Technical Standards

I. Overview

It is the policy of each academic program to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and state and local requirements regarding students and applicants with disabilities. Under these laws, no otherwise qualified and competitive individual with a disability shall be denied access to or participation in services, programs, and activities solely on the basis of the disability.

In accord with federal regulations established by the Americans With Disabilities Act, the following standards are described to assist each candidate in evaluating his/her prospect for academic and clinical success.  These standards apply to many health care disciplines, but they apply specifically to those individuals who are entering and completing the Athletic Training Program (ATP).  When a student's ability to perform is compromised, the student must demonstrate alternative means and/or abilities to perform the essential functions described.

The Athletic Training Program at California Baptist University is a rigorous and intense program that places specific requirements and demands on the students enrolled in the program. An objective of this program is to prepare graduates to enter a variety of employment settings and to render care to a wide spectrum of individuals engaged in physical activity. The technical standards set forth by the Athletic Training Program establish the essential qualities considered necessary for students admitted to this program to achieve the knowledge, skills, and competencies of an entry-level athletic trainer, as well as meet the expectations of the program's accrediting agency (Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education [CAATE]).

II. Admission/Retention Requirements

The following abilities and expectations must be satisfied by all students admitted to the Athletic Training Program. In the event a student is unable to fulfill these technical standards, with or without reasonable accommodation, the student will not be retained in the program. Compliance with the program's technical standards does not guarantee students eligibility for the BOC athletic trainer certification exam.

Candidates for retention in the Athletic Training Program must demonstrate:1.  The mental capacity to assimilate, analyze, synthesize, integrate concepts and problem solve to formulate assessment and therapeutic judgments and to be able to distinguish deviations from the norm.

2. Sufficient postural and neuromuscular control, sensory function, and coordination to perform appropriate physical examinations using accepted techniques; and accurately, safely and efficiently use equipment and materials during the assessment and treatment of patients.

3. The ability to communicate effectively and sensitively with patients and colleagues, including individuals from different cultural and social backgrounds; this includes, but is not limited to, the ability to establish rapport with patients and communicate judgments and treatment information effectively. Students must be able to understand and speak the English language at a level consistent with competent professional practice.

4. The ability to record the physical examination results and a treatment plan clearly and accurately.

5. The capacity to maintain composure and continue to function well during periods of high stress.

6. The perseverance, diligence and commitment to complete the CBU Athletic Training Program as outlined and sequenced.

7. Flexibility and the ability to adjust to changing situations and uncertainty in clinical situations.

8. Affective skills and appropriate demeanor and rapport that relate to professional education and quality patient care.

III. Student and Health Care Provider Verification

Candidates for selection to the athletic training educational program will be required to verify they understand these technical standards. If a student or the program later identifies actual or potential mental, psychological, or physical difficulties in meeting the standards established for the program, the student, with assistance from the Disability Services Office*, will consult health care providers who are capable of determining the implications of such difficulties on completing the program. The program's selection committee, in conjunction with the Disability Services Office, will use this information to determine if the student can meet the technical standards with reasonable accommodation; this review will take into account whether accommodation would jeopardize clinician/patient safety, or the educational process of the student or the institution, including all course work, clinical experiences and internships deemed essential to graduation. At time of admission to CBU, students must possess a current physical and mental examination and a history of immunizations.

*Students who have qualified disabilities and wish to arrange the appropriate accommodations, in addition to the general academic support services coordinated by the Academic Resources Center, must identify themselves to the director of disability services. Disabled students who wish to arrange appropriate accommodations must complete and submit a Request for Accommodations form and provide recent, no older than three (3) years, diagnostic test results. Additional information regarding disabled student services is available in the Disability Services Office.