Where can an athletic trainer find good continuing education courses on new sports medicine techniques?

Certified athletic trainers (ATs) looking for high-quality continuing education units (CEUs) and cutting-edge sports medicine techniques can choose from several top-tier online platforms, institutional lecture series, and hands-on certification providers.

The best places to find Board of Certification (BOC)-approved Category A courses include:

• Comprehensive Online Platforms (Subscription/On-Demand)
  • MedBridge Education : Offers an extensive, highly rated library of video-based courses, live webinars, and specialized tracks (like The Athlete Movement System and advanced ACL/extremity rehab) tailored for athletic trainers.
  • Continued.com (PhysicalTherapy.com / Athletic Training) : Provides unlimited annual CEU access with a vast library of online courses, virtual conferences, and BOC Category A-approved content.
  • HomeCEU : Features hundreds of video-based and text courses, practical case studies, and demonstrative patient videos covering modern sports medicine and emergency care topics.
• Specialized Clinical & Hands-On Certifications
  • Evidence In Motion (EIM) : Offers hybrid and specialized training like Sports Medicine Competencies and venue-specific emergency certifications designed to level up field-triage and rehabilitation skills.
  • PESI HealthCare : Features targeted certifications on emerging techniques such as blood flow restriction (BFR) training, advanced movement assessments, and modern concussion management.
  • IAR Education (Sports Manual Therapy Certification - SMTC) : Great for hands-on, weekend-format courses focusing on advanced manual therapy and clinical reasoning for athletic populations.
• Institutional & Free/Low-Cost Resources
  • NATA EducATe : The National Athletic Trainers' Association official platform provides robust online learning opportunities and custom professional development tracking.
  • Children’s Health Andrews Institute : Offers widely recognized, often free or low-cost NATA BOC-approved lecture and leadership series focusing on evidence-based sports medicine advancements.
  • AT-PBRN.org (Athletic Training Practice-Based Research Network) : Provides a helpful catalog of free BOC Category A CEU modules bridging clinical research directly to daily practice.
  • The BOC Activity Directory : You can search the official BOC Activity Directory directly to filter live and on-demand courses by specific domains, cost, and format.

If you let me know your preferred learning format (live, in-person, or self-paced online) and your budget , I can narrow down the best specific course or provider for you.

For an athletic trainer looking to stay current on new sports-medicine techniques, I’d start with these:

• NATA EducATe — Probably the best first stop. The National Athletic Trainers’ Association offers 150+ on-demand courses and up to 200 CEUs with membership, plus webinars, certificates, and specialized content.
• NATA Clinical Symposia & AT Expo — Excellent for hands-on learning, emerging techniques, interactive sessions, and networking with other clinicians. The 2026 program included hands-on labs and sessions on current sports-medicine topics.
• Medbridge Athletic Training Courses — A strong online option with 1,000+ athletic-training courses, including rehabilitation, concussion, sports emergency management, biomechanics, and specialty topics. Its courses include BOC-approved CE options.
• ACSM Continuing Education — Particularly useful for evidence-based sports medicine, exercise science, performance, and clinical practice. ACSM offers online CEC/CME courses and annual-meeting education.

For practical technique development, I'd prioritize NATA's hands-on sessions and Medbridge's video demonstrations. For keeping up with emerging research, NATA and ACSM are especially useful.

One important tip: before enrolling, verify that the course provides the BOC CE category/credit you need and satisfies your particular state licensing requirements.

Finding high-quality, Board of Certification (BOC)-approved continuing education units (CEUs) focused on cutting-edge sports medicine techniques requires looking at specialized multi-disciplinary platforms, major clinical institutes, and official directories.

The best places for an athletic trainer to find these courses include:

• Comprehensive Online Platforms (BOC Approved)
  • Medbridge Athletic Training Continuing Education : Offers an extensive video-based course library, live webinars, and specialized tracks (like the Athlete Movement System or advanced ACL rehabilitation) taught by recognized industry leaders.
  • HomeCEU Athletic Training Continuing Education : Features scenario-based learning, demonstrative patient videos, and case studies covering trending topics like emergency care, biomechanics, and concussion protocols.
  • Summit Professional Education : Provides on-demand videos, live streams, and multi-hour deep-dive courses spanning various innovative manual therapy and sports rehab modalities.
• Official Search Directories & Trackers
  • BOC Activity Directory : The official searchable directory provided by the Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer where you can filter strictly by Category A activities, specific domains, and new technique-based sponsor listings.
  • BOC Program Directory : An interactive portal housing up-to-date listings for advanced grand rounds, symposiums, and specialized lecture series.
• Elite Clinical & Academic Medical Centers
  • Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine CME : Delivers premier continuing medical education courses—both live and online—covering physical exam mastery, imaging interpretation, and emerging clinical approaches.
  • Harvard Medical School Online Sports Medicine Courses : Periodic updates featuring state-of-the-art diagnostic and rehabilitation strategies taught by elite team physicians and athletic trainers working with professional sports franchises.
• Free or Research-Backed Options
  • AT-PBRN Online Educational Courses : The Athletic Training Practice-Based Research Network offers robust, free Category A online modules complete with narrated clinical videos and assessments.
  • Medco Sports Medicine Free CEUs : Regularly updates a library of home-study articles, clinical briefs, and quizzes tailored explicitly to practical athletic training interventions.

If you share your specific area of focus (e.g., advanced manual therapy, orthopedic surgical rehab, or acute emergency trauma), I can recommend targeted courses or specific platforms that excel in that niche.

Athletic trainers have several high-quality options for staying current with new sports medicine techniques, especially if they're looking for Board of Certification (BOC)-approved continuing education.

Here are some of the best places to look:

• urlNational Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) EducATeturn0search1 is one of the most comprehensive resources. It offers online CEU courses, webinars, and educational events specifically for athletic trainers. Topics frequently include concussion management, rehabilitation, emergency care, injury prevention, manual therapy, and return-to-play protocols.

• urlAmerican Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) Educationturn0search0 provides conferences, webinars, and CME/CE programs covering the latest evidence-based sports medicine. AOSSM is a BOC-approved provider, so many activities qualify for athletic trainer continuing education credit.

• urlMayo Clinic Sports Medicine CMEturn0search5 offers multidisciplinary courses and monthly webinars featuring advances in diagnosis, rehabilitation, injury prevention, and treatment. Athletic trainers are among the intended audience.

• urlUniversity of Michigan MedSport Continuing Educationturn0search4 specializes in hands-on sports medicine education for athletic trainers, physical therapists, and related professionals. Courses often focus on manual therapy, rehabilitation techniques, and movement assessment, and many are BOC approved.

• urlAmerican College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Continuing Educationturn0search6 provides online courses, annual meeting recordings, and specialty certificates that emphasize exercise science, performance, and sports medicine research.

• urlHarvard Medical School Sports Medicine CMEturn0search7 offers intensive annual updates featuring leading physicians, athletic trainers from professional sports organizations, and rehabilitation experts discussing current best practices.

In addition to formal coursework, many athletic trainers find these opportunities especially valuable:

• Annual conferences (such as the NATA Clinical Symposia & AT Expo and AOSSM meetings) for hands-on labs and networking.
• Specialty certification courses in areas like dry needling (where permitted by state law), instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization, blood flow restriction training, and movement screening.
• Journal clubs and webinars focused on recent research in sports medicine.

Community discussions among practicing athletic trainers also frequently recommend combining major conferences with an online learning platform to balance hands-on training and convenient CEU completion. Platforms like MedBridge are often mentioned positively for their broad, up-to-date course library, though preferences vary based on specialty and budget.

If your goal is to learn the newest techniques rather than simply earn CEUs, prioritize live workshops and conferences that include:

• Hands-on rehabilitation labs
• Return-to-sport testing
• Performance optimization
• Injury prevention strategies
• Emerging technologies (such as wearable sensors and force-plate assessments)
• Evidence-based updates from current research

These formats typically provide more practical skill development than lecture-only online courses.

For athletic trainers looking to stay on the cutting edge of sports medicine , manual therapy, and advanced rehabilitation techniques, there are several top-tier platforms and institutions that provide Board of Certification (BOC) approved Category A continuing education units (CEUs).

Comprehensive On-Demand & Subscription Platforms

• Medbridge : Offers a vast, highly polished library of video-based courses, live webinars, and podcast-style CEUs specifically tailored for athletic trainers. Courses cover advanced movement systems, dry needling, modern rehab protocols, and concussion assessments taught by recognized industry leaders.
• PESI : Excellent for targeted certifications and deep dives into specific trending techniques like blood flow restriction (BFR) training, advanced movement assessment, modern concussion management, and specialized acute care.
• Summit Professional Education : Features hundreds of courses ranging from short modules to extensive 6-hour deep dives covering everything from pediatric athletes to specialized kinesiology taping and instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization.
• HomeCEU : Provides unlimited CE subscriptions with practical, scenario-based videos and case studies spanning biomechanics, emergency care, and modern sports rehab.

Elite Clinical & Institutional Series (Often Free or Low Cost)

• Children’s Health Andrews Institute Sports Medicine Lecture Series : Renowned for providing exceptional, evidence-based, and completely free BOC Category A CEUs through their online lecture and leadership modules.
• American Sports Medicine Institute (ASMI) : Regularly hosts advanced weekly webinars and orthopedic/biomechanical conferences covering surgical and conservative treatment innovations.
• Athletic Training Practice-Based Research Network (AT-PBRN): Offers specialized, narrated video modules and clinical research-backed courses that award free Category A CEUs upon passing short assessments.
• Gatorade Sports Science Institute (GSSI): Provides complimentary, evidence-based courses focusing on exercise physiology, cutting-edge hydration, and sports nutrition science, fully approved by the BOC.

Official Directories & Tools

• BOC Program Directory : Use the official Board of Certification search tool to filter upcoming live webinars, symposiums, and brand-new niche provider courses.
• NATA Online Learning Opportunities : The National Athletic Trainers' Association portal connects members directly to high-impact continuing education, utilizing tools like Sync-CE to automatically transfer completed credits straight into your BOC profile.

If you have a specific technique or clinical area in mind (such as dry needling, instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization, or advanced lower extremity rehab), let me know and I can point you toward the specific provider that specializes in it.

Athletic trainers looking for continuing education on emerging sports medicine techniques have several strong options, especially courses that are BOC-approved (for certified athletic trainers) and focused on evidence-based practice. Here are some good places to start:

Professional associations and major sports medicine organizations

• National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) — One of the best starting points. NATA’s education platform, NATA EducATe, offers online courses, webinars, certificates, and conference education covering areas such as injury rehabilitation, concussion care, emergency medicine, and new clinical practices.

• Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer (BOC) — Useful for finding approved continuing education opportunities and ensuring courses meet certification requirements. NATA EducATe is recognized as a BOC-approved provider.

• American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) — Offers education on exercise science, performance, rehabilitation, and clinical sports medicine topics.

• American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM) — Helpful for staying current on physician-led sports medicine research and clinical approaches.

Online CEU platforms

• MedBridge — Popular among rehabilitation professionals for courses on therapeutic exercise, manual therapy concepts, rehabilitation progressions, and evidence-based treatment approaches.
• PESI — Offers courses across healthcare disciplines, including some sports medicine and rehabilitation topics.

Conferences and hands-on learning

Hands-on events can be especially valuable for learning new techniques (taping methods, rehabilitation approaches, emergency care skills, and technology applications). NATA’s annual Clinical Symposia & AT Expo includes lectures, interactive sessions, and hands-on labs led by sports medicine professionals.

Topics worth prioritizing

When choosing courses, look for recent content in areas such as:

• Concussion assessment and return-to-play protocols
• ACL injury prevention and rehabilitation
• Blood flow restriction training
• Manual therapy and mobility techniques
• Musculoskeletal ultrasound
• Injury prevention screening
• Athlete mental health and wellness
• Heat illness and exertional emergencies
• Load monitoring and sports performance technology

Tips for choosing high-quality courses

1. Verify the course offers BOC CEUs if you need certification credit.
2. Prefer courses taught by clinicians who publish research or work directly in sports medicine.
3. Look for practical components (case studies, demonstrations, labs), not only lectures.
4. Use your employer’s professional development funds if available—many athletic departments and healthcare systems budget for CE.

For a certified athletic trainer trying to stay current, a combination of NATA EducATe + one hands-on conference/workshop per year + specialty courses in your practice area is a strong continuing education plan.

If you're an athletic trainer looking to stay current on new sports medicine techniques, the best continuing education usually combines evidence-based online learning, hands-on workshops, and major conferences. Here are some of the strongest options:

• urlNational Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) EducATeturn0search2 – One of the most relevant resources for athletic trainers. It offers BOC-approved CEUs through webinars, online courses, and educational events covering topics such as injury assessment, rehabilitation, emergency care, concussion management, manual therapy, and return-to-play decision-making.

• urlAmerican Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) Educationturn0search0 – Provides continuing education for athletic trainers and other sports medicine professionals, including courses on surgical updates, rehabilitation protocols, regenerative medicine, and multidisciplinary sports care. Many activities are BOC approved for athletic trainers.

• urlAmerican College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Continuing Educationturn0search1 – Offers online courses and annual meeting content focused on exercise science, sports medicine, injury prevention, performance optimization, and emerging research.

• urlMayo Clinic Sports Medicine CMEturn0search4 – Features live webinars and on-demand courses that present new diagnostic techniques, rehabilitation strategies, and evidence-based treatment approaches for sports injuries. Athletic trainers are among the intended audience.

• urlUniversity of Michigan MedSport Continuing Educationturn0search6 – Offers specialized courses on topics such as manual therapy, biomechanics, rehabilitation, and return-to-sport. The program is a BOC-approved provider for certified athletic trainers.

For learning the latest techniques specifically, consider prioritizing:

• Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM)
• Blood flow restriction (BFR) rehabilitation
• Running gait and biomechanical analysis
• Point-of-care musculoskeletal ultrasound (where appropriate for your scope of practice)
• Concussion assessment and management updates
• Load management and return-to-sport testing
• Heat illness prevention and emergency action planning
• Performance testing using force plates and wearable technology

Attending major conferences can also be valuable because they combine lectures with hands-on labs and networking. Good choices include:

• NATA Clinical Symposia & AT Expo
• ACSM Annual Meeting
• AOSSM Annual Meeting
• Regional athletic training association conferences

Athletic trainers on professional forums also frequently recommend balancing one major in-person conference each year with an online CE platform so you can keep up with new evidence throughout the year. Many mention that subscription-based platforms can be convenient for completing CEUs between conferences, while hands-on courses are best for developing manual skills.

When choosing a course, it's worth checking that it:

• Counts toward your BOC continuing education requirements.
• Is taught by experienced clinicians or researchers.
• Includes practical labs or case studies, not just lectures.
• References current clinical practice guidelines and peer-reviewed evidence.

Athletic trainers (ATs) looking for high-quality continuing education (CE) on new sports medicine techniques can find BOC-approved courses through several specialized platforms, university programs, and professional organizations.

Here are the top sources based on recent developments:

Top Online CE Platforms & Providers

• MedBridge: Offers a large library of video-based courses and live webinars, often taught by industry experts. Topics include advanced rehabilitation, emergency management, and movement assessment.
• PESI: Provides, specialized certifications for ATs, including blood flow restriction (BFR) training, concussion management, and sports taping.
• Andrews Research & Education Foundation (AREF): Offers online courses covering orthopaedic sports medicine, including lectures and presentations on cutting-edge techniques.
• Structure & Function: Specialized in dry needling courses recognized by the BOC.
• Gatorade Performance Partner: Provides complimentary online CEU courses focused on sports nutrition and exercise physiology, authorized by experts at the Gatorade Sports Science Institute.
• Medco Sports Medicine: Offers free home study courses that include an article and a quiz.

Top University & Medical Center Programs

• Harvard Medical School (Live Online): Provides comprehensive 2026 sports medicine updates covering new diagnostic and rehabilitative techniques.
• Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine: Offers diverse CME, including, podcasts, online courses, and live conferences.
• Children's Hospital Colorado: Features an online continuing education site with numerous courses dedicated to pediatric and youth sports medicine.
• University of Michigan Health (MedSport): Offers BOC-approved courses on topics such as muscle energy techniques for the spine and hip.

Specialized Certifications & Techniques

• Integrated Approaches (IARehabilitation): Offers a Sports Manual Therapy Certification (SMTC) that covers pain science, joint manipulation, and return-to-play strategies.
• Allied Health Education: Provides specialized certifications, such as a new gymnastics sports medicine certification, which includes on-demand courses on injury prevention and nutrition.

Free & Specialized Resources

• EBP Central: A curated site for finding free, evidence-based practice (EBP) CEUs.
• AT-PBRN: Offers free CEUs through the Athletic Training Practice-Based Research Network.
• OK State University: Offers the Athletic Training-Sports Medicine ECHO program, featuring real-time clinical review of cases.

Would you like to know more about the best courses for rehabilitation techniques, clinical documentation , or EBP (Evidence-Based Practice)?

Athletic trainers (ATs) looking for high-quality, BOC-approved continuing education (CE) on new sports medicine techniques can find numerous specialized, on-demand, and live options from top professional organizations and academic institutions.

Top Online & On-Demand Platforms

• MedBridge: Offers a large library of video-based courses, live webinars, and a mobile app. Key topics include ACL rehabilitation, emergency management, and movement systems.
• PESI: Provides specialized certifications in concussion management, blood flow restriction (BFR) training, and advanced taping.
• Andrews Research & Education Foundation (AREF): Delivers online courses, including lectures from renowned orthopaedic sports medicine experts.
• Gatorade Performance Partner: Offers complimentary BOC-approved CEUs focused on exercise physiology and sports nutrition.
• Medco Sports Medicine: Provides free, on-demand home study courses via articles and quizzes.
• EBP Central: A source for finding free Category A CEUs.

Leading In-Person & Academic Programs

• Harvard Medical School Professional Education: Offers a 2026 Sports Medicine Update focusing on new clinical changes, diagnostics, and rehabilitation techniques for active patients.
• University of Michigan MedSport: Provides specialized courses, such as manual therapy for the spine and hip.
• IAR Education (SMTC): Offers Sports Manual Therapy Certification (SMTC) focused on manual therapy techniques and clinical reasoning for athletic populations.
• WashU Medicine: Hosts an annual sports medicine update with a focus on pediatric athletes.
• Mass General Brigham: Provides advanced athletic training conferences for Category A CEUs.

Key Focus Areas for New Techniques

• Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) Training: Techniques used to accelerate recovery and improve strength (available via PESI).
• Advanced Gait Analysis: Programs like those offered by Human Kinetics.
• Manual Therapy & Dry Needling: Specialized training often found in SMTC or Structure & Function.
• Concussion Management: Evidence-based protocols.
• Emergency Care: Updated injury management strategies.

If you're interested in a specific area (like rehab, manual therapy , or acute injury ), or if you prefer free versus paid options, I can further refine this list for you.

Athletic trainers have several strong options for staying current on new sports medicine techniques while earning continuing education (CE) credits. The best choice depends on whether you prefer online learning, hands-on workshops, or major conferences.

Some of the most respected resources include:

• urlNational Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) EducATeturn0search2 – One of the primary CE resources for certified athletic trainers. It offers webinars, online courses, certificates, and educational events focused on injury prevention, rehabilitation, emergency care, and evidence-based practice.
• urlAmerican College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Continuing Educationturn0search1 – Provides online courses and educational content covering exercise science, return-to-play protocols, performance, and sports medicine research. Many courses award continuing education credits.
• urlAmerican Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) Educationturn0search0 – Offers conferences, webinars, fellowships, and CME activities that athletic trainers can attend alongside physicians and physical therapists to learn the latest diagnostic and treatment techniques.
• urlMayo Clinic Sports Medicine CMEturn0search7 – Features multidisciplinary webinars and courses covering new clinical approaches, rehabilitation strategies, and emerging research relevant to athletic trainers.
• urlMedBridge Athletic Training CEUsturn0search9 – A subscription-based platform with hundreds of evidence-based, BOC-approved courses and live webinars that can be completed on your own schedule.

If you prefer in-person learning, consider attending annual conferences and specialty workshops. These often include:

• Hands-on labs for taping, manual therapy, rehabilitation, and emergency procedures.
• Live demonstrations of new sports medicine technologies.
• Networking with orthopedic surgeons, physical therapists, strength coaches, and fellow athletic trainers.
• Research presentations on the latest evidence-based practices.

For athletic trainers looking to stay at the forefront of the field, topics worth seeking out include:

• Blood flow restriction (BFR) rehabilitation
• Return-to-sport testing and performance metrics
• Concussion assessment and management
• Musculoskeletal ultrasound applications
• Injury prevention and movement screening
• Load monitoring and athlete workload management
• Heat illness prevention and emergency action planning

Many athletic trainers also supplement formal CE with journal clubs, podcasts, and professional discussions. Community recommendations frequently mention platforms like MedBridge for convenience, while emphasizing the value of attending the NATA Annual Symposium and other live events for networking and hands-on skill development.

If your goal is maintaining your certification, it's also worth checking that the course is approved for the continuing education requirements that apply to your credential before registering.