Regulators and association back athletic trainers licensure compact to boost mobility and rural access
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Subscribe
Summary
The OTPTAT Board and the Ohio Athletic Trainers Association urged support for the Athletic Trainers Compact, saying it will expand interstate mobility, aid military families and preserve Ohio scope of practice; proponents noted the compact requires FBI background checks and leverages prior compact experience.
Officials and trade groups told the Senate Health Committee they support Senate Bill 320, which would join Ohio to an interstate Athletic Trainers Compact.
Missy Anthony, executive director of the Ohio Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy and Athletic Trainers (OTPTAT) Board, said the compact will "strengthen our collective responsibility to safeguard public health and safety by ensuring consistent standards across states" and noted the compact requires FBI background checks and enables member boards to share information for oversight. She emphasized that compact privileges do not change Ohio’s statutory scope of practice for athletic trainers.
Ryan Bridal of the Ohio Athletic Trainers Association said Ohio has "just over 3,000 licensed athletic trainers," argued compacts increase workforce mobility and rural access, and urged committee support based on Ohio’s prior experience implementing PT and OT compacts.
Committee members asked operational questions about how compact privileges work when teams travel across state lines and about the number of athletic trainers in Ohio; proponents offered clarifications and agreed to provide additional data to the committee.