Kinesiology Degree Programs

Certification · Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer

ATC

Certified Athletic Trainer

The one credential here that is a genuine gate. You cannot sit the exam without graduating from a CAATE-accredited program, and those are now master’s-level.

  • Type License route
  • Degree Master's
Taylor Rupe, Founder & Editor

Edited by Taylor Rupe B.A. Psychology (UW-Seattle), B.S. Computer Science (Oregon State)

An athletic trainer wrapping supportive tape around an athlete's ankle before training
Photograph by Annushka Ahuja on Pexels

What the ATC Is

The ATC is the Certified Athletic Trainer credential, awarded by Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer. It sits on top of master's, so it is a credential you add to a degree rather than an alternative to one.

It matters most if you are heading for work as an athletic trainer, where the BLS median is $62,520 a year. The credential does not set your pay. It decides which employers will consider you.

Is the ATC Required?

This is the route to a license. Most states require the ATC credential to practice, which makes it the one credential on this list that is not merely an employer preference.

That makes this credential different from most on this site. Where a certification is an employer preference, you can sometimes work without it. Here the credential feeds a state license, and practicing without the license is not an option your employer can waive.

ATC Eligibility Requirements

Read off Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer’s own page on July 26, 2026. Requirements change, so confirm with the issuing body before you pay anything.

  • Complete an entry-level athletic training program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE), confirmed by your program director
  • or be credentialed by an International Arrangement organization (ARTI, BASRaT or CATA) with a credentials evaluation

How Much Does the ATC Cost?

Issuing body
Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer
Degree required
Master's
Exam fee
$375
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years

The exam is $375 in the US or Canada and $495 elsewhere (including a $120 international surcharge). A separate non-refundable application fee applies: $75 for NATA members, $100 for non-members.

Of the 5 credentials covered on this site, this is the most expensive to sit. The full comparison is on the certifications overview.

After an initial staggered schedule (50 CEUs for those certified in year one, 25 for year two, each due within about three years), the ongoing requirement is 50 CEUs every two years.

Where the ATC Applies

Is the ATC Worth It?

This one is not a judgment call. The credential feeds a state license, so without it you cannot do the job. The question worth asking is not whether to get it but whether the route to it, which runs through an accredited program, is a route you want to spend the years on.

ATC FAQ

What are the ATC requirements?
Complete an entry-level athletic training program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE), confirmed by your program director. or be credentialed by an International Arrangement organization (ARTI, BASRaT or CATA) with a credentials evaluation. Verified against Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer on July 26, 2026.
How much does the ATC exam cost?
$375. The exam is $375 in the US or Canada and $495 elsewhere (including a $120 international surcharge). A separate non-refundable application fee applies: $75 for NATA members, $100 for non-members.
Is the ATC a license?
This is the route to a license. Most states require the ATC credential to practice, which makes it the one credential on this list that is not merely an employer preference.
Do you need a degree for the ATC?
Yes. It requires master's. That requirement is set by Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer and is checked at application.
How often do you renew the ATC?
After an initial staggered schedule (50 CEUs for those certified in year one, 25 for year two, each due within about three years), the ongoing requirement is 50 CEUs every two years.
What can you earn with the ATC?
The credential itself does not set pay. It supports work as an athletic trainer, where the BLS median is $62,520 a year. Holding a certification is generally a hiring requirement rather than a raise.

Source

Every figure on this page was read from Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer’s own page for this credential on July 26, 2026. Fees and eligibility rules change, and the issuing body is the only authority on the current requirement, so check it before you pay anything.