This new standard reads, "Work-study, scholarship, and other funding
opportunities must not require students to perform athletic training
skills or services as a replacement of certified athletic training
staff." Based on what I get from our instituion, work-study students
should not work more than 20 hours/week. This also seems to be similar
at other instituions, based on what I saw from a quick Google search
(but I'm sure there are exceptions - high and low). If schools are on
15-week semesters, this would equate to 300 clinical hours/semester, and
600 clinical hours/academic year. For graduation, students would
complete a maximum total of 1,200 hours (i.e., for a 2 year ATEP); 1,500
(i.e., for a 2.5 year ATEP); 1,800 hours (i.e., for a 3 year ATEP); and
2,100 hours (i.e., for a 3.5 year ATEP). These numbers do not include
pre-season practices, vacations (fall, winter, spring), or summer. So,
here are my 10 questions:

1. Is an ATEP in violation of this standard if students are obtaining
more than 20 hours/week at their clinical rotations?
2. Are these a maximum of 20 hours/week period, or an average of 20
hours/week throughout the semester or term?
3. Should ATEPs allow students to work over 20 clinical hours/week if
"they" want to, as long as they are doing well in all of their academic
classes?
4. What should ATEPs do if their ACIs or CIs ask the students to work
more than 20 hours/week?
5. How do you know if a student is being used as replacement for an ATC
staff if the ATEP does not document any or all of the student's clinical
hours?
6. What types of problems has your ATEP encountered in addressing this
issue?
7. What things have you done to ensure that this standard is understud
and practiced by your ATEP and affiliated ACIs/CIs?
8. Does the NCAA and NAIA have a rule/policy for the maximum number of
hours/week that a student-athlete can be at their sport?
9. Other allied health professions (i.e., OT, PT) require about 1,200
clinical hours for their 2-3 year programs; and their graduates are
prepared for their jobs and licensure. So, why would AT need to be any
different?
10. Are their any issues that may relate to this standard?

Please submit all replies back to this listserv. Thank you for your
time and friendly discussion.

--
Donald Fuller, PhD, ATC
Athletic Training Program Director
Entry-Level Master's AT Program
University of Findlay
1000 N. Main St
Findlay, Ohio 45840
419-434-6739 (office); 419-434-4822 (fax)
Email: dfuller@...
AT Program: http://homepages.findlay.edu/dfuller