ATHLETIC TRAINERS

 	chapter 351	licensure of athletic trainers	
 	chapter 352	continuing education for athletic trainers	
 	chapter 353	discipline for athletic trainers	
CHAPTER 351
LICENSURE OF ATHLETIC TRAINERS
[Prior to 4/17/02, see rules 645—350.6(147,152D) to 645—350.10(147,152D)]
645—351.1(152D) Definitions. For purposes of these rules, the following definitions shall apply:
“Active license” means a license that is current and has not expired.
“Athlete” means a person who participates in a sanctioned amateur or professional sport or other recreational sports activity.
“Athletic injury” means any of the following:
	1.	An injury or illness sustained by an athlete as a result of the athlete’s participation in sports, games, or recreational sports activities.
	2.	An injury or illness that impedes or prevents an athlete from participating in sports, games, or recreational sports activities.
“Athletic trainer” means a person licensed under this chapter to practice athletic training under the direction of a licensed physician.
“Athletic training” means the practice of prevention, recognition, assessment, physical evaluation, management, treatment, disposition, and physical reconditioning of athletic injuries that are within the professional preparation and education of a licensed athletic trainer and under the direction of a licensed physician. The term “athletic training” includes the organization and administration of educational programs and athletic facilities, and the education and counseling of the public on matters relating to athletic training.
“Board” means the board of athletic training created under Iowa Code chapter 147.
“BOC” means the Board of Certification or its successor organization.
“Directing physician” means a physician who supervises the athletic training services provided by a licensed athletic trainer.
“Direction” means that a physician directs the performance of a licensed athletic trainer in the development, implementation, and evaluation of an athletic training service plan as set out in 645—351.6(152D). Direction shall not be construed as requiring the personal presence of that physician at each activity of the licensed athletic trainer. It is the responsibility of the licensed athletic trainer to ensure that the practice of athletic training is carried out only under the direction of a licensed physician.
“Grace period” means the 30-day period following expiration of a license when the license is still considered to be active. In order to renew a license during the grace period, a licensee is required to pay a late fee.
“Licensee” means any person licensed to practice as an athletic trainer in the state of Iowa.
“License expiration date” means February 28 of each odd-numbered year.
“Physical reconditioning” means the part of the practice of athletic training which combines physical treatment, rehabilitation and exercise and is carried out under the orders of a physician or physician assistant. Physical treatment is part of a service plan which includes but is not limited to the continued use of any of the following: cryotherapy, thermotherapy, hydrotherapy, electrotherapy, or the use of mechanical devices.
“Physician” means a person licensed to practice medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and surgery, osteopathy, chiropractic, or podiatry under the laws of this state.
“Reactivate” or “reactivation” means the process as outlined in rule 645—351.15(17A,147,272C) by which an inactive license is restored to active status.
“Reciprocal license” means the issuance of an Iowa license to practice athletic training to an applicant who is currently licensed in another state which has a mutual agreement with the Iowa board of athletic training to license persons who have the same or similar qualifications to those required in Iowa.
“Reinstatement” means the process as outlined in 645—11.31(272C) by which a licensee who has had a license suspended or revoked or who has voluntarily surrendered a license may apply to have the license reinstated, with or without conditions. Once the license is reinstated, the licensee may apply for active status.
645—351.2(152D) Requirements for licensure. The following criteria shall apply to licensure:
	351.2(1) The applicant shall complete a board-approved application packet. Application forms may be obtained from the board’s website (idph.iowa.gov/Licensure/Iowa-Board-of-Athletic-Training) or directly from the board office. All applications shall be sent to Board of Athletic Training, Professional Licensure Division, Fifth Floor, Lucas State Office Building, Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0075.
	351.2(2) The applicant shall complete the application form according to the instructions contained in the application. If the application is not completed according to the instructions, the application will not be reviewed by the board.
	351.2(3) Each application shall be accompanied by the appropriate fees payable by check or money order to the Board of Athletic Training. The fees are nonrefundable.
	351.2(4) No application will be considered by the board until official copies of academic transcripts have been sent directly from the school to the board of athletic training.
	351.2(5) The applicant shall successfully complete the BOC examination. It is the responsibility of the applicant to make arrangements to take the examination and have the official results submitted to the Iowa board of athletic training.
	351.2(6) Licensees who were issued their licenses within six months prior to the renewal date shall not be required to renew their licenses until the renewal date two years later.
	351.2(7) Incomplete applications that have been on file in the board office for more than two years shall be:
	a. 	Considered invalid and shall be destroyed; or
	b. 	Maintained upon written request of the candidate. The candidate is responsible for requesting that the file be maintained.
[ARC 3560C, IAB 1/3/18, effective 2/7/18]
645—351.3(152D) Educational qualifications.
	351.3(1) A new applicant for licensure to practice as an athletic trainer shall possess a baccalaureate degree or postbaccalaureate degree from a U.S. regionally accredited college or university.
	351.3(2) Foreign-trained athletic trainers shall:
	a. 	Provide an equivalency evaluation of their educational credentials by International Educational Research Foundations, Inc., Credentials Evaluation Service, P.O. Box 3665, Culver City, CA 90231-3665; telephone (310)258-9451; website www.ierf.org or email at info@ierf.org. The professional curriculum must be equivalent to that stated in these rules. A candidate shall bear the expense of the curriculum evaluation. An applicant who has passed the BOC examination is exempt from this requirement.
	b. 	Provide a notarized copy of the certificate or diploma awarded to the applicant from an athletic training program in the country in which the applicant was educated. An applicant who has passed the BOC examination is exempt from this requirement.
	c. 	Receive a final determination from the board regarding the application for licensure.
	d. 	Pass the BOC examination. Official results are to be submitted directly to the board from the BOC.
[ARC 3560C, IAB 1/3/18, effective 2/7/18]
645—351.4(152D) Examination requirements.
	351.4(1) The examination required by the board shall be the BOC examination. Application and information may be obtained from the BOC Offices, 1415 Harney Street, Suite 200, Omaha, NE 68102; telephone (402)559-0091; website www.bocatc.org or email at BOC@bocatc.org.
	351.4(2) The applicant has responsibility for:
	a. 	Making arrangements to take the national examination; and
	b. 	Arranging to have the examination scores sent directly to the board from BOC.
[ARC 3560C, IAB 1/3/18, effective 2/7/18]
645—351.5(152D) Documentation of physician direction. Each licensee must maintain documentation of physician direction. It is the responsibility of the licensee to ensure that documentation of physician direction is obtained and maintained, including the following:
	1.	Athletic training service plan as set out in 645—351.6(152D);
	2.	Dates and names of physician and physician assistant orders or referrals;
	3.	Initial evaluations and assessments;
	4.	Treatments and services rendered, with dates; and
	5.	Dates of subsequent follow-up care.
645—351.6(152D) Athletic training plan for direct service. Athletic training service plans shall be composed of the following components as taken from the Board of Certification 2000 Standards of Athletic Training for Direct Service and for Service Programs or standards from its successor as determined by the board of athletic training.
	351.6(1) Standards for athletic training—direct service.
	a. 	Standard 1—direction. The athletic trainer renders service or treatment under the direction of a physician.
	b. 	Standard 2—injury and ongoing care services. All services shall be documented in writing by the athletic trainer and shall become part of the athlete’s permanent records.
	c. 	Standard 3—documentation. The athletic trainer shall accept responsibility for recording details of the athlete’s health status. Documentation shall include:
	(1)	Athlete’s name and any other identifying information.
	(2)	Referral source (doctor, dentist).
	(3)	Date, initial assessment, results and database.
	(4)	Program plan and estimated length.
	(5)	Program methods, results and revisions.
	(6)	Date of discontinuation and summary.
	(7)	Athletic trainer’s signature.
	d. 	Standard 4—confidentiality. The athletic trainer shall maintain confidentiality as determined by law and shall accept responsibility for communicating assessment results, program plans, and progress with other persons involved in the athlete’s program.
	e. 	Standard 5—initial assessment. Prior to treatment, the athletic trainer shall assess the athlete’s level of functioning. The athlete’s input shall be considered an integral part of the initial assessment.
	f. 	Standard 6—program planning. The athletic training program objectives shall include long-and short-term goals and an appraisal of those which the athlete can realistically be expected to achieve from the program. Assessment measures to determine the effectiveness of the program shall be incorporated into the plan.
	g. 	Standard 7—program discontinuation. The athletic trainer, with the collaboration of the physician, shall recommend discontinuation of the athletic training service when the athlete has received optimal benefit of the program. The athletic trainer, at the time of discontinuation, shall note the final assessment of the athlete’s status.
	351.6(2) Standards for athletic training—service program. Rescinded IAB 2/2/05, effective 3/9/05.
645—351.7(152D) Licensure by endorsement. An applicant who has been a licensed athletic trainer under the laws of another jurisdiction shall file an application for licensure by endorsement with the board office. The board may receive by endorsement any applicant from the District of Columbia or another state, territory, province or foreign country who:
	1.	Submits to the board a completed application;
	2.	Pays the licensure fee;
	3.	Has the academic transcript(s) sent directly from the school(s) to the board;
	4.	Shows evidence of licensure requirements that are similar to those required in Iowa;
	5.	Provides verification of license(s) from every jurisdiction in which the applicant has been licensed, sent directly from the jurisdiction(s) to the board office. Web-based verification may be substituted for verification direct from the jurisdiction’s board office if the verification provides:
	●	Licensee’s name;
	●	Date of initial licensure;
	●	Current licensure status; and
	●	Any disciplinary actions taken against the license.
	6.	Submits evidence:
	●	From BOC of current certification status sent directly from BOC to the board, or
	●	Of a passing score on the examination of the BOC sent directly from BOC to the board.
645—351.8(147) Licensure by reciprocal agreement. Rescinded IAB 8/13/08, effective 9/17/08.
645—351.9(147) License renewal.
	351.9(1) The biennial license renewal period for a license to practice athletic training shall begin on March 1 of each odd-numbered year and end on February 28 of the next odd-numbered year. The licensee is responsible for renewing the license prior to its expiration. Failure of the licensee to receive notice from the board does not relieve the licensee of the responsibility for renewing the license.
	351.9(2) An individual who was issued a license within six months of the license renewal date will not be required to renew the license until the subsequent renewal two years later.
	351.9(3) A licensee seeking renewal shall:
	a. 	Meet the continuing education requirements of rule 645—352.2(152D) and the mandatory reporting requirements of subrule 351.9(4). A licensee whose license was reactivated during the current renewal compliance period may use continuing education credit earned during the compliance period for the first renewal following reactivation; and
	b. 	Submit the completed renewal application and renewal fee before the license expiration date.
	351.9(4) Mandatory reporter training requirements.
	a. 	A licensee who, in the scope of professional practice or in the licensee’s employment responsibilities, examines, attends, counsels or treats children in Iowa shall indicate on the renewal application completion of two hours of training in child abuse identification and reporting in the previous five years or condition(s) for waiver of this requirement as identified in paragraph “e.”
	b. 	A licensee who, in the course of employment, examines, attends, counsels or treats adults in Iowa shall indicate on the renewal application completion of two hours of training in dependent adult abuse identification and reporting in the previous five years or condition(s) for waiver of this requirement as identified in paragraph “e.”
	c. 	A licensee who, in the scope of professional practice or in the course of employment, examines, attends, counsels or treats both adults and children in Iowa shall indicate on the renewal application completion of training in abuse identification and reporting for dependent adults and children in the previous five years or condition(s) for waiver of this requirement as identified in paragraph “e.”
Training may be completed through separate courses as identified in paragraphs “a” and “b” or in one combined two-hour course that includes curricula for identifying and reporting child abuse and dependent adult abuse. The course shall be a curriculum approved by the Iowa department of public health abuse education review panel.
	d. 	The licensee shall maintain written documentation for five years after mandatory training as identified in paragraphs “a” to “c,” including program date(s), content, duration, and proof of participation.
	e. 	The requirement for mandatory training for identifying and reporting child and dependent adult abuse shall be suspended if the board determines that suspension is in the public interest or that a person at the time of license renewal:
	(1)	Is engaged in active duty in the military service of this state or the United States.
	(2)	Holds a current waiver by the board based on evidence of significant hardship in complying with training requirements, including an exemption of continuing education requirements or extension of time in which to fulfill requirements due to a physical or mental disability or illness as identified in 645—Chapter 352.
	f. 	The board may select licensees for audit of compliance with the requirements in paragraphs “a” to “e.”
	351.9(5) Upon receiving the information required by this rule and the required fee, board staff shall administratively issue a two-year license and shall send the licensee a wallet card by regular mail. In the event the board receives adverse information on the renewal application, the board shall issue the renewal license but may refer the adverse information for further consideration or disciplinary investigation.
	351.9(6) A person licensed to practice as an athletic trainer shall keep the license certificate and wallet card displayed in a conspicuous public place at the primary site of practice.
	351.9(7) Late renewal. The license shall become late when the license has not been renewed by the expiration date on the wallet card. The licensee shall be assessed a late fee as specified in 645—subrule 5.1(4). To renew a late license, the licensee shall complete the renewal requirements and submit the late fee within the grace period.
	351.9(8) Inactive license. A licensee who fails to renew the license by the end of the grace period has an inactive license. A licensee whose license is inactive continues to hold the privilege of licensure in Iowa, but may not practice as an athletic trainer in Iowa until the license is reactivated. A licensee who practices as an athletic trainer in the state of Iowa with an inactive license may be subject to disciplinary action by the board, injunctive action pursuant to Iowa Code section 147.83, criminal sanctions pursuant to Iowa Code section 147.86, and other available legal remedies.
[ARC 9967B, IAB 1/11/12, effective 2/15/12]
645—351.10(272C) Exemptions for inactive practitioners. Rescinded IAB 7/20/05, effective 8/24/05.
645—351.11(147) Duplicate certificate or wallet card. Rescinded IAB 8/13/08, effective 9/17/08.
645—351.12(147) Reissued certificate or wallet card. Rescinded IAB 8/13/08, effective 9/17/08.
645—351.13(272C) Lapsed licenses. Rescinded IAB 7/20/05, effective 8/24/05.
645—351.14(17A,147,272C) License denial. Rescinded IAB 8/13/08, effective 9/17/08.
645—351.15(17A,147,272C) License reactivation. To apply for reactivation of an inactive license, a licensee shall:
	351.15(1) Submit a reactivation application on a form provided by the board.
	351.15(2) Pay the reactivation fee that is due as specified in 645—Chapter 5.
	351.15(3) Provide verification of current competence to practice as an athletic trainer by satisfying one of the following criteria:
	a. 	If the license has been on inactive status for five years or less, an applicant must provide the following:
	(1)	Verification of the license(s) from every jurisdiction in which the applicant is or has been licensed and is or has been practicing during the time period the Iowa license was inactive, sent directly from the jurisdiction(s) to the board office. Web-based verification may be substituted for verification from a jurisdiction’s board office if the verification includes:
	1.	Licensee’s name;
	2.	Date of initial licensure;
	3.	Current licensure status; and
	4.	Any disciplinary action taken against the license; and
	(2)	Verification of completion of 50 hours of continuing education within two years of the application for reactivation.
	b. 	If the license has been on inactive status for more than five years, an applicant must provide the following:
	(1)	Verification of the license(s) from every jurisdiction in which the applicant is or has been licensed and is or has been practicing during the time period the Iowa license was inactive, sent directly from the jurisdiction(s) to the board office. Web-based verification may be substituted for verification from a jurisdiction’s board office if the verification includes:
	1.	Licensee’s name;
	2.	Date of initial licensure;
	3.	Current licensure status; and
	4.	Any disciplinary action taken against the license; and
	(2)	Verification of completion of 50 hours of continuing education within two years of application for reactivation; and
	(3)	Verification of current BOC certification.
645—351.16(17A,147,272C) License reinstatement. A licensee whose license has been revoked, suspended, or voluntarily surrendered must apply for and receive reinstatement of the license in accordance with 645—11.31(272C) and must apply for and be granted reactivation of the license in accordance with 645—351.15(17A,147,272C) prior to practicing as an athletic trainer in this state.
These rules are intended to implement Iowa Code chapters 17A, 147, 152D and 272C.
[Filed 3/29/02, Notice 10/3/01—published 4/17/02, effective 5/22/02]
[Filed 9/26/02, Notice 7/10/02—published 10/16/02, effective 11/20/02]
[Filed 6/17/04, Notice 4/14/04—published 7/7/04, effective 8/11/04]
[Filed 1/12/05, Notice 11/24/04—published 2/2/05, effective 3/9/05]
[Filed 6/22/05, Notice 4/13/05—published 7/20/05, effective 8/24/05]
[Filed 12/20/05, Notice 10/12/05—published 1/18/06, effective 2/22/06]
[Filed 7/17/08, Notice 4/23/08—published 8/13/08, effective 9/17/08]
[Filed ARC 9967B (Notice ARC 9677B, IAB 8/24/11), IAB 1/11/12, effective 2/15/12]
[Filed ARC 3560C (Notice ARC 3363C, IAB 10/11/17), IAB 1/3/18, effective 2/7/18]