island, the following issues have been given consideration: (1) alternative approaches to the amended
regulations; (2) duplication or overlap with other state regulations; and (3) significant economic impact
which would be placed on small business as defined in Chapter 42-35 of the General Laws, through the
amended regulations. No known alternative approach, duplication or overlap or significant economic
impact were identified based on available information. Therefore, the regulations are adopted in the
best interest of the public health, safety and welfare.
These regulations shall supercede all previous Rules and Regulations for Licensing Athletic
Trainers promulgated by the Department of Health and filed with the Secretary of State.
ii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
1.0
Definitions
1
2.0
Licensure Requirement
2
3.0
Qualifications for Licensure
2
4.0
Application for Licensure and Fee
3
5.0
Examination for Licensure
3
6.0
Issuance and Renewal of License/Fee
4
7.0
Practice Guidelines for Athletic Trainers
4
8.0
Continuing Education Requirements
5
9.0
Grounds for Refusal or Revocation of License
5
10.0
Violations and Penalties
5
11.0
Rules Governing Practices and Procedures
6
12.0
Severability
6
1
Section 1.0
Definitions
Wherever used in these rules and regulations the following terms shall be construed as follows:
1.1
"Act" refers to Chapter 5-60 of the General Laws of Rhode Island, as amended, entitled,
"Licensing of Athletic Trainers."
1.2
"Accredited college or university" means the official guarantee that a college or university is
in conformity with the standards of education prescribed by a regional accrediting body
recognized by the U.S. Commission on Education.
1.3
"Athletic trainer" means a person with specific qualifications as set forth in section 5-60-10 of
the Act, who, upon the direction of his/her team physician and/or consulting physician, carries
out the practice of athletic training to athletic injuries incurred by athletes in preparation of or
participation in an athletic program being conducted by an educational institution under the
jurisdiction of an interscholastic or intercollegiate governing body, a professional athletic
organization, or a Board-sanctioned amateur athletic organization. No athlete shall receive
athletic training services if non-athletic or age-related conditions exist or develop that render
the individual debilitated or non-athletic. To carry out these functions the athletic trainer is
authorized to utilize modalities such as heat, light, sound, cold, electricity, exercise, or
mechanical devices related to care and reconditioning. The athletic trainer, as defined in the
Act, shall not represent himself/herself or allow an employer to represent him/her to be any
other classification of health care professional governed by a separate and distinct practice act.
This includes billing for services outside of the athletic trainer’s scope of practice, including,
but not limited to, services labeled as physical therapy.
1.4
"Board" means the Rhode Island Board of Athletic Trainers established pursuant to the
provisions of section 5-60-4 of the Act.
1.5
"Board sanctioned amateur athletic organization" means those athletic organizations which
sponsor within the state of Rhode Island athletic teams or programs and are recognized and
affiliated with national and/or state and/or regional athletic associations.
1.6
“Department” means the Rhode Island Department of Health.
1.7
“Director” means the director or state official in charge of the Department of Health.
1.8
"NATA" refers to the National Athletic Trainers Association, Inc.
1.9
"Person" means any individual, trust or estate, partnership, corporation (including associations,
joint stock companies), limited liability companies, state or political subdivisions or
instrumentality of the state.
1.10
"Physician" means an individual licensed to practice medicine in this state pursuant to the
provisions of Chapter 5-37 of the General Laws of Rhode Island, as amended.
2
Section 2.0
License Requirement
2.1
No person shall use the title of "Athletic Trainer" or use any abbreviation sign, card, or device
to indicate that such a person is an athletic trainer, or perform the duties thereof unless such a
person has been duly licensed in this state to perform such duties pursuant to the provisions of
the Act and rules and regulations herein, except those exempt pursuant to section 2.1.1 below.
2.1.1
The provisions of the Act need not apply to athletic trainers from another state who are
employed by an athletic team or organization which is competing in this state only on a
visiting basis, provided the practice of the athletic trainers is limited only to the
members of their respective athletic team or organization.
Section 3.0
Qualifications for Licensure
3.1
An applicant seeking licensure in this state as an athletic trainer must:
a)
be a graduate from an accredited college or university and have completed the following
minimum curriculum requirements:
Human Anatomy;
Human Physiology;
Physiology of Exercise;
Applied Anatomy and Kinesiology;
Psychology (2 courses);
First Aid and CPR;
Nutrition;
Remedial Exercise;
Personal, Community and School Health;
Techniques of Athletic Training;
Advanced Techniques of Athletic Training; and
Clinical Experience in accordance with national standards as recognized by the
NATA certifying body and as approved by the Director; OR
have successfully completed a NATA-approved athletic training program from a
college or university sponsoring a NATA-approved graduate or undergraduate
program; and
b)
have passed to the satisfaction of the Board the required examination in accordance with
section 5.0 herein and been certified by the NATA; and
c)
not have committed an act which constitutes grounds for denial of a license pursuant to
section 8.0 herein.
3.1.1
The clinical experience (internship) referred to under section 3.1(a) above must be
provided under the direct supervision of an NATA-certified athletic trainer.
3
3.2
On and after January 1, 2004, an applicant for initial licensure shall be required to demonstrate:
a)
Proof of graduation from an accredited college or university and have met minimum
athletic training requirements as established by the Department;
b)
Proof of having passed the required examination, approved by the Department, and been
certified by the national certifying body recognized by the National Athletic Trainers
Association (NATA).
Section 4.0
Application for License and Fee
4.1
Application for licensure shall be made on forms provided by the Department which shall be
completed, notarized and submitted to the Department. Such application shall be accompanied
by the following documents:
a)
one (1) unmounted recent photograph of the applicant, head and shoulders front view,
approximately 2 x 3 inches in size;
b)
supporting official transcripts of education credentials and clinical experience as
required in section 3.1 above;
c)
National board results in accordance with section 5.1 (submitted either with application
or submitted to the Department by the certifying body of the National Athletic Trainer's
Association);
d)
the application fee as set forth in the Rules and Regulations Pertaining to the Fee
Structure for Licensing, Laboratory and Administrative Services Provided by the
Department of Health; and
e)
a copy of the applicant’s resume.
4.2
Out-of-state applicants must submit, in addition to the above documents, documentation of
licensure or certification in another state or jurisdiction.
Section 5.0
Examination for Licensure
5.1
By Examination:
Applicants for licensure shall be required to successfully pass such examination as the Board
deems most practical and expeditious to test the applicant's knowledge and skills pursuant to
section 5-60-12 of the Act.
5.1.1
Applicants certified by the National Athletic Trainers Association prior to 31 July 1970,
must successfully complete a written examination approved by the Board. All other
applicants must successfully pass the examination administered by the National Athletic
Trainers Association certifying body.
4
5.1.2
Sites and schedules of examinations may be obtained directly from the examination
services referred to above.
Section 6.0
Issuance and Renewal of License/Fee
6.1
Upon completion of the aforementioned requirements, a license shall be issued by the Board to
an applicant found to have satisfactorily met all the requirements herein and upon payment of a
licensing fee as set forth in the Rules and Regulations Pertaining to the Fee Structure for
Licensing, Laboratory and Administrative Services Provided by the Department of Health.
Said license unless sooner suspended or revoked shall expire on the thirtieth (30th) day of June
of the next odd numbered year following the date of issuance of the license.
6.2
On or before the 30th day of April of each odd numbered year, the Department shall mail an
application for renewal of license to every person to whom a license has been issued or renewed
during the current licensure period. Every person so licensed who desires to renew his or her
license shall file with the Department such renewal fee as set forth in the Rules and Regulations
Pertaining to the Fee Structure for Licensing, Laboratory and Administrative Services Provided
by the Department of Health on or before the thirtieth day of May of each odd year.
6.3
Upon receipt of such renewal application and payments of said fee, the accuracy of the
application shall be verified, and the Board shall grant a renewal license effective the first day
of July and expiring on the 30th day of June of the next odd year unless sooner suspended or
revoked.
6.4
Any person who allows his or her license to lapse by failing to renew it on or before the 30th
day of May of the next odd year, as provided above, may be reinstated on payment of the
current renewal fee plus an additional late fee as set forth in the Rules and Regulations
Pertaining to the Fee Structure for Licensing, Laboratory and Administrative Services Provided
by the Department of Health.
6.5
Beginning with the renewal application due July 1, 2003 and every renewal year thereafter,
each licensed athletic trainer who wishes to continue licensure as an athletic trainer shall present
satisfactory evidence to the Board that he or she has completed the continuing education
requirements established by the Board and contained in section 8.1 herein.
Section 7.0
Practice Guidelines for Athletic Trainers
7.1
Athletic trainers licensed in this state or any other state may discharge such responsibilities and
functions as specified in section 7.3 below provided these functions are carried out upon the
direction of the physician designated as the team or consulting physician to the team by an
educational institution, professional and/or Board sanctioned amateur athletic association.
7.2
Furthermore, athletic trainers shall limit the scope of practice of prevention and/or physical
reconditioning to injuries or conditions incurred by only those athletes participating in or
preparing for an athletic event conducted under the aegis of an institution, agency or
organization.
5
7.3
The functions which an athletic trainer may perform may consist of any of the following:
a)
Prevention of athletic injury which may include such procedures as strength training,
pre-event warm-ups, prophylactic taping, fitting of protective equipment;
b)
Provide physical reconditioning for the restoration of motion and re-establishment of
strength, endurance and cardiovascular fitness of an injured athlete;
c)
Perform tests and measurements as an aid in the evaluation of an athletic injury; and
d)
Apply physical modalities such as heat, light, sound, cold, electricity, exercise, or
mechanical devices related to care and reconditioning.
Section 8.0
Continuing Education
8.1
Athletic trainer seeking biennial licensure renewal shall meet continuing education
requirements as prescribed by the National Athletic Trainers Association Board of
Certification (NATABOC).
Section 9.0
Grounds for Refusal or Revocation of License
9.1
Pursuant to the provisions of section 5-60-14 of the Act, the Board may refuse to issue a license
to an applicant or may suspend, revoke or refuse to renew a license if he or she has:
a)
been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor involving moral turpitude the record of
conviction being conclusive evidence of conviction if the Department determines after
investigation that the person has not been sufficiently rehabilitated to warrant the public
trust; or
b)
secured a license under the Act and the rules and regulations herein by fraud or deceit;
or
c)
unfit or incompetent by reason of negligence or habits; or
d)
guilty of unprofessional conduct; or
e)
mentally incompetent; or
f)
violated or conspired to violate any of the provisions of the Act and/or the rules and
regulations herein.
Section 10.0
Violations and Penalties
10.1
Any violation of the provisions of the Act and the rules and regulations herein, may be cause for
denial, revocation or suspension of license or for imposing such other penalties in accordance
with the provisions of section 5-60-17 of the Act.
6
Section 11.0
Rules Governing Practices and Procedures
11.1
All hearings and reviews required under the provisions of Chapter 5-60 of the General Laws of
Rhode Island, as amended, shall be held in accordance with the provisions of the Rules and
Regulations of the Rhode Island Department of Health Regarding Practices and Procedures
Before the Department of Health and Access to Public Records of the Department of Health
(R42-35-PP).
Section 12.0
Severability
12.1 If any provision of these rules and regulations or the application thereof to any person or
circumstances shall be held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect the provisions or application
of the rules and regulations which can be given effect, and to this end the provisions of the rules
and regulations are declared to be severable.
AthleticTrainers_Final_Sept2012.doc
Friday, 14 September 2012