M.S. in Athletic Training Program Policies & Requirements

Upon acceptance, students must complete a Liberty University approved Background Check though CastleBranch by July 1st, 2020. The background check will consist of three parts:  FBI Fingerprints, DSS Virginia Sexual & Child Abuse.

The CastleBranch Background Check results must state “No Records Found” and Background Check Status “Completed”.

Upon acceptance, students must submit immunizations records for the following by June 1 of Year One: 

• Tetanus
• Measles (MR or MMR)
• Mumps (MMR)
• Rubella (MR or MMR)
• Hepatitis B (HBV)
• Flu vaccine
• TB Screening within last 12 months

Students are required to resubmit records of the following immunizations by June 1 of Year Two:

• Flu vaccine
• TB Screening within last 12 months

Once admitted to the program, students must demonstrate and maintain satisfactory academic and clinical progress as defined below:

Overall GPA
Athletic Training students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75. Students falling below a 2.75 GPA will be placed on probation for one semester. If, after one semester of probation, the GPA remains below a 2.75, or falls below a 2.75 in any subsequent semester, the student will be permanently suspended from the program.

GPA in Masters
Students must achieve a minimum grade of “C”. The student, with permission of the Program Director, may repeat one ATTR course in which the student failed to achieve the minimum grade of “C”. A second failure to receive a grade of “C” or better in any ATTR course will result in suspension from the program.

Under extenuating circumstances, and with approval of the Program Director, students will be allowed to continue in the program (under probation status) if they fail to meet one specific section of the GPA requirement. Issues will be considered on an individual basis and must constitute mitigating circumstances beyond the control of the student or program.

Course Sequencing
Students must complete each academic and clinical courses in the order prescribed.

Codes of Conduct
Satisfactory citizenship and behavior must be demonstrated as outlined in the Graduate Athletic Training Program Handbook (Appendix E), NATA code of Ethics and the BOC standards of practice.

Students suspended from the University will be subject to Athletic Training faculty review as to continuation in the program.

The Athletic Training faculty reserves the right to dismiss students who exhibit unprofessional or unethical behavior as outlined in the Program Handbook.

Guidelines for Appeal
Students may appeal decisions concerning their status in the In order to do so, the student must submit a written appeal to the Program Director within one week of the notification in question. The documentation must include a detailed justification for the appeal. Upon receipt of the appeal, the Athletic Training Faculty will meet to review the matter. The student will be advised in writing as to the outcome of that discussion within two weeks.

Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE’s)
Students are expected to complete and pass (minimum of 75%) four OSCE’s in order to progress to the next semester.

Comprehension Exams
Each student will be required to pass two written competency exams. Those exams will assess a student’s knowledge and clinical application. The exams will cover curricular content from previous courses.  The two written competency exams will be administered in May at the completion of the students’ first year and in February of the students’ second year. Students must earn a minimum of 70% on all written competency exams to progress in the program or to sit for the BOC Exam.

This policy is to ensure students are retaining information across the curriculum and are prepared for the BOC Exam. In order to progress in the program from year 1 to year 2, students must meet the requirements listed above. Students must meet the above standard on the second written competency exam to be in good standing with GATP to be eligible for the BOC Exam. Students must be in good standing with the ATP to be eligible to take the BOC Exam.

Students will be given two attempts to pass each competency exam. If a student does not pass the competency on the first attempt, the student will meet with faculty to remediate prior to the second attempt. Not passing on the first attempt may affect a student’s ability to register for the BOC Exam and thus affecting a student’s employment opportunities. Students have the ability to appeal in writing to the program director if they do not pass the competency exams on the second attempt. Appeals will be reviewed by the program director and AT faculty. Students will be provided a decision within one week of the appeal submission.

Consistent with Liberty University’s nondiscrimination policy with respect to admission of students, the ATP does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, or status as a veteran. However, enrollment in the ATP does require the ability of the student to meet Technical Standards for the duration of the program.

Liberty University’s Graduate Athletic Training Program strives to prepare every student to be reach their God- given potential. To assure students reach their potential and are prepared to provide patient care, all students must earn the following on all OSCE’s, written & practical exams in every Athletic Training course:

• Earn a minimum of 70% on all written exams
• Earn a minimum of 75% on all practical exams and OSCE’s

Mandatory remediation will be required of every student that doesn’t meet the standards above in all Athletic Training courses once students are fully accepted into Liberty University’s Graduate Athletic Training Program except end of the course comprehensive exams. Original test grades will stand in the gradebook, however this remediation should positively affect the comprehensive exams. Remediation will consist of the following:

1. The faculty and students will design a remediation plan within the first 24 hours after exams are returned to the student. The completed remediation plan form needs to be provided to the program director upon completion of the remediation.
2. Students are required to practice OSCE’s and practical exams during the assigned open lab times unless stated differently in the remediation plan.
3. Students must complete the remediation within a week or they will be removed from the clinical site.

The purpose of Liberty University’s Graduate Athletic Training Program (ATP) Communicable Disease Policy is to protect the health and safety of the students, faculty members, preceptors, and patients. This policy will ensure the welfare of the students enrolled in the Athletic Training major as well as those patients you may come in contact with during your clinical experiences.

The policy is designed to provide Athletic Training students, preceptors, and faculty with a plan to assist in the management of students with infectious diseases as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This policy was developed using the recommendations established by the CDC for health care workers.

Definition of Communicable Diseases

A communicable disease is a disease that can be transmitted from one person to another. There are four main types of transmission including direct physical contact, air (through a cough, sneeze, or other particle inhaled), a vehicle (ingested or injected), and a vector (via animals or insects).

Examples of Communicable Diseases by the CDC:

Prevention of Communicable Diseases

• Students in Liberty’s ATP are required to have a physical exam completed by a licensed physician prior to being initially accepted.
• Students in Liberty’s ATP complete Bloodborne and Airborne Pathogens training prior to beginning any clinical or observational experiences.
• Students in Liberty’s ATP review the Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure Control Policy annually when they review the ATP Handbook.
• Students in Liberty’s ATP complete annual TB Screening/Testing.
• Students are required to properly wash their hands and practice good hygiene.
• Students are required to use Universal Precautions all the time.
• Students with an active communicable disease will not attend classes or clinical experiences until a physician clears him/her to return.

Steps to Follow with Communicable Diseases

1. Report the communicable disease to the preceptor, ATP Clinical Coordinator, and faculty member of the clinical education course you are currently enrolled in.
2. Seek immediate medical attention at the LU Campus Health Services or another local healthcare provider. Inform the provider that you are a student enrolled in an Allied Healthcare Major and discuss whether you should be restricted from interaction at clinical sites and/or classes.
3. Obtain written documentation from the attending physician in regards to your ability to continue with classes and clinical experiences or if restrictions are required.
4. Share the documentation with the clinical coordinator, preceptor, and faculty instructing your courses.
5. If the student is ill enough to miss ANY class or clinical experience, the student must notify the faculty teaching the course or preceptor immediately. Any absence must be supported with written documentation from the attending physician.
6. The student will not be allowed to attend classes or clinical experiences until he/she is cleared by a physician. Appropriate remediation will be allowed to the student as long as the procedures above are followed. In the event there is a prolonged communicable illness and the student cannot finish the required clinical experience hours or required coursework, a grade of “I” (incomplete) will be granted and the student will be allowed to make-up the work in the following semester.
7. Students will not be permitted to return to the clinical experience until he/she has been re-evaluated by a medical practitioner. A signed release from a medical practitioner must be filled with the Clinical Coordinator in order for the student to return to his/her clinical experience.

The purpose of Liberty University’s Graduate Athletic Training Program (ATP) Injury Policy is to protect the health and safety of the students, faculty members, preceptors, and patients. This policy will ensure the welfare of the students enrolled in the Athletic Training major as well as those patients you may come in contact with during your clinical experiences. It is designed to provide Athletic Training students, preceptors, and faculty with a plan to assist in the management of students with injuries.

Examples of Injuries and Illnesses

• Concussion
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Depression
• Mental health disorders
• Others deemed significant by a physician or mental health counselor

Steps to Follow with Injuries and Mental Health Disorders

1. Report the injury or mental health issue to the preceptor, ATP Clinical Coordinator, and faculty member of the clinical education course you are currently enrolled in.
2. Seek immediate medical attention at the LU Campus Health Services or another local healthcare provider. Inform the provider that you are a student enrolled in an Allied Healthcare Major and discuss whether you should be restricted from interaction at clinical sites and/or classes.
3. Obtain written documentation from the attending physician in regards to your ability to continue with classes and clinical experiences or if restrictions are required.
4. Share the documentation with the clinical coordinator, preceptor, and faculty instructing your courses.
5. If the student is ill enough to miss ANY class or clinical experience, the student must notify the faculty teaching the course or preceptor immediately. Any absence must be supported with written documentation from the attending physician.
6. The student will not be allowed to attend classes or clinical experiences until he/she is cleared by a physician. Appropriate remediation will be allowed to the student as long as the procedures above are followed. In the event there is a prolonged injury or mental health issue the student cannot finish the required clinical experience hours or required coursework, a grade of “I” (incomplete) will be granted and the student will be allowed to make-up the work in the following semester.
7. Students will not be permitted to return to the clinical experience until he/she has been re-evaluated by a medical practitioner. A signed release from a medical practitioner must be filled with the Clinical Coordinator in order for the student to return to his/her clinical experience.