Purpose

• Clarify the scope of practice for athletic trainers and ensure their work is performed under appropriate supervision and consistent with medical standards.
• Update how athletic trainers interact with physicians, use treatment protocols, and where they can work, while protecting patient safety and clear referral when needed.

Main Provisions

• Redefined athletic training (Subd.6a) to cover a broad set of activities for treating emergent, acute, chronic injuries, and nonorthopedic conditions. Activities include:

  • prevention and wellness promotion
  • risk management
  • immediate and emergency care
  • examination, assessment, and diagnosis
  • therapeutic interventions, rehabilitation, and reconditioning
  • clinical decisionmaking to decide if a consultation or referral is needed
  • health care administration and maintenance of professional responsibility

• Scope and supervision (Section 148.7806):

  • Athletic training must be performed under the direction of or in collaboration with a primary physician licensed in Minnesota.
  • The physician must establish evaluation and treatment protocols for the athletic trainer to follow; those protocols must be on a form prescribed by the board and updated yearly at license renewal.
  • At the primary employment site (except certain corporate settings), an athletic trainer may evaluate and treat an athlete for an athletic injury not previously diagnosed for up to 30 days, or a period specified by the primary physician on the protocol form.
  • Preventive care and wellness activities after injury resolution are not considered treatment.
  • The athletic trainer may organize and run an athletic training program, monitor signs and symptoms, and suggest treatment modifications to the physician based on patient responses.
  • In clinical, corporate, and physical therapy settings, if the service is described as physical therapy, the athletic trainer must work under the direct supervision of a licensed physical therapist.

• Limitations on practice (Section 148.7807):

  • Athletic trainers may not practice medicine, acupuncture, chiropractic, physical therapy (except as provided by the new protocol framework), podiatry, occupational therapy, or other licensed professions unless they hold the appropriate license.
  • If a patient’s condition is beyond the athletic trainer’s scope, the trainer must refer to a licensed physician or other appropriate licensed professional, and adjust or stop treatment if it isn’t beneficial or tolerated.

• Applicability and temporary practice (Section 148.7814):

  • Temporary foreign-certified athletic trainers from another state or country can work in Minnesota for specific events if they are licensed/certified in another jurisdiction or recognized by boards, for a defined athletic event or series.

• Repeal of old definitions (Section 5):

  • Repeals old definitions of "Athlete" and "Athletic injury" that existed in the prior statute, replacing them with the updated scope and terms for athletic training.

Significant Changes and Implications

• Expanded but clarified scope:
  • The bill broadens what athletic trainers can do (within defined protocols and supervision) and standardizes how they operate across settings.
• Protocol-driven practice:
  • Requires a primary physician to set yearly-updated evaluation and treatment protocols for each athletic trainer, ensuring consistent care.
• Time-limited treatment without a new diagnosis:
  • Allows a 30-day window (or physician-designated period) to treat a previously undiagnosed athletic injury before a referral is required.
• Distinction between treatment and prevention:
  • Explicitly states that prevention and wellness activities after injury resolution are not considered treatment.
• Supervision in certain settings:
  • Strengthens supervision rules in corporate and physical therapy environments, requiring direct supervision when service is labeled as physical therapy.
• Safety and referral focus:
  • Maintains strict boundaries around practicing medicine and ensures timely referral when conditions exceed the athletic trainer’s scope.
• Temporary event exemptions:
  • Preserves a pathway for out-of-state or out-of-country trainers to work in Minnesota for specific events, under recognized certification.

Impact on Stakeholders

• Athletes and patients:
  • Clearer pathways for receiving timely evaluation and treatment within a defined framework, with explicit channels for referral if needed.
• Athletic trainers:
  • New requirements to use physician-approved protocols and maintain yearly updates; defined roles across school, clinical, and corporate settings.
• Physicians and medical teams:
  • Shared responsibility to develop and update protocols and collaborate with athletic trainers.
• Employers (schools, clubs, clinics, and sports teams):
  • Need to ensure athletic trainers operate under the required protocols and supervision structures; maintain documentation and protocol forms.

Relevant Terms

• athletic trainer
• athletic training
• primary physician
• evaluation and treatment protocols
• protocol form
• prevention and wellness promotion
• risk management
• immediate and emergency care
• examination, assessment, and diagnosis
• therapeutic interventions
• rehabilitation and reconditioning
• clinical decisionmaking
• health care administration
• maintenance of professional responsibility
• modalities (cold, heat, light, sound, electricity)
• primary employment site
• corporate setting
• physical therapy
• direct supervision
• licensed / license renewal
• board (licensing board)
• medical referral
• support for temporary event trainers
• repeal of athlete and athletic injury definitions

Relevant Terms athletic trainer; athletic training; primary physician; protocols; evaluation and treatment; emergency care; rehabilitation; prevention; wellness; direct supervision; physical therapy; board; license renewal; corporate setting; primary employment site; referral; modalities; event-based exemptions