Bill > AB864

This bill establishes a new chapter in California's Business and Professions Code to regulate athletic trainers, a profession currently lacking statewide oversight, which the Legislature finds puts the public, particularly school-age children, at risk. The bill creates the Athletic Trainer Licensing Committee within the Physical Therapy Board of California, composed of licensed athletic trainers, a public member, a physician, and a physical therapist, to oversee the licensing and regulation of athletic trainers. To become a licensed athletic trainer, individuals must meet specific educational requirements, pass a national certification exam, and hold current emergency cardiac care certification, though provisions are made for those with extensive internship experience. The bill defines the scope of practice for athletic trainers, emphasizing that it does not include the practice of medicine or physical therapy, and requires them to work under the direction of a physician. It also outlines grounds for denying or revoking licenses, such as unprofessional conduct or prior disciplinary actions in other states, and establishes fees for licensing and renewal to fund the regulatory process. Importantly, the bill aims to protect the public by ensuring that only qualified individuals can use the title "athletic trainer" and practice the profession in California, with an operative date of July 1, 2014, for many of its provisions.