Clinical education is a fundamental learning experience of the Alfred University Athletic Training Program (AU ATP). The clinical experience component of the program was designed with the purpose of assigning students to preceptors and sites that will be most beneficial for learning and practicing skills associated with clinical proficiencies. The intent of this policy is to create a uniform framework for all athletic training students to be held to the same standards and guidelines regarding their clinical education.
Clinical education for students formally admitted to the AU ATP is a minimum of 6 semesters (unless approved otherwise by the Program Director). All Athletic Training Students must be enrolled in a clinical experience course and are required to obtain the minimum number of clinical hours as set by the Athletic Training Program at Alfred University. All athletic training students will be informed of the programmatic hour requirement for each semester and associated clinical experience course prior to admission into the ATP. These clinical experiences provide each student with opportunity to earn academic course credit while observing, practicing, or demonstrating the knowledge, skills, and/or clinical abilities instructed within the didactic portion of the AU ATP.
Appropriate clinical education experiences will be assigned by the Clinical Education Coordinator and approved by the Program Director. All clinical education experiences are supervised by a preceptor (certified athletic trainer or physician) who is specifically trained on the policies and procedures of the AU ATP. Examples of acceptable clinical experiences may be but are not limited to: covering on and off campus practices, participating in on and off campus athletic events, assisting with treatments and rehabilitation of Alfred University athletes, helping administer pre-participation physical examinations for Alfred University athletes, speaking with various outside groups about the profession of athletic training, and other duties assigned by a Preceptor. When necessary, simulation experiences may also be developed and implemented as a component of clinical education. The objective of these unique experiences is to present the student with scenarios less often experienced to allow them to practice and develop their knowledge, skills, and clinical abilities under unique circumstances.
Competencies and Proficiencies
Competencies and proficiencies are skills and knowledge that each student must demonstrate mastery of prior to being advanced to the next clinical experience level. Only AU approved preceptors will have the authority to evaluate student performance on athletic training knowledge, skills, and clinical abilities. Students will have access to the competencies and proficiencies assigned to the various Clinical Experience courses through the ATrack software package. Students may not complete competencies or proficiencies during the preseason or over the winter break as well. Students must be enrolled in a Clinical Experience course in order to complete proficiencies and competencies as well as accumulate clinical hours.