Continuing education for athletic trainers
Jul 5 – Oct 19, 2026Updated Oct 19, 2026
Reviewed by Dimitry Apollonsky
Which brands AI mentions
Mentioned in
ChatGPTChatGPTGoogle AI ModeGoogle AI Mode
Widest split: American College of Sports Medicine, 63% on ChatGPT and 4% on Google AI Mode.
- #1tiedMedBridgeChatGPT 42%Google AI Mode 100%
- #1tiedNATA EducATeChatGPT 54%Google AI Mode 63%
- #3tiedNational Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA)ChatGPT 58%Google AI Mode 17%
- #3tiedAmerican College of Sports MedicineChatGPT 63%Google AI Mode 4%
- #3tiedBoard of Certification (BOC)ChatGPT 17%Google AI Mode 38%
Questions and answers
ChatGPTOct 19, 2026
Athletic trainers looking to learn new sports medicine techniques should start with professional organizations, certification-approved continuing education providers, and hands-on clinical workshops. The best options combine evidence-based instruction, practical clinical applications, and continuing education credits (CEUs) that count toward certification renewal.
Here are some of the strongest places to look.
1. Best continuing education resources
1. National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) — Best overall
(Top recommendation)
NATA's EducATe platform offers more than 150 on-demand courses, with up to 200 CEUs of content included with active membership. Topics span many areas of athletic training, and the catalog can be searched by subject and format.
Best for: flexible online learning, clinical updates, and professional development.
2. American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) — Best for exercise science
ACSM provides online courses, continuing education credits, webinars, and educational resources for health and fitness professionals and clinicians.
Best for: exercise prescription, performance optimization, conditioning, and evidence-based sports science.
Explore ACSM continuing education
3. American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) — Best for sports injury management
Its education catalog includes webinars, on-demand courses, and meeting recordings covering sports injuries and their diagnosis and management.
Best for: injury evaluation, rehabilitation decision-making, and updates in orthopedic sports medicine.
Browse AOSSM education programs
4. Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer (BOC) — Best for finding qualifying courses
The BOC's searchable activity directory lists Category A continuing education activities from approved providers. You can search by topic, delivery format, location, and other criteria.
Best for: verifying CE eligibility before paying for a course.
Search the BOC activity directory
2. Hands-on workshops for learning new techniques
If the goal is to improve practical skills rather than just earn credits, these options are especially worth investigating.
Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine Symposium
November 6–7, 2026 · Rochester, Minnesota
Features clinical demonstrations, injury assessment, rehabilitation, return-to-play decisions, and an optional hands-on rehabilitation and performance clinic. The symposium offers up to 14.75 BOC Category A CEUs, with a separate workshop offering 3.75 BOC Category A CEUs.
Johns Hopkins Current Concepts in Sports Medicine
December 12–13, 2026 · Lutherville, Maryland
The upcoming rehabilitation and sports performance module covers overhead athletes, return-to-sport rehabilitation, strength and conditioning, and movement retraining. The listed series price is $395 per module, with Maryland PT/OT continuing education credit; confirm athletic trainer credit eligibility separately.
University of Michigan Health Sports Medicine Education
Offers courses for athletic trainers and other rehabilitation professionals, including specialized training in neurological dry needling for pain management and sports rehabilitation. Check prerequisites and state-specific practice requirements for specialized techniques.
3. How to choose a high-quality course
Before enrolling, I recommend checking these four things:
- Certification credit: Verify BOC Category A eligibility and any state licensure requirements.
- Evidence quality: Look for current research, qualified instructors, and transparent discussion of a technique's limitations.
- Practical application: Prioritize demonstrations, case studies, supervised labs, and return-to-play decision-making.
- Relevance to your work: Select courses that match the athletes and injuries you encounter most often.
My recommendation: Start with NATA EducATe for affordable, flexible learning, then add a hands-on workshop in your specialty. If you're working in the Maryland area, the Johns Hopkins series is particularly relevant to explore.
I can also help you find courses tailored to a specific specialty: Find hands-on courses near Maryland or Find courses on new rehabilitation techniques.
Google AI ModeOct 19, 2026
Athletic trainers (ATs) looking to stay ahead of the curve with new sports medicine, rehabilitation, and evaluation techniques can choose from
several top-tier, Board of Certification (BOC)-approved platforms and resources.The best places to find quality continuing education units (CEUs) and advanced technique training include:
- NATA EducATe On-Demand Catalog : Provided directly through the NATA Online Learning Portal , active NATA members get free access to over 150 on-demand courses (covering up to 200 CEUs). It features advanced topics like movement science, biomechanics, and specialized rehabilitation techniques, with automated CEU syncing via BOC profiles.
- PESI Healthcare / PESI Sports : Offers targeted, evidence-based courses and specialized clinical seminars—such as comprehensive training on sport-related musculoskeletal evaluations and advanced rehab strategies taught by leading physical therapists and athletic trainers.
- MedBridge : A massive online portal widely utilized by sports medicine professionals. It features multi-course tracks, video-based demonstrations of manual therapy, modern taping modalities, return-to-play criteria, and movement screening techniques, all approved for Category A CEUs.
- BOC Approved Provider Directory : You can search the official BOCATC Approved Provider Directory to find niche or cutting-edge live webinars, hands-on workshops, and certification courses vetted explicitly to meet Category A continuing education requirements.
- The Journal of Athletic Training (JAT) Quizzes : An easy, evidence-based way to earn CEUs by reading peer-reviewed research on emerging clinical interventions and completing associated online quizzes through NATA Education.
If you have a specific clinical setting (e.g., secondary school, collegiate, tactical, or professional sports) or a particular technique you want to dive into (like dry needling, blood flow restriction, or concussion management), let me know and I can give you a more tailored recommendation!
Sources cited in this answer3
ChatGPTOct 10, 2026
For athletic trainers looking to stay current with modern sports medicine, I recommend prioritizing evidence-based continuing education, hands-on clinical workshops, and research from professional sports medicine organizations. The best options combine practical skills with current guidance on injury rehabilitation, concussion management, return-to-sport decisions, athlete wellness, and injury prevention.
Here are the strongest sources to explore, including online courses, professional conferences, and research resources.
1. Best continuing education providers
1. National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA)
(Best overall for athletic trainers)
Online courses · CEUs · Annual conference
NATA's EducATe platform is the most direct starting point for certified athletic trainers. Its member benefit includes more than 150 on-demand courses, with up to 200 CEUs of content. Topics span clinical practice, rehabilitation, mental health, leadership, and emerging areas of athletic training.
Best for: Maintaining certification, building clinical skills, and finding education specifically designed for athletic trainers.
2. American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)
Online courses · Exercise science · Clinical education
ACSM offers continuing education on exercise physiology, cardiorespiratory fitness, exercise prescription, rehabilitation-related science, and the health of physically active populations. Its online catalog includes recorded conference sessions and clinical education.
Best for: Applying current exercise science and performance research to athlete care.
Browse ACSM continuing education
3. American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM)
Sports medicine conferences · Clinical case discussions
AMSSM provides sports medicine education with a strong clinical focus. Its Advanced Team Physician Course, offered collaboratively with ACSM, is also designed for certified athletic trainers and addresses evaluation and treatment of musculoskeletal injuries and medical conditions in athletes.
Best for: Learning alongside sports medicine physicians and other members of the sports medicine team.
4. National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA)
Strength and conditioning · Performance · Injury risk reduction
NSCA is a valuable complementary source for athletic trainers working with strength coaches, rehabilitation staff, and performance teams. Look for education on resistance training, workload management, athletic performance, and the transition from rehabilitation to sport-specific training.
Best for: Collegiate, professional, and secondary-school athletic trainers who integrate rehabilitation with performance development.
2. Best sources for the latest research and clinical practices
Journal of Athletic Training
A peer-reviewed journal focused directly on athletic training research and clinical practice. NATA also publishes Journal of Athletic Training—Education and Practice, which emphasizes professional development and education.
British Journal of Sports Medicine (BJSM)
An excellent international source for systematic reviews, clinical research, consensus statements, and educational multimedia. Particularly useful for concussion, injury prevention, rehabilitation, and return-to-sport decisions.
These journals are especially useful for identifying why a clinical practice is recommended, rather than simply learning a technique. Prioritize recent systematic reviews and consensus statements, then compare them with your organization's clinical protocols.
3. Conferences and practical learning
For education that goes beyond reading articles, consider these opportunities.
NATA Clinical Symposia & AT Expo
Broadest professional development option
The 2026 conference took place in Philadelphia in June. Its on-demand program is available through December 31, 2026, with up to 25 CEUs for on-demand registrants. Topics include ACL rehabilitation, concussion, exertional conditions, heat safety, mental health, and return-to-sport strategies.
View the 2026 on-demand program
Advanced Team Physician Course
Interdisciplinary clinical learning
The next course is scheduled for December 4–6, 2026, in Phoenix, Arizona. It includes clinical lectures, case presentations, and discussions of sports injuries and medical conditions. Certified athletic trainers are among the intended participants.
4. Which resources fit which clinical interests?
Clinical interest Recommended starting points Concussion and brain health NATA EducATe, BJSM ACL rehabilitation and return to sport NATA, BJSM, ACSM Strength, conditioning and workload NSCA, ACSM Emergency care and heat illness NATA courses and clinical statements Mental health and athlete wellness NATA, ACSM, AMSSM Evidence-based clinical decision-making Journal of Athletic Training, BJSM 5. How to choose quality continuing education
Before paying for a course, I would check four things:
- Accreditation: Confirm that the activity qualifies for the appropriate Board of Certification (BOC) CEUs for your reporting requirements. NATA is a BOC-approved provider.
- Evidence quality: Look for recent research, systematic reviews, consensus statements, and transparent references.
- Clinical application: Prefer case studies, demonstrations, practical labs, and measurable clinical skills over lectures alone.
- Relevance to your setting: Secondary-school, collegiate, professional, and clinical athletic trainers may need different depth and specialization.
My recommendation: Start with NATA EducATe for structured CEUs, follow the Journal of Athletic Training and BJSM for ongoing evidence updates, and add ACSM or NSCA education based on your clinical role. This combination provides both certification-focused learning and a way to keep your everyday clinical practice current.
One question that would help me narrow this down: What area of athletic training are you most interested in advancing? For example, orthopedic rehabilitation, concussion, emergency care, performance science, or general clinical practice. I can then identify more specialized courses and certifications.
Google AI ModeOct 10, 2026
For athletic trainers (ATs) looking to stay current with modern sports medicine, evidence-based rehabilitation, and performance enhancement, several premier platforms offer
Board of Certification (BOC) approved Category A continuing education units (CEUs).- NATA EducATe : The National Athletic Trainers' Association's official digital learning platform features an extensive library of on-demand courses, microcredentials, and specialized modules. Curricula span advanced topics like manual lymphatic drainage, performance nutrition, and movement science integration. Explore available modules on the NATA EducATe Portal.
- MedBridge Education : Widely utilized across allied health professions, MedBridge provides a massive, high-production-value video library featuring leading clinicians and researchers. Their curricula cover advanced orthopedic assessment, therapeutic exercise progressions, and modern sports science, often paired with an unlimited subscription model. Browse course offerings at MedBridge.
- Gatorade Sports Science Institute (GSSI) Expert Courses : GSSI offers a robust selection of complimentary, peer-reviewed continuing education modules. Their material focuses heavily on modern sports nutrition, hydration science, and exercise physiology tailored directly to athletic performance and recovery. Access the catalog through the Gatorade Performance Partner Community.
- Medco Sports Medicine : A staple for practical sports medicine learning, Medco offers a consistent stream of CEU-awarding articles and interactive quizzes covering acute care, taping, modalities, and rehabilitation tools. Check out their current offerings via Medco Sports Medicine.
- Specialty Symposia and Hospital-Backed Series : Major orthopedic and children's hospital networks (such as the Andrews Institute or Children's Hospital Colorado ) frequently host specialized online lecture series and virtual sports medicine symposia providing Category A CEUs . These are ideal for deep dives into pediatric athlete safety, surgical innovations, and modern injury prevention paradigms.
If you let me know your specific clinical setting (e.g., collegiate, secondary school, clinical/outpatient) or area of interest (such as manual therapy, mental health first aid, or performance data tracking), I can point you toward targeted courses or free CEU options that fit your exact requirements.
Sources cited in this answer5
- nata.orgOnline Learning Opportunities | NATA
- educate.nata.orgNATA EducATe: Home
- nata.orgNATA EducATe: New Courses in September 2026 | NATA
- philplisky.comFree Athletic Training & PT CEUs (2026 List) + NATA BOC Approved
- performancepartner.gatorade.comContinuing Education Courses - Gatorade Performance Partner
Also asked as
- As an athletic trainer, where should I look for continuing education that focuses on modern sports medicine techniques?
