Technical Standards for the MAT Program

Technical Standards

The holder of an M.A.T. degree must have the knowledge and skills to function in a broad variety of clinical situations and to render a wide spectrum of patient care. In order to carry out the activities described below, candidates for the M.A.T. degree must be able to consistently, quickly, and accurately integrate all information received, and must have the ability to learn, integrate, analyze, and synthesize data.

A candidate for the M.A.T. degree must have the abilities and skills of five varieties, including: observation; communication; motor; intellectual, conceptual, integrative, and quantitative; and behavioral and social. Depending on the circumstances, some reasonable accommodation may be possible and made available to disabled candidates in some of these areas, but a candidate must be able to perform in a reasonably independent manner.

The College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences will attempt to develop creative ways of opening the college curriculum to competitive, qualified disabled individuals. In doing so, however, the College must maintain the integrity of its curriculum and preserve those elements deemed essential to educating an athletic trainer. Candidates or students who have concerns about meeting the technical standards should contact the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management.

1. Observation: Candidates and students must have sufficient vision to be able to observe demonstrations, experiments, and laboratory exercises in the basic sciences. They must be able to observe a patient accurately at a distance and close at hand.
2. Communication: Candidates and students should be able to speak, hear, and observe patients in order to elicit information and perceive nonverbal communication. They must be able to communicate effectively and sensitively with patients. Communication includes not only speech but also reading and writing. They must also be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in oral and written English with all members of the health care team.
3. Motor:  Candidates and students should have sufficient motor function to execute movements reasonably required to provide care. Such actions require coordination of both gross and fine muscular movements, equilibrium and functional use of the senses of touch and vision.
4. Intellectual, Conceptual, Integrative and Quantitative Abilities: Candidates and students must be able to concentrate, analyze, and interpret data and make decisions within areas in which there is a reasonable amount of visual and auditory distraction.  They must also perform these functions in a timely manner and under a reasonable amount of stress since athletic trainers are expected to be able to perform such duties in diverse clinical settings where others may be present and where there is a certain degree of noise. Candidates and students must be able to perform basic mathematical functions accurately and quickly.  The practice of athletic training demands the ability to integrate and process information promptly and accurately in a time-sensitive environment.
5. Behavioral and Social Attributes: Candidates and students must possess the emotional health required for full utilization of their intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgment, the prompt completion of all responsibilities, and the development of mature, sensitive and effective relationships with patients. Candidates and students must be able to tolerate taxing workloads, adapt to changing environments, display flexibility and learn to function in the face of uncertainties inherent in the clinical problems of many patients. Compassion, integrity, concern for others, interpersonal skills, and interest and motivation are all personal qualities that will be assessed during the admission and educational processes.

The applicant should evaluate him or herself for compliance with these technical standards. Submission of the application will serve as testimony of compliance with these standards.