The NATA–BOC Microcredential Series empowers athletic trainers with specialized, evidence-based education backed by credentialing rigor. It is a strategic partnership and joint initiative between the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) and the Board of Certification (BOC)—designed to set a new standard in continuing professional development.

This self-paced microcredential is designed to equip secondary school athletic trainers with essential knowledge and practical strategies to recognize, respond to and plan for mental health challenges among student-athletes. Through a combination of videos, research articles, discussions, and assessments, participants will gain a deeper understanding of athlete mental health and develop actionable skills to support holistic care.

Over the course of seven modules, you will explore topics including foundational mental health knowledge, ethical and legal considerations, communication strategies, stigma reduction, crisis intervention, emergency action planning and referral processes. The program emphasizes both professional reflection and real-world application.

Register Today – Course Access Begins December 1
Enrollment for the microcredential package is currently open. Participants will gain access to course materials and activities starting Dec 1.

Upon successful completion of all modules and a final assessment, participants will earn:

• 10 CEUs
• Certificate of Achievement
• A digital badge issued by the BOC, recognizing your achievement and validating your specialized knowledge

Estimated Time to Complete:
1–2 months (flexible and self-paced to accommodate your schedule)

Additional Information:
Learners will have 12 months from the date of registration to complete this offering. Users who preregister will have 12 months from when course access opens on Dec 1, 2025. Modules must be completed in sequential order, and CEUs will be awarded only upon successful completion of all required components, including the final summative assessment. This offering is not available for non-certified students. Additional information can be found on the Microcredential FAQ page. 

By enrolling in this microcredential, users acknowledge and consent to the sharing of relevant learning data (including completion status, assessment results, and digital badge eligibility, etc.) with the Board of Certification (BOC) for the purposes of credential verification, continuing education tracking, and issuing of the digital badge.

This presentation is a replay from NATA 2023 in Indianapolis, providing another opportunity to access its valuable content and insights.

Abstract:
Health care decisions are often driven by data. Athletic training is no different and the time has come for ATs to demonstrate value in settings to develop growth of a sports medicine program. This session will demonstrate proven ways to collect and provide data to important stakeholders in your pursuit for growth. Sports injury surveillance in secondary schools has been ongoing for decades and ATs have been essential contributors to these efforts. Surveillance programs have led to a variety of injury prevention efforts to reduce the risk of sports-related injuries in secondary schools. This session will discuss what data are collected and why, key program and rules changes based on injury surveillance data and how ATs have used this data to benefit their own clinical practice and justify their roles within their institutions.

Learning Objectives:

• Integrate data collection techniques into secondary school ATs daily practice.
• Illustrate potential cost-savings to employers and patients through medical services rendered by athletic trainers.
• Interpret athletic training treatment patterns and justify future needs.
• Educate athletic trainers about ongoing injury surveillance efforts at secondary schools in the United States.
• Demonstrate how data from secondary schools are used to make evidence-based decisions to reduce the risk of sports injury.

Level:
Essential

Domain(s):
Domain 1: Risk Reduction Wellness and Health Literacy 

CEUs:
1.0 Category A

Keywords: Data collection; Injury Prevention; Secondary School Value Model

Enhanced Access On-Demand Course Expiration:
This course will expire on December 31 at 11:59 p.m. CST and will be removed from your account if not completed.
For full details, refer to the expiration policy on our FAQ page.

Course Content Available October 15th

Abstract:
Athletic Trainers frequently encounter conditions of shoulder pain in their target populations. While most clinicians are proficient in examining the shoulder, fewer have additional training in how to differentiate primary shoulder pain versus that being a result of a primary cervical condition, or that of the brachial plexus complex. The goal of this presentation is to assist clinicians in helping to identify nociceptive-mechanical versus neuropathic conditions that can have a primary referral to the shoulder complex, and to design a treatment plan to best deal with each category to maximize patient outcomes. The goal is to empower clinicians to be more confident in their assessment and management of these conditions.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the anatomy and biomechanics of the cervical spine and explain its functional relationship with the shoulder girdle complex. 
• Apply a clinical examination process that incorporates patient history and initial assessment findings, and differentiate between cervical and shoulder pathologies using targeted provocative testing strategies.
• Distinguish between nociceptive-mechanical and neuropathic conditions, and develop initial rehabilitation strategies based on the underlying etiology.
• Identify common cervical and shoulder disorders in athletic populations, including thoracic outlet syndromes, and formulate appropriate examination approaches and management plans based on clinical findings. 

Level:
Advanced

Domain(s):
Domain 2: Assessment Evaluation and Diagnosis 
Domain 4: Therapeutic Intervention 

CEUs:
2.0 Category A

Keywords: TOS, Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, Shoulder Pain, Cervical Spine, Brachial Plexus, Neuropathic Pain

Enhanced Access On-Demand Course Expiration:
This course will expire on December 31 at 11:59 p.m. CST and will be removed from your account if not completed.
For full details, refer to the expiration policy on our FAQ page.

This presentation is a replay from COPA Con 2023, providing another opportunity to access its valuable content and insights.

Abstract:
As the athletic training profession continues to grow, we must remain vigilant in making sure that proper policies and procedures are instituted and followed to ensure successful outcomes. Recent litigation has shown that when policies are not followed or care does not follow the best case practice recommendations that medical staff can and will be held liable for negative outcomes. With that being said, it is critical that athletic trainers have the opportunity to review best case practice recommendations for design and implantation of emergency action plans. This session seeks to fulfill this need through the use of the identified evidence-based methods taught by allied health care professionals in athletic training with a significant level of experience in their respective field.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify different components of emergency action plans.
• Identify the athletic trainer’s role in the development of emergency action plans.
• Identify other medical provider’s role(s) in the development of emergency action plans.
• Identify equipment and resources needed for implementation of emergency action plans.
• Identify routines and mechanisms for practicing the coordination and effectiveness of developed emergency action plans.

Level:
Advanced

Domain(s):
Domain 1: Risk Reduction Wellness and Health Literacy 
Domain 3: Critical Incident Management 
Domain 5: Health Care Administration and Professional Responsibility

CEUs:
1.25 Category A

Keywords: EAP, policy, emergency, action, plan, design, implementation

Enhanced Access On-Demand Course Expiration:
This course will expire on December 31 at 11:59 p.m. CST and will be removed from your account if not completed.
For full details, refer to the expiration policy on our FAQ page.

Abstract:
There are over 100 different physical examination tests described to evaluate the shoulder. Confusion exists with regard to not only the proper technique but the validity of commonly used tests. In today's fast paced environment evidence based accuracy and efficiency when examining athletes is very important. This presentation will review the proper technique and statistical validation, and relevance of the best tests based on current literature. The discussion will include a demonstration of an efficient sequence and algorithm incorporating all necessary tests to complete a thorough and comprehensive examination of the shoulder.

Objectives:

• Participants will be able to describe the history and proper indications for the most commonly used shoulder exam tests., 
• Participants will be able to explain basic statistical terms (i.e., sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic accuracy) to describe the validity of physical exam tests., 
• Participants will be able to describe the proper technique for performing shoulder exam tests.

Level:
Advanced

Domains:
Domain 2: Assessment Evaluation and Diagnosis

CEUs:
0.75 Category A

Keywords: shoulder, examination, tests, diagnostic, pitching, throwing,

On-Demand (Enhanced Access) Course Expiration:
Courses registered for after February 5, 2025, must be completed by December 31, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. CST.
For full details, refer to the expiration policy on our FAQ page.

Please note: This course will be retired from our catalog after December 31, 2025, and its content will no longer be accessible. Be sure to download any necessary handouts before this date. Your statement of credit will remain available on the Transcript page, accessible via the left sidebar menu.

This presentation is a replay from NATA 2019 in Las Vegas, offering a second chance to experience the event's valuable content and insights.

Abstract:
History of prior injury is the strongest risk factor for future lower extremity injury. In addition, a large portion of secondary injuries occur during the first 2-3 months following return to sport. Thus, there is a gap in determining when an individual is ready to safely return to sport following initial injury. Individuals who pass a comprehensive return to sport testing battery are at lower risk for subsequent injury once returning to sport. As such, the development and utilization of a comprehensive return-to-sport testing battery can help determine one´s readiness to safely return to sport. This presentation will discuss the key components of an evidence-based return to sport testing battery following lower extremity injuries.

Objectives:

• Participants will be able to describe the changes in injury rates following initial lower extremity injury and subsequent return to sport., 
• Participants will be able to describe the known risk factors for secondary injury following initial lower extremity injury., 
• Participants will be able to utilize validated return to sport testing that can determine an individual´s readiness to return to sport., 
• Participants will be able to discuss the role of training load monitoring and management in the return to sport process following lower extremity injury.

Level:
Advanced

Domains:
Domain 1: Risk Reduction Wellness and Health Literacy, Domain 2: Assessment Evaluation and Diagnosis

CEUs: 1.0 Category A

Keywords: knee, injury, lower extremity, return to sport, ankle, leg, testing

On-Demand (Enhanced Access) Course Expiration:
Courses registered for after February 5, 2025, must be completed by December 31, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. CST.
For full details, refer to the expiration policy on our FAQ page.

Abstract:
Knee pathologies are common complaints for athletes and active patients presenting to athletic trainers for assessment and intervention, and though often not as complex as other joints in the body (ie, shoulder or hip), can present significant diagnostic challenges when imaging techniques are not readily or immediately available. Common traumatic disorders of the knee include forces that impact the menisci, ligaments, bones, and associated joints (ie, patellofemoral, tibiofemoral), while overuse injuries involving the patellofemoral joint, surrounding tissues (ie, IT Band), patellar tendon and tibiofemoral joint can challenge the unsuspecting diagnostician, as well. Undiagnosed, or improperly diagnosed knee conditions can also lead to lifelong disability and/or profound decreases in health-related quality of life and functional enjoyment. Unsuspecting or inexperienced clinicians in all branches of sports medicine, if not careful can naively rely on special test results in isolation, or upon medical imaging for a working or final diagnosis, which includes false positive and negative results, increases overall healthcare costs, and/or cause unnecessary delays in treatment or return to participation. Experts in medical research have confirmed that accurate diagnoses come from the history portion of the exam in over 80 to 90% of cases and that individual physical exam test results should be viewed with suspicion in isolation. The focus of this presentation is to present the athletic training profession a review of physical examination special tests for common knee injuries and conditions, while also introducing or reviewing the evidence behind each test's respective diagnostic accuracy. In so doing, an overview of diagnostic accuracy terms and principles will be presented, followed by available diagnostic accuracy dates for each test presented in order for clinicians to become more aware of the strengths and limitations of tests commonly used to help assess athletic injuries of the knee.

Objectives:

• Participants will be able to state the fundamental principles and terms associated with diagnostic accuracy of physical examination tests, including sensitivity and specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratios, positive and negative predictive values, and overall utility scores., 
• Participants will be able to identify the most useful, evidence-based physical examination tests for assessing various conditions of the knee., 
• Participants will be able to recognize and incorporate the best-evidence tests in times of acute and chronic assessment of common knee injuries., 
• Participants will be able to apply use of pooled tests in order to more accurately assess various orthopedic conditions of the knee in athletes and active patients.

Level:
Advanced

Domains:
Domain 2: Assessment Evaluation and Diagnosis

CEUs:
1.25 Category A

Keywords: knee, orthopedic, menisci, ligaments, bones, joints, patellofemoral, tibiofemoral

On-Demand (Enhanced Access) Course Expiration:
Courses registered for after February 5, 2025, must be completed by December 31, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. CST.
For full details, refer to the expiration policy on our FAQ page.

Abstract:
The focus of this presentation is to present the most current clinical recognition strategies for evaluating ankle sprains and linking these strategies to the identification of those who are at the highest risk for developing CAI.

Objectives:

• Participants will be able to summarize the recommendations of the NATA Position Statement on the Conservative Management and Prevention of Ankle Sprains in Athletes within the context of Clinical Evaluation and Diagnosis., 
• Participants will be able to identify the most important evidence-based key features associated with lateral ankle sprain recognition., 
• Participants will be able to incorporate the emerging evidence of patient- and clinician-oriented outcome measures for identifying those at risk for developing chronic ankle instability., 
• Participants will be able to make use of the outcome measures discussed in the presentation, including the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure, the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool, the weight-bearing lunge test, the single limb balance test, and the star excursion balance test, within their clinical practice.

Level:
Advanced

Domains:
Domain 2: Assessment Evaluation and Diagnosis

CEUs:
1.0 Category A

Keywords: ankle, sprain, instability, diagnosis, lateral ankle sprain, balance test

On-Demand (Enhanced Access) Course Expiration:
Courses registered for after February 5, 2025, must be completed by December 31, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. CST.
For full details, refer to the expiration policy on our FAQ page.