These regulations are promulgated pursuant to the authority conferred under R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-60-5(1) and are established for the purpose of adopting administrative procedures and minimum standards for the licensing of athletic trainers.

A. Wherever used in this Part the following terms shall be construed as follows:

1. "Act" means R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 5-60 entitled, "Licensing of Athletic Trainers."

2. "Accredited college or university" means the official guarantee that a college or university is in conformity with the standards of education prescribed by a regional accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Commission on Education.

3. "Athletic trainer" is defined pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-60-2(1).

4. "Board" means the Rhode Island Board of Athletic Trainers established pursuant to the provisions of R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-60-4.

5. “BOC” means the Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer.

6. "Board sanctioned amateur athletic organization" means those athletic organizations which sponsor within the state of Rhode Island athletic teams or programs and are recognized and affiliated with national and/or state and/or regional athletic associations.

7. “CAATE” means the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education.

8. “Department” means the Rhode Island Department of Health.

9. “Director” means the director or state official in charge of the Department of Health.

10. "NATA" refers to the National Athletic Trainers Association, Inc.

11. "Person" means any individual, trust or estate, partnership, corporation (including associations, joint stock companies), limited liability companies, state or political subdivisions or instrumentality of the state.

12. "Physician" means an individual licensed to practice medicine in this state pursuant to the provisions of R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 5-37.

A. No person shall use the title of "Athletic Trainer" or use any abbreviation sign, card, or device to indicate that such a person is an athletic trainer, or perform the duties thereof unless such a person has been duly licensed in this state to perform such duties pursuant to the provisions of the Act and rules and regulations herein, except those exempt pursuant to § 5.3(A)(1) of this Part.

1. The provisions of the Act need not apply to athletic trainers from another state who are employed by an athletic team or organization which is competing in this state only on a visiting basis, provided the practice of the athletic trainers is limited only to the members of their respective athletic team or organization.

A. An applicant seeking licensure in this state as an athletic trainer must:

1. Be a graduate from an accredited college or university and have completed the following minimum curriculum requirements:

a. The specific course requirements pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 5-60-10(a)(1)(i) through (xi); and

b. Clinical Experience in accordance with national standards as recognized by the BOC certifying body and as approved by the Director; or have successfully completed a CAATE-approved athletic training program from a college or university sponsoring a CAATE approved graduate or undergraduate program; and

2. Have passed to the satisfaction of the Board the required examination in accordance with § 5.6 of this Part and been certified by the BOC; and

3. Not have committed an act which constitutes grounds for denial of a license pursuant to § 5.10 of this Part.

B. The clinical experience (internship) referred to under § 5.4(A)(1) of this Part must be provided under the direct supervision of an BOC-certified athletic trainer.

C. An applicant for initial licensure shall be required to demonstrate:

1. Proof of graduation from an accredited college or university and have met minimum athletic training requirements as established by the Department;

2. Proof of having passed the required examination, approved by the Department, and been certified by the national certifying body recognized by the BOC.

A. Application for licensure shall be made on forms provided by the Department which shall be completed and submitted to the Department. Such application shall be accompanied by the following documents:

1. Supporting official transcripts of education credentials and clinical experience as required in § 5.4(A)(1) of this Part;

2. National board results in accordance with § 5.6 of this Part (submitted either with application or submitted to the Department by the certifying body of the Board of Certification (BOC); and

3. A copy of the applicant’s resume.

B. Out-of-state applicants must submit, in addition to the above documents, documentation of licensure or certification in another state or jurisdiction.

A. By Examination: Applicants for licensure shall be required to successfully pass such examination as the Board deems most practical and expeditious to test the applicant's knowledge and skills pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-60-12.

1. Applicants certified by the National Athletic Trainers Association prior to July 31, 1970, must successfully complete a written examination approved by the Board. All other applicants must successfully pass the examination administered by the BOC.

2. Sites and schedules of examinations may be obtained directly from the examination services referred to in § 5.6(A)(1) of this Part.

A. Upon completion of the aforementioned requirements, a license shall be issued by the Board to an applicant found to have satisfactorily met all the requirements of this Part and upon payment of a licensing fee as set forth in the Fee Structure for Licensing, Laboratory and Administrative Services Provided by the Department of Health (Part 10-05-2 of this Title). Said license unless sooner suspended or revoked shall expire on the thirtieth (30th) day of June of the next odd numbered year following the date of issuance of the license.

B. On or before the 30th day of April of each odd numbered year, the Department shall mail an application for renewal of license to every person to whom a license has been issued or renewed during the current licensure period. Every person so licensed who desires to renew his or her license shall file with the Department such renewal fee as set forth in the Fee Structure for Licensing, Laboratory and Administrative Services Provided by the Department of Health (Part 10-05-2 of this Title) on or before the thirtieth day of May of each odd year.

C. Upon receipt of such renewal application and payments of said fee, the accuracy of the application shall be verified, and the Board shall grant a renewal license effective the first day of July and expiring on the 30th day of June of the next odd year unless sooner suspended or revoked.

D. Any person who allows his or her license to lapse by failing to renew it on or before the 30th day of May of the next odd year, as provided above, may be reinstated on payment of the current renewal fee plus an additional late fee as set forth in the Fee Structure for Licensing, Laboratory and Administrative Services Provided by the Department of Health (Part 10-05-2 of this Title).

E. Each licensed athletic trainer who wishes to continue licensure as an athletic trainer shall present satisfactory evidence to the Board that he or she has completed the continuing education requirements established by the Board and contained in § 5.9 of this Part.

A. Athletic trainers licensed in this state or any other state may discharge such responsibilities and functions as specified in § 5.8(C) of this Part provided these functions are carried out upon the direction of the physician designated as the team or consulting physician to the team by an educational institution, professional and/or Board sanctioned amateur athletic association.

B. Furthermore, athletic trainers shall limit the scope of practice of prevention and/or physical reconditioning to injuries or conditions incurred by only those athletes participating in or preparing for an athletic event conducted under the aegis of an institution, agency or organization.

C. The functions which an athletic trainer may perform may consist of any of the following:

1. Prevention of athletic injury which may include such procedures as strength training, pre-event warm-ups, prophylactic taping, fitting of protective equipment;

2. Provide physical reconditioning for the restoration of motion and re-establishment of strength, endurance and cardiovascular fitness of an injured athlete;

3. Perform tests and measurements as an aid in the evaluation of an athletic injury; and

4. Apply physical modalities such as heat, light, sound, cold, electricity, exercise, or mechanical devices related to care and reconditioning.

Athletic trainer seeking biennial licensure renewal shall meet continuing education requirements as prescribed by the BOC.

A. In addition to the provisions of R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-60-14, the Board may refuse to issue a license to an applicant or may suspend, revoke or refuse to renew a license if he or she has:

1. Secured a license under the Act and this Part by fraud or deceit; or

2. Unfit or incompetent by reason of negligence or habits; or

3. Guilty of unprofessional conduct; or

4. Mentally incompetent; or

5. Violated the provisions of the BOC Code of Ethics or the NATA Code of Ethics as adopted by the Board.

Any violation of the provisions of the Act and the rules and regulations herein, may be cause for denial, revocation or suspension of license or for imposing such other penalties in accordance with the provisions of R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-60-17.

All hearings and reviews required under the provisions of R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 5-60, shall be held in accordance with the provisions of the rules and regulations regarding Practices and Procedures Before the Department of Health (Part 10-05-4 of this Title) and Access to Public Records (Part 10-05-1 of this Title).