Athletic training

The undergraduate Athletic Training Program at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE). UWL is pursing the steps associated with changing the program from a bachelor's degree program to a Master's degree program through the UW System and the CAATE. Placement spots for the undergraduate program through May 2020 have been completed; therefore, we will no longer be accepting applications for the undergraduate athletic training program. The last undergraduate cohort is expected to graduate in May 2020. We anticipate accepting applications for the graduate program in the fall of 2018 with the first graduate cohort beginning in the summer of 2019.  

The athletic training program at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse  was the first accredited athletic training program in the state of Wisconsin, and offers one of the most competitive, in-depth and  hands-on athletic training programs in the country. The athletic training program has gained an excellent reputation for involving their athletic training students in various year-round athletic training opportunities. Our student's first time pass rate for the last three years on the BOC Examination is 91.7% (33 out of 36)!! Our student's placement (within 6 months of graduation) is 97.2% (35 out of 36).

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SELECTION/RETENTION PROCEDURES

CURRICULUM APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Each student must first be accepted for admission to the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.

A copy of the curriculum requirements can be found here.

Statement on Athletic Participation. Students accepted to the athletic training education program after the observational year may not participate in intercollegiate athletics secondary to scheduling conflicts with clinical and field experiences required in the educational program.

The UWL Athletic Training Program is no longer admitting students to the undergraduate program. The information stated below applies to the students admitted to the 2016 Fall ESS 181 class. The Athletic Training Program has been granted permission to plan the Master's degree program and anticipates accepting applications in the Fall of 2018 with the first cohort beginning in the summer of 2019.

FINAL SELECTION PROCESS

From the students enrolled in ESS 181 - Introduction to Sports Medicine, ten (10) to fourteen (14) students will be selected into the Athletic Training Program after completion of two (2) semesters as athletic training program candidates at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. The selection process is final and there is no reapplication process. Selection will be based on the following criteria:

• Academic Performance - Cumulative University GPA (35%)
• Evaluations by Clinical Supervisors (40%)
• Formal Interview  (25%)

Students admitted to the program may incur costs of transportation to clinical placements within 20 miles of La Crosse.

Students must complete the following items, at their cost, to complete admission to the program: 

• Technical Standards for Admission (PDF)
• Physical Examination  (PDF)
• Criminal History Form  (PDF)
• Caregiver Background Check  (PDF)
• Liability Insurance Purchase

RETENTION

Retention in the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Athletic Training Program will be based on the following criteria:

• Cumulative University GPA no lower than 2.75 (4.0 scale)
• GPA of 3.0 (4.0 scale) in all course work in the major
• Clinical evaluation scores of 3.0 or above (5.0 scale)

Failure to meet any one of the retention criteria requires the student to be on probationary status. If the student does not meet all criteria for two consecutive semesters, the student will be removed from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Athletic Training Program.

For further information please contact: 

Mark H. Gibson, MSEd, MS, ATC, LAT, PT  
Director, Athletic Training Program  
124 Mitchell Hall, UW-La Crosse  
La Crosse, WI. 54601  
Office 608.785.8190  
Fax 608.785.8172
E-Mail  mgibson@uwlax.edu

Athletic Training Courses

Suggested Course Sequence

Illness Policy for Communicable Diseases

PROGRAM FEES

Approximate costs incurred by students accepted into the ATP may include:

• ESS 182 course fee - $60
• Physical Examination (if not paid by personal insurance) - $150
• Criminal History Form - $12
• Personal Liability Insurance - $30/year
• Recertification of Professional Rescuer - $35
• First Aid Recertification - $20
• Optional Clothing - depends on student's needs - $100-$300 over 3 years
• Personal transportation - dependent on gasoline prices and type of automobile owned (students without a car are not assigned to an off-campus clinical rotation)

Come join us at the Coulee Chase 5K/3K Fun Run on March 3rd, 2018 and bring your dog! It's a dog friendly run/walk put on by the UW-La Crosse Athletic Training Association in collaboration with the Coulee Region Humane Society. Adoptable dogs from the Coulee Region Humane Society will be at this event! All proceeds go to the Coulee Region Humane Society and the National Athletic Training Association Foundation for education and research. March is National Athletic Training month and we are raising awareness about the Athletic Training profession around campus and in the surrounding community.

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