Employers\u27 Preferences in Hiring Certified Athletic Trainers or Physical Therapists in Team Sports Settings

Purpose: To determine the criteria employers in team sports use when hiring the personnel responsible for providing therapy for their athletes. Subjects: 256 surveys were distributed to Athletic Directors and General Managers in New York, Pennsylvania, Florida, and California. 121 surveys were returned. Methods: A self-designed survey was used. The survey consisted of ten demographic questions and four questions related to hiring preferences and criteria. Results: Amount of experience in a sports setting was found to be the most important criteria employers look for when hiring the personnel to provide therapy for their athletes. Employers considered communication skills, certifications, level of degree attained, and salary demands to be important as well. A desire of employers to hire both Certified Athletic Trainers and Physical Therapists was also found, as was a need for Physical Therapists to educate athletes and employers about their skills and qualifications. Conclusions: As the number of Physical Therapists practicing solely in the area of sports medicine continues to grow, it is beneficial for them to know what employers in the sports setting look for in the personnel they hire to treat their athletes. Certified Athletic Trainers and Physical Therapists can benefit each other by working together and in turn provide athletes the best possible, most comprehensive care