Are you a high school or university student interested in sports medicine, rehabilitation, or helping athletes recover from injury? You may have seen terms like “athletic trainer,” “student trainer,” or “athletic training” used online and across post-secondary institutions in Canada. But before you jump into any program using these terms, it’s important to understand a major difference:
“Athletic Training” is an accredited profession in the United States only — not in Canada.
In Canada, the equivalent profession is called "Athletic Therapy".
Let’s break down why that matters — and how misleading terms like “athletic trainer” or “student trainer” can affect your education, your career prospects, and the quality of care athletes receive.
1. “ATHLETIC TRAINING” DOES NOT EXIST AS A PROFESSION IN CANADA
In the U.S., athletic training is a regulated healthcare profession with accredited degree programs. In Canada, athletic therapy is the recognized counterpart — and it is regulated, accredited, and credentialed through organizations such as the Canadian Athletic Therapists Association (CATA) and various academic institutions.
Using U.S. terminology in Canadian contexts causes confusion for patients, aspiring students, and even sport organizations. The result? A serious lack of understanding of what athletic therapists actually do — and missed opportunities for growth in the profession.
2. “STUDENT TRAINER” PROGRAMS EXPLOIT STUDENTS AS FREE LABOUR
Many Canadian universities and colleges — such as Dalhousie University and Durham College — promote “student trainer” programs that place students on the sidelines of varsity sports teams. These students are often tasked with taping, first aid, injury management, and sideline coverage under the misleading impression that this is a gateway into a professional healthcare career.
The reality?
These programs often lack accreditation, proper supervision, and real educational value.
Instead of offering high-quality, mentored clinical experiences, these programs serve primarily as cost-saving measures for athletic departments. Institutions benefit by avoiding the cost of hiring certified athletic therapists — while students unknowingly provide unpaid healthcare labour.
3. SUPERVISION AND FEEDBACK ARE OFTEN MISSING
In any legitimate healthcare training program, learning should include making mistakes and receiving feedback under close supervision from qualified professionals. But in many “student trainer” practicums, students are left unsupervised, managing real athlete injuries with little or no professional oversight.
This is not only unethical — it’s dangerous.
Without proper supervision, the quality of care drops dramatically. Athletes may be left untreated, misdiagnosed, or even put at further risk.
4. CONFUSING TERMS UNDERMINE THE ATHLETIC THERAPY PROFESSION IN CANADA
The continued use of outdated or incorrect terms like “athletic trainer” or “trainer” in Canada has two serious consequences:
- It misleads students into thinking they are entering a recognized healthcare profession.
- It limits public awareness and professional recognition for athletic therapy, a regulated field that deserves far greater visibility and support.
Athletic therapists are certified, board-accredited professionals trained in both emergency response and musculoskeletal injury management — something no other single profession in Canada offers.
For example, paramedics may charge $60/hour but provide only emergency care. Physiotherapists may charge the same but offer only non-urgent MSK treatment. Athletic therapists offer both — at a fraction of the cost and with broader versatility.
5. FREE LABOUR REDUCES REAL JOB OPPORTUNITIES
When students are used to provide unpaid healthcare services, schools and sports organizations are less likely to hire certified professionals. Why pay for certified care when students are willing to do it for free?
This creates a damaging cycle that hurts both students and the profession:
· Students get no credentials.
· Certified therapists lose job opportunities.
· Athletes get substandard care.
6. TIME TO EDUCATE AND ADVOCATE
It’s in the best interest of:
- The public
- Post-secondary students
- Sport organizations
- And certified athletic therapists
to stop promoting non-accredited “athletic training” or “student trainer” programs in Canada.
Instead, let’s advocate for:
- Accurate terminology (e.g., athletic therapy)
- Proper clinical placements with certified supervision
- The professional recognition athletic therapy deserves
If you’re a student considering a future in sports medicine, do your homework:
Look for CATA-accredited athletic therapy programs — not vague “trainer” positions that may lead nowhere professionally.
EXAMPLES OF MISLEADING MESSAGING:
- Dalhousie University promotes a “Student Trainer” program that does not lead to any certified designation.
- Durham College uses the Instagram handle @durhamcollegeathletictherapy while referring to its students as “student trainers,” causing confusion between real certification and informal roles.
ASK YOURSELF BEFORE YOU SIGN UP:
- Will I be supervised by a certified healthcare provider?
- Will I receive real credentials or certification?
- Am I helping athletes — or just helping the school save money?
LET’S MAKE ATHLETIC THERAPY STRONGER IN CANADA
Let’s stop using outdated or misleading language, stop exploiting student labour, and start promoting certified, accredited, and supervised athletic therapy.
Your future — and the health of athletes — depends on it.
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