Prediction of Board of Certification Examination Outcomes for Athletic Training Programs

A shortage of athletic trainers as healthcare providers in the collegiate and secondary school settings has placed a spotlight on higher education graduate programs to graduate competent professionals. Through the analysis of program data collected from athletic training education program directors across the United States, this retrospective study examined whether specific clinical education and faculty characteristics impact outcomes on the Board of Certification (BOC) examination. Current studies in athletic training are limited, and this study addresses a gap in research. Findings suggest the number of maximum clinical hours per week and number of dual-appointed faculty (those that serve as academic instructors and practice clinically) were predictive of BOC three-year aggregate first-time exam pass rates for athletic training education programs.