Board of Athletic Trainers

Welcome to the Montana Board of Athletic Trainers

The Montana Board of Athletic Trainers was established by the 2007 Legislature.  The Board is pleased to make this website available to share licensing and regulatory information with you. You can find what is needed to become licensed as an Athletic Trainer in Montana, verify who is already licensed, and learn the statutory and regulatory requirements if you are a licensee or an interested member of the public.  You will also find board meeting information, including agendas and minutes from past meetings, and a section on frequently asked questions. 

The Board of Athletic Trainers makes every effort to include relevant and current information pertaining to licensing and regulation on our website.  Please contact us if you need additional information or to provide comments on how we can improve the website.

Board meetings are regularly scheduled for June and December.  Meeting minutes are posted within 3 days of board approval.

In general, Board meetings are open to the public.  There are certain meetings or parts (Screening Panel and Executive Session) which are closed to the public.

Scheduled and Proposed Meetings
       

Board members are appointed by the Governor with Senate confirmation.

Individual Board Members can be contacted by email at dlibsdatr@mt.gov.  In your message, please specify which board member you would like to contact.  For additional contact information and information on board member terms, please visit the Governor’s Office link for Board Members and Councils at boards.mt.gov

Fiscal Year 2008 –2009 Professional and Occupational Licensing Report

An Athletic Trainer is a person licensed by the Board of Athletic Trainers who has completed the required education and training to practice prevention, recognition, assessment, management, treatment, and reconditioning of athletic injuries for professional and amateur athletes.

Individuals who want to practice athletic training in Montana must apply to the Montana Board of Athletic Trainers for licensure.  The Board evaluates the applicant’s fitness to practice and assures the basic requirements are met.  Applicants for licensure must be certified by the Board of Certification for Athletic Trainers and have a Baccalaureate Degree that meets the academic standards for athletic trainers.  Additional licensing requirements can be found in this section.

Application

Athletic Trainer
The following outlines general licensing information.  For specific information on filing an application, you will need to obtain the application for initial licensure, temporary permit, or license from another state, which includes a detailed listing of the requirements.

A. Application Fee: All Fees are Non-Refundable
$175.00 - Initial License Fee
$175.00 - Out-of-State Applicant Fee
$175.00 - Temporary License Fee (for those applicants eligible for a temporary license, the fee covers the temporary license as well as initial licensure for one year following expiration of the temporary license.  Temporary licenses are good for up to ninety (90) days or when the Board takes action on your application, whichever occurs first.

B. Education Requirements:
A minimum of at least a Baccalaureate Degree from a post secondary institution that meets the academic standards for Athletic Trainers established by the National Athletic Trainer Association Board of Certification (www.nata.org) or an equivalent organization.

C. Experience Requirements:
Applicants must be able to provide letters of reference sent directly from at least two clinical supervisors familiar with the applicant's clinical training experience.

D. Examination Information:
Passage of the Athletic Trainers examination established by the Board of Certification.  Must possess a current BOC card (www.bocatc.org)

E. Requirements for Applicants from other states:
Have a current, valid license to practice athletic training in another state and that state's standards, as determined by the board, are at least equal to the standards for licensure in this state; or is certified as an athletic trainer by an organization recognized by the national commission for certifying agencies.

F. Renewal Period:
All licenses are in effect for one year.  The deadline for license renewal is annually on August 31st.

G. Continuing Education Requirements:
At this time, the Board does not have continuing education requirements separate from those hours required by the BOC to maintain certification in Athletic Training.

1. The renewal deadline date (expiration date) for all Athletic Trainers is August 31st of each year.
2. Licenses issued 60 days prior to August 31st of each year will be given a renewal date of the following August 31st (i.e. If license is issued July 15, 2016, the license will be given an expiration date of August 31, 2017, by which they need to renew.)
3. Renewal opens 60 days prior to your expiration date.  We encourage you to renew your license early in the renewal cycle.
4. Please note that our online system is available 24/7 during the renewal cycle; however, there is no staff available to assist you after 5:00 p.m.  Waiting until the last hours to renew could mean that there is no one available to assist you, and this may cause your renewal to accrue late fees.

Statute/Rule Information

The Board of Athletic Trainers was established in 2007 to regulate the practice of and establish standards for Athletic Trainers in Montana.  Athletic Trainers should be aware of their obligations under Montana law and administrative rule.

The Montana Code Annotated (MCA) includes laws passed by the Legislature.  Professional and occupational licensing laws can be found in Title 37, Chapter 1, Part 3.  These statutes, known as the Uniform Regulatory Act, were passed in 1995.

Administrative Rules of Montana (ARM) are often referred to as regulations.  The Board adopts administrative rules in order to administer laws over which the Legislature has given the Board authority.  Boards are required to follow a process known as the Montana Administrative Procedures Act when they notice or conduct meetings, propose new rules, or make changes to existing rules to ensure public participation.  The Board files a public notice in the Montana Administrative Register (MAR) on any proposed rule changes or new rules.  You can keep track of any rule changes by viewing MAR online or by contacting the Board office and requesting to be added to the Board’s interested parties list.  Those on the list receive notification of all meetings, rule notices, and legal announcements.

The Administrative Rules of Montana (ARM) at this site contain what should be the same text as the official version published by the Office of the Secretary of State.  There is a possibility, however, that the content may vary from the official version.  In addition, the format has been changed for viewing on this website.  A copy of the official ARM in official format can be obtained from the ARM Bureau of the Office of the Secretary of State by calling (406) 444-2055. A web version of the ARM published by the Secretary of State can be viewed at Secretary of State's Administrative Rules of Montana.

In addition to the Department Statutes, the following board specific statutes apply to the Board of Athletic Trainers.

Title 2 Chapter 15 Part 17 - Board of Athletic Trainers

Title 37 Chapter 36 - Athletic Trainers

• Chapter 118 - Board of Athletic Trainers
  
• Chapter 24 - Labor and Industry
  
• Chapter 101 - Business Standards Division

The mission of the Montana Board of Athletic Trainers is to protect the health, safety, and well being of Montanans through the licensing of competent Athletic Trainers and by the regulation of their practice in order to promote the delivery of quality care.

In order to meet its mission, the Board is charged with taking appropriate action for unprofessional, incompetent, or unlawful practice.  You can learn more about the complaint process or file a complaint with the Board here.

Complaint Form

Complaint Process Brochure

Complaint Process FAQ's

Complaint Contact:
Heidi Kaufman, Compliance Specialist
Telephone: (406) 841-2238
E-mail: dlibsdcomplaints@mt.gov

This process is used for the Boards that are administered in the Business Standards Division. The various Programs administered in the Division use a similar process.

Important: When filing or responding to a complaint, be as thorough as possible. You may attach additional documents to the complaint form to ensure that all pertinent information has been included. The Screening Panel meeting is NOT a hearing, but is a time for the panel to consider the complaint and response. Attendance is your choice. If you attend the panel may ask additional questions. Please notify this office prior to the meeting if you plan to attend.

After a complaint has been filed against a licensed individual the Compliance Office will send a letter of acknowledgment to the person who filed the complaint (Complainant), and a letter requesting a response (with a copy of the complaint) to the licensee against whom the complaint was filed.

The Licensee may submit a written response addressing the complaint to the Compliance Office. The process continues whether or not a response is submitted. The Complainant is not entitled to a copy of the response.

The Compliance Office will notify the Licensee and Complainant regarding the date and time of any meeting during which the case will be discussed.

Complaints remain confidential unless a Notice of Proposed Board Action is issued, which is a public document along with all subsequent legal filings.

Meetings

• Closed Meeting - During a Closed Meeting only the Licensee, the Complainant, and/or attorneys for either can be in attendance. Minutes of Closed Meetings are not public documents.
• Open Meeting - A public meeting which anyone can attend. The minutes of Open meetings are public documents and made available online via the specific Board’s webpage. (Adjudication Panel meetings are usually open.)

Individuals may attend a meeting in person or by telephone. Please notify this office prior to the meeting if you plan to attend the meeting.

Screening Panel

• Screening Panel - A committee comprised of members of the Board. The Screening Panel’s function is to determine the preliminary action(s) to take on a complaint. Possible preliminary actions include dismissal, investigation, or a finding of Reasonable Cause.

The complaint and response (if any) are submitted to the Screening Panel members. The Screening Panel meeting is not a hearing, but rather a committee meeting to review and discuss the complaint and response to determine if disciplinary action is warranted.

Dismissal

If the Screening Panel dismisses a complaint, the complaint can be dismissed with or without prejudice (see definitions below).

• Dismissal With Prejudice - The complaint is dismissed and cannot be considered by the Screening Panel in the future.
• Dismissal Without Prejudice - The complaint is dismissed but may be considered by the Screening Panel in the future if there are ever allegations of a similar nature.

Investigation

Only a member of the Screening Panel can request an investigation of a complaint. If an investigation is requested by the Screening Panel, the case is assigned to an investigator who may request an interview with the Licensee, the Complainant, and/or other individuals. Upon completion of the investigation, a written report is submitted to the Screening Panel, which will then determine if there is Reasonable Cause to proceed with disciplinary action.

Reasonable Cause

• Reasonable Cause - A finding by the Screening Panel that evidence exists that a violation of statutes and rules has occurred which warrants proceeding with disciplinary action.

If Reasonable Cause is found, the Department Counsel issues a Notice of Proposed Board Action (Notice) to the Licensee. Once a Notice is issued, it is public information. A proposed Stipulation may be included with the Notice.

• Notice - A legal document from the Department’s Legal Counsel which sets forth the Department’s factual assertions, the statutes or rules relied upon, and advising the licensee of the right to a hearing.
• Stipulation - A tentative agreement for settlement of the case. A Stipulation is not finalized until approved by the Adjudication Panel.

The Licensee may either sign the Stipulation or contest the proposed action by requesting an administrative Hearing (a legal process before a Hearing Examiner). If the Licensee wishes to request a hearing, written request must be received within twenty (20) days from receipt of the Notice. Failure to either sign a Stipulation or request a hearing within twenty (20) days may result in the issuing of a Final Order of Default against the licensee.

• Default - the licensee’s acceptance of the disciplinary action demonstrated by failing to participate in the process

Adjudication Panel

• Adjudication Panel - A committee comprised of members of the Board who are NOT on the Screening Panel. The Adjudication Panel determines the final outcome of a case.

The Adjudication Panel reviews the record to determine appropriate sanctions. A Final Order is issued by the Adjudication Panel, completing the complaint process.

Complaint Process Flow

Current license status and information regarding disciplinary action(s) against a licensee can be accessed online at: https://ebiz.mt.gov/pol/

Department of Labor & Industry - Business Standards Division

PO Box 200513, Helena, MT 59620-0513

When a complaint or other information is received alleging possible unlicensed practice...

• (If the allegation is not made in the form of a formal written complaint, a complaint form is completed by the Department and a complaint number is assigned.)
• A copy of the complaint and a request for a written response are mailed to the person against whom the complaint was filed (Respondent).
• A written acknowledgment that the complaint has been received is mailed to the person who filed the complaint (Complainant)
• The respondent may submit a letter of response to the complaint. If a written response is not submitted, the complaint process continues without a response.
• The complainant and the respondent are sent written notify cation of the date, time, and location of any meeting at which the complaint will be discussed.

The Board Meeting

• Unlicensed Practice complaints are addressed by the Full Board in executive session (meaning closed to the public). Board meetings are open to the public unless the chairperson determines an individual’s right to privacy outweighs the public’s right to know. If so, that portion of the meeting will be closed to the public (only the respondent, complainant, and legal counsel for each (if any) may be present).
• The complaint and response (if any) are provided to the board members prior to an upcoming board meeting for their review. The board meeting is not a hearing, but rather a meeting at which the information provided is considered and discussed by the board.

DISMISSAL

• If the board dismisses a complaint, the complaint can be dismissed with or without prejudice.
• Dismissal With Prejudice-The complaint is dismissed and cannot be considered in the future.
• Dismissal Without Prejudice-The complaint is dismissed but may be considered by the board in the future if there are ever allegations of a similar nature.

INVESTIGATION

• The board can request an investigator be assigned to gather additional information surrounding the allegations made in the complaint. This may involve interviews with the respondent, the complainant, and possible witnesses.
• After the investigation has been completed, an investigative report is prepared and presented to the board for consideration at a subsequent meeting.
• Following the board’s review of the investigative report, a determination is made to either dismiss the complaint or take action in the form of a Cease and Desist or an Injunction.

CEASE & DESIST / INJUNCTION

• The board may issue a Cease & Desist or seek an Injunction.
• Cease & Desist–A letter from the administrative agency prohibiting a person or business from doing or continuing to do a certain activity.
• Injunction-A writ granted by a court prohibiting a person or business from doing or continuing to do a certain activity.

For more information, contact DLI Business Standards Division at 406-841-2300

The Department is charged with regulating professions and occupations for the protection of the public as a whole. Although the Department does not represent individuals filing complaints, the Department will review complaints in a timely manner to ensure a complaint is processed and that the Board will take appropriate action.

The length of time for resolution of a complaint is impossible to estimate due to the various complexities presented in individual complaints.

The following types of complaints may be filed:

• Unprofessional conduct by a licensee;
• Unprofessional conduct by a license applicant;
• Unlicensed practice of the profession or occupation.

If an individual is unsure of what constitutes unprofessional conduct and needs a description of the various types, reference to Montana statutes and rules will provide an answer. These are found at your local public library or at the appropriate board site on this web page.

Drop Off or Mail to:
"Name of the Board or Program the complaint pertains to"
Business Standards Division
301 South Park, 4th Floor
PO Box 200514
Helena, MT 59620-0514

• National Athletic Trainers Association
• Board of Certification Athletic Trainers Certified
• Montana Athletic Trainers Association