clinical exercise physiologist NO SEASON INSISTS that season is a prerequisite to fitness.
Residency: Conveniently enough, it's the next big thing.
"It's becoming more and more recognized. I wouldn't say it's 'the future' yet, but it's definitely here. It's a very accepted vocation. It's a highly rewarding profession. There are a lot of opportunities, both in the developing and developed world," said John O'Connor, a physical therapist, athletic trainer, and exercise physiologist. Out of the hundreds of internships available in North America, the majority of those interning in athletic training are taking an undergraduate degree in the field.
"The majority of my current employees went to college and got undergraduate degrees in exercise science, physical therapy, or exercise physiology," said O'Connor. Interns are hired on the spot at the beginning of their internships, and O'Connor says this can offer interns a very unique experience. "It's a little different than if they're hired after they've worked for two years," said O'Connor. "They have a very broad view of the athletic department's resources, an expanded knowledge base, a clearer idea of the work they need to do and when they need to do it." Along with internships, students can attend seminars for continuing education credits. "The reason why a student would come to an athletic training internship is to get a foundation," said O'Connor.
"The clinic is structured in a way that it is an excellent way to learn what you need to know to work in the field." For undergraduates at MSU, the usual way to qualify for an internship is through an internship evaluation committee, which weighs the recommendations of a committee of faculty, a student coordinator, and a student representative to come up with a list of students that have the right clinical experience and skills. If the committee is dissatisfied with a student's resume, the student has the option to try again, with the staff going through the evaluation process once again. "There are some other ways to get a clinical internship as well, for example, through the nationally recognized, recognized, federally approved internship programs," said O'Connor.
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