Section 51.1. Athletic trainers.
(a) General rule.--An athletic trainer licensed by the board may, under the direction of a physician, podiatrist or dentist, provide athletic training services to a physically active person under the care of a physician, dentist or podiatrist. An athletic trainer licensed under this section shall refer a physically active person with conditions outside the scope of athletic training services to a physician, dentist or podiatrist.
(b) Temporary certifications.--((b) deleted by amendment).
(b.1) Transitional rule.--
(1) Any athletic trainer who holds a valid certificate issued by the board or the State Board of Osteopathic Medicine, relating to the practice of athletic training, prior to the effective date of this subsection shall, on or after the effective date of this subsection, be deemed to be licensed by the board or the State Board of Osteopathic Medicine as provided in this act.
(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply in the case of a certification that was expired or revoked prior to the effective date of this subsection.
(c) Licensure, title and limitation on practice.--An athletic trainer who meets the requirements of this section shall be licensed, may use the title "athletic trainer" or the abbreviation for the title, "A.T.L.," and may perform athletic training services. A person who is not licensed under this section may not use the designation of licensed athletic trainer, athletic trainer or any of the listed abbreviations for that title, including "L.A.T." or "A.T.L.," or any similar designation. This section shall not prohibit any person trained and licensed or certified under any other law from engaging in the licensed or certified practice in which the person is trained.
(d) Regulations.--The State Board of Medicine and the State Board of Osteopathic Medicine shall jointly promulgate regulations which:
(1) establish approved education and training programs for licensure; and
(2) define the circumstances and protocol under which a licensed athletic trainer may perform athletic training services.
(e) Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine.--Notwithstanding any provision of the act of October 5, 1978 (P.L.1109, No.261), known as the Osteopathic Medical Practice Act, to the contrary, doctors of osteopathic medicine may supervise and direct the activities of athletic trainers to the same extent as physicians regulated by this act.
(f) Jurisdiction.--The State Board of Medicine shall be responsible for the licensure of athletic trainers. Jurisdiction will be determined by the type of physician who supervises and directs the licensed athletic trainer. Licensed athletic trainers supervised by physicians regulated by the Medical Practice Act of 1985 shall fall within the jurisdiction of the State Board of Medicine.
(51.1 amended Dec. 22, 2011, P.L.572, No.124)
Compiler's Note: Section 4 of Act 124 of 2011, which amended section 51.1, provided that references to certification or certified athletic trainers contained in regulations promulgated under Act 124 and in effect on the effective date of section 4 shall be deemed to be references to licensure or licensed athletic trainers after the effective date of section 4.
Compiler's Note: Section 4 of Act 92 of 2001, which added section 51.1, provided that the practice of athletic training shall not include the practice of physical therapy as defined by the act of October 10, 1975 (P.L.383, No.110), known as the Physical Therapy Practice Act; however, that exclusion shall not operate to prohibit the rendering of athletic training service as defined in Act 110.