Attributes of curriculum athletic training programs related to the passing rate of first-time certification examinees

The purpose of this study was twofold: (1) to identify attributes of athletic training programs that have been accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) as they relate to outcomes of their students on the National Athletic Training Association Board of Certification (NATABOC) examination and (2) to determine the most effective curriculum in preparing candidates for the examination. For all subjects, the following survey information was assessed: the seven domains (competencies), number of clinical rotation sites, grade point average requirement, faculty responsibilities, faculty terminal degrees, faculty K-12 experience, association with allied health schools, capstone course availability, and course examination similarities. Fifty-four subjects, representing 60% of all of the program directors of CAAHEP accredited athletic training programs, responded in this study. Data were analyzed using a general linear model procedure and regression analyses. Even domains of athletic training, variety of rotation sites, clinical responsibility of faculty, faculty terminal degrees, and faculty K-12 school experience significantly affected the passing rate of first time certification examinees. Grade point average requirement, allied health school association, course examination format, and capstone course were not related significantly to the passing rate of first-time certification examinees. The most effective curricular model included the seven domains of athletic training, faculty clinical responsibilities, and faculty K-12 work experience as related to the passing rate. Emphasizing the domains of athletic training (competencies), having a variety of rotation sites, separating clinical and academic responsibilities for faculty, and having faculty with terminal degrees and less public school experience increase the passing rate of first-time NATABOC examinees. The most effective curricular model in affecting passing rate, according to this study, includes emphasizing the seven domains of athletic training (competencies), separating clinical and academic responsibilities of faculty, and not focusing on hiring faculty with K-12 work experience. Although this article focuses primarily on athletic training education, we believe that this study can be used as a model to evaluate educational programs in other allied health, competency-based educational programs.