No, this program requires students to be on campus.

Yes, the website says: "Applicants for the Athletic Therapy program must possess a degree in kinesiology, physical education, human kinetics, exercise science or equivalent." An equivalent degree means you possess a bachelor's degree from an accredited post-secondary institution. This degree should include all of the courses required for Admission, as noted in the website's Admission Requirements and Costs section.

First, you must apply. Once you have applied and Admissions has received your transcripts, the transfer credit assessment process will start. You can also check your transfer equivalencies through your myMRU account.

Applicants for the Athletic Therapy program must possess a degree in kinesiology, physical education, human kinetics, exercise science or equivalent. Successful applicants must have completed the following courses (either as part of their degree matriculation or subsequent to the degree):

• Human Anatomy
• Human Physiology
• Exercise Physiology
• Biomechanics
• Prevention and Care of Athletic Injuries
• Introductory Strength Training
• Introductory Flexibility

Here are the full admission requirements for this post-bachelor certificate program.

You must meet all admission requirements to be admitted to the program. If you do not have access to all of the required courses at your institution, you will need to seek alternative courses at your institution or another institution.

You cannot start the program without the strength, conditioning and flexibility requirements. Please note that this requirement can be fulfilled by more than one course.

At MRU, these are the courses that meet these requirements. 

No, first aid and CPR are NOT required before enrolling in the first responder course. 

Athletic Therapy students who want to progress into their third year (BHPE students) or continue their progress in Athletic Therapy, Post-bachelor's Certificate must complete a First Responder for Athletic Therapy Course and the Athletic Taping Course.

There is no equivalent to the First Responder for Athletic Therapy; therefore, all students must register for the First Responder offered through a third-party instructor in August. It is a two-week course with both theory and practical components. The cost of the course includes personal emergency care equipment necessary for the field practicum courses that commence in September. The cost also includes the textbook and practical and written exam testing. Upon successful completion, students are awarded a First Responder Certificate.

The Athletic Taping course will build on some of the taping skills learned previously in the Prevention and Care of Athletic Injuries course that is required to enter the program. The course will be offered in a block format in August. The Athletic Taping course will be offered over the course of two weeks for half days. This will provide some students to start their practicum early (if they wish) and practice some of those taping skills with various field placements. Alternatively, some students may need to take the HPED 2112, Clinical MSK Anatomy, which is offered during the same two-week period when the Athletic Taping Course is being offered, just alternating in the afternoon or morning. Registration for the non-credit 1st Responder and Taping courses is done through a third-party website. Registration for the ATTH 2112 (Clinical MSK Anatomy) is done through the MYMRU portal.

In summary, the month of August and the beginning of September will be busy with these courses. It is important to plan ahead and realize that working during this time outside of these courses will be difficult if not impossible.

Applicants will receive a save-the-date notification via email (usually in late March/early April). If accepted, students are expected to register and be available to take these courses in August/September.

Your admission offer will be conditional until all of your final official grades/transcripts are received, and all of the remaining conditions of your admission are met. The conditions you must meet will be outlined in your offer of admission. Athletic Therapy — Post-bachelor's Certificate applicants that receive a conditional offer will not meet all of the conditions of their admission until they have completed the 1st Responder and Taping courses which are to be taken at Mount Royal in August.

All of the conditions of your admission will include academic course requirements and non-academic requirements as noted below.

• Academic course requirements for admission:
  • Human Anatomy,
  • Human Physiology,
  • Exercise Physiology,
  • Biomechanics,
  • Prevention and Care of Athletic Injuries, and
  • Strength, Conditioning and Flexibility
• Taping and Prophylactic Support 1st Responder — to be completed in August at MRU

Field and clinical practica are a vital part of the Athletic Therapy program. You will be required to complete both a field practicum and a clinic practicum every semester once you are admitted to the program. The practicum placement will change between the program's first and second years. 

Some field and clinic placements are very difficult to get to by city transit. While a car is not required, it can be very helpful.

The program has very high demands on your time. In addition to your courses, you must work with a team in the Fall and Winter semesters and in a clinic in the winter semester. For those continuing in the spring, another combined team and clinic placement is required. One student described the term as "being a full-time student, a varsity athlete, and a team therapist all at the same time." It is highly advised that you do not attempt to work part-time while enrolled in the program.

Please refer to the Money Matters website for all fees, scholarships, bursaries and financial aid questions.

Readings and assignments for many of your courses will be due in the first week of classes. Advanced reading may decrease the initial workload if you have access to textbooks. In addition, all students in the program must have completed pre-requisite courses (Human Anatomy and Physiology; Exercise Physiology; Biomechanics; Prevention and Care of Injuries; Strength, Conditioning and Flexibility). The information you learned in these courses will not be reviewed. You are expected to come into the program having a good understanding of key concepts in these pre-requisite courses. Strong knowledge of musculoskeletal anatomy is crucial for success in your classes.

As the national governing body for Certified Athletic Therapists, the Canadian Athletic Therapy Association (CATA) is a great place to start. Please take the time to explore CATA's website. It is important that you understand the profession before you commit to the program.

The Alberta Athletic Therapist Association is another resource that is available to you as one of the regional chapters of CATA.

As a student in Mount Royal University's accredited Post-bachelor's Certificate in Athletic Therapy program, you must become a CATA Certification Candidate. For more information about becoming a Certification Candidate, please see CATA's webpage — Certification.