ASSEMBLY REGULATED PROFESSIONS COMMITTEE
STATEMENT TO
ASSEMBLY, No. 560
with committee amendments
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
DATED: DECEMBER 11, 2023
The Assembly Regulated Professions Committee reports favorably
and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 560.
As amended, this bill revises the “Athletic Training Licensure
Act,” P.L.1984, c.203 (C.45:9-37.35 et seq.).
The bill updates the definition of “athletic training” to include the
treatment of an individual for injury prevention and health
management; the evaluation and assessment of an individual for an
injury or illness, or both; and the rehabilitation and reconditioning of
an individual’s injury or illness, or both.
The bill also clarifies that nothing in the bill is to be construed as
authorizing the interpretation of data for the purpose of diagnosing
disease, organic condition or the practice of various licensed health
care professions, including the practice of medicine and surgery,
chiropractic, podiatry, occupational therapy, physical therapy, or
prosthetics, by a person who is not licensed to practice such
profession. The bill’s revisions include various amendments to delete
references to “athlete,” thereby acknowledging the fact that athletic
trainers provide services to persons generally, rather than athletes
specifically.
The bill requires athletic trainers to display, or carry on the athletic
trainer’s person if displaying is not possible, a practicing license at any
place the athletic trainer renders services.
The bill also modifies the curriculum requirements for the board to
approve to include, among other items, a degree in professional
athletic training from a postsecondary educational institution that
meets the academic standards of the Commission on Accreditation of
Athletic Training Education. Additionally, references to the Board
of Certification, Inc. are incorporated into current law, including to
replace references to the National Athletic Trainers' Association
Board of Certification, Inc.
The bill also repeals a section of the act that prohibits an athletic
trainer from practicing, or from being employed by any individual or
entity to do, physical therapy procedures for reimbursement unless the
athletic trainer is licensed pursuant to the “Physical Therapist
Licensing Act of 1983.” 2
This bill was prefiled for introduction in the 2022-2023 session
pending technical review. As amended and reported, the bill includes
the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.
COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS
The committee amended the bill to:
1) update definitions by removing a reference to “clinical athletic
training” and “athlete” from the “athletic training” definition and
adding definitions of the “Board of Certification, Inc.” and the
“Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education;”
2) modify the athletic training curriculum requirements that the
board is to approve; and
3) replace references to the National Athletic Trainers'
Association Board of Certification, Inc. with the Board of
Certification, Inc. and to require the board to follow standards set by
the BOC or a successor organization for continuing education of
athletic trainers.