tsATA PRESS RELEASE JANUARY 14, 2008
TSATA Sports Medicine II Innovative Course Approved by TEA
The Texas State Athletic Trainers' Association’s application for Sports Medicine II as an “Innovative Course” has been approved by the Commissioner of Education. Following a rigorous internal review, staff in the TEA Division of Curriculum recommended approval of the course, which calls for the valid Texas Athletic Trainer's License to be the recognized credential for teaching this course.
This approval is particularly timely as the course covers topics included in legislation passed by the 80 th Texas Legislature such as the use of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs), CPR, and emergency procedures.
Teacher certification is not required for a licensed athletic trainer to teach Sports Medicine I and Sports Medicine II, but school districts may still require teacher certification for employment.
The Texas State Athletic Trainers' Association provides an Instructor's Course for the Sports Medicine II Class (just as it did for SM I), as TEA requires all professional organizations sponsoring an innovative course to provide this type of professional staff development training. With TEA approval, all Texas Independent School Districts and state charter schools may offer this course and award state elective credit for successful completion for 2008-2009.
Sports Medicine II joins the previously approved Sports Medicine I as an additional state elective course for athletic training students. The schools that offer this state approved Sports Medicine II course must have only licensed athletic trainers as the instructors and those instructors must complete the TSATA Instructor's Course.
The TSATA will offer the Instructor's Course, on a regional schedule, beginning April 11, 2008. The Sports Medicine I and Sports Medicine II Instructors’ Courses will be offered on the same day.
The TSATA is a member organization comprised of over 1200 licensed athletic trainers working in public education, higher education, and the private sector. In 1971, Texas became the first state to enact a law requiring athletic trainers to meet specific standards of education, professionalism, and ethics. Athletic trainers practicing in Texas are licensed by the State Advisory Board of Athletic Trainers.
For more information, contact Spanky Stephens at trainerex@earthlink.net, Dennis Hart at dhart@mesquiteisd.org, or visit the Texas State Athletic Trainers Association website at www.tsata.com
