Athletic Training

North Park’s athletic training program puts you on the path to a wide range of exciting career options. Just ask alumni Laura Mount C’07 and Patrick Chun C’09. After graduating, Laura completed a master’s degree and served as an athletic trainer for two universities. She is currently completing a physician assistant degree program. Patrick’s experiences at North Park’s clinical sites led to his position as assistant athletic trainer at Concordia University Chicago.

Read more about Laura and Patrick.

Why Study Athletic Training?

With an increased focus on healthcare, one of the job market’s fastest-growing occupations and in-demand degree tracks is athletic training. Whether you want to be on the front lines of playing field action or rehabilitating injured patients, athletic training offers a variety of opportunities. Athletic trainers are certified healthcare providers who work in secondary schools, colleges and universities, sports medicine clinics, professional sports organizations, hospitals, and physicians offices, as well as industry, corporate, military, and performing arts settings.

Why North Park?

North Park’s athletic training program gives you the hands-on experience and real-life application skills you can use immediately after graduating. As the only accredited undergraduate athletic training program in the city of Chicago, our athletic training students are in high demand for exciting clinical experiences and internships. Our curriculum blends classroom and clinical experience, preparing you to successfully pass the Board of Certification exam to become a certified athletic trainer.

Careers in Athletic Training

Athletic trainer for professional, college, or secondary school sports
Athletic trainer in a sports medicine clinic
Physical or occupational therapist
Physician assistant
Instructor

Career Development and Internships

Alumni Careers

Head Athletic Trainer, Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS)
Sports Medicine and Physical Therapy, Athletico
Assistant Athletic Trainer, Concordia University Chicago
Assistantship, Minnesota State University, Mankato
Professor, Trinity International University

Certified Athletic Trainers

The certified athletic trainer (ATC) is a healthcare professional that collaborates with physicians to provide care to a wide range of populations. To earn certification, ATCs must first graduate from an athletic training degree program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education, as North Park is. During your final semester, you’ll be eligible to take the Board of Certification national exam. Successful completion of the exam, along with meeting individual state requirement, is required to practice as an ATC.

Athletic Training Application Process

Students interested in applying to the athletic training major start by taking the introduction to athletic training course during their first semester at North Park. In this course, you’ll not only learn the about the profession, you’ll also receive an application packet for the program. This application process takes place during the spring semester of your first year.

Meet the Faculty

Andrew Lundgren first came to North Park in 1996 as head athletic trainer and became the program director in 2000. Along with overseeing the Athletic Training Educational Program (ATEP), Andrew keeps his skills sharp by serving as the trainer for the men’s soccer team.

Learn more about Andrew Lundgren and the athletic training faculty.

Clinical Rotations

Hands-on experience is key to becoming an athletic trainer. Our program includes six clinical rotations, utilizing our state-of-the-art on-campus facilities, as well as working at a variety of exciting, prestigious off-campus sites in the city of Chicago.

Next Steps

Program Requirements