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Certified Athletic Therapist, Therapist
In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.
The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used.
Here is how this occupation has been classified over time.
2006 NOC
2006 NOC-S
2011 NOC
2016 NOC
2021 NOC
2023 OaSIS
Athletic therapists are responsible for injury prevention, emergency and acute care of injuries, and assessment and rehabilitation. They also develop conditioning programs. Most provide on-field and clinical care of musculoskeletal injuries for professional and recreational athletes. Their goal is to help clients return to sport and recreation activities safely.
Athletic therapists also work preventively. They help athletes and active individuals learn how to avoid injury. They also help them improve their physical abilities and make their lifestyles more active. They sometimes work with the public too. For example, they may help seniors recover after surgery to replace a hip or knee.
Athletic therapists may perform some or all of the following duties:
For athletic therapists in private practice, hours of work and other working conditions vary depending on the clinic.
Athletic therapists who work with professional sports teams work long and physically demanding hours. They must be present at all competitions and practices. Depending on the sport, this may require frequent travel or evening and weekend work.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2006 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
Interest in mentoring patients by providing treatment and advising them on how to deal with their mental and physical abilities; and in consulting with other health care professionals to evaluate treatment plans
Interest in co-ordinating, initiating, designing and implementing specialized therapy programs for the general patient population and in the community; may conduct research in respective field of specialization
Interest in operating - manipulating equipment and following procedures to implement treatment plans by carrying out specialized therapy sessions employing techniques such as art, athletic, dance, music or recreational therapy or remedial gymnastics; and in observing and analyzing patients during treatment sessions
To identify or change your interest codes, complete the Interests Exercise in CAREERinsite.
The interest code helps you figure out if you’d like to work in a particular occupation.
It’s based on the Canadian Work Preference Inventory (CWPI), which measures 5 occupational interests: Directive, Innovative, Methodical, Objective, and Social.
Each set of 3 interest codes for this NOC group is listed in order of importance.
A code in capital letters means it’s a strong fit for the occupation.
A code in all lowercase letters means the fit is weaker.
To fill in or change the values for your abilities, complete the Abilities Exercise in CAREERinsite.
A Quick Guide
You are born with abilities that help you process certain types of information and turn it into action. These abilities influence which skills you can learn more easily.
The abilities or aptitudes shown for this NOC group come from the General Aptitude Test Battery (GATB). The GATB measures 9 aptitudes. It groups them into 3 categories: mental, visual, and physical.
The abilities scores range from 1 to 5, with 5 being stronger.
Athletic therapists need:
They should enjoy working with people, designing therapy programs, and using equipment to implement treatment plans.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
This chart shows which job skills are currently in highest demand for this occupational group. It was created using this occupation's 62 most recent Alberta job postings, collected between Nov 03, 2021 and Dec 03, 2024.
Review these skills to learn:
| Health benefits: Health care plan | 35 |
|---|---|
| Health benefits: Dental plan | 35 |
| Long term benefits: Other benefits | 30 |
| Long term benefits: Registered retirement savings plan (RRSP) | 30 |
| Long term benefits: Life insurance | 29 |
| Interview patients and review reports from health care professionals to determine patients' current and potential functioning levels | 26 |
| Tasks: Implement treatment plans | 26 |
| Tasks: Observe and analyze patients during treatment sessions | 26 |
| Tasks: Initiate, design and implement specialized therapy programs | 26 |
| Tasks: Prepare a treatment plan for each patient | 26 |
To work as an athletic therapist, employers require applicants to be certified by the Canadian Athletic Therapists Association (CATA). This includes successful completion of a bachelor’s degree and an Athletic Therapy program at a CATA-accredited school. For more details, see Certification Requirements and the CATA website.
The following schools offer programs and courses that meet this occupation’s educational requirements. Other eligible programs and courses may be available.
To expand or narrow your program options, visit Post-Secondary Programs and start your search with:
Completing a program does not guarantee entrance into an occupation. Before enrolling in an education program, prospective students should look into various sources for education options and employment possibilities. For example, contact associations and employers in this field.
There is currently no legislation regulating this occupation. However, employers require applicants to be certified by the Canadian Athletic Therapists Association (CATA) and to be members of the Alberta Athletic Therapists Association (AATA).
To apply for certification, candidates must:
Source: 2021-2025 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook
Athletic therapists work for:
Athletic therapists may work as rehabilitation specialists, return-to-work specialists, or non-physician experts. They may work on their own or with other health care professionals. These can include family physicians, orthopedic surgeons, chiropractors, massage therapists, or physiotherapists.
This section shows the industries where the majority of people in this occupation work. The data is based on the 2016 Census.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.
Other professional occupations in therapy and assessment
2016 NOC: 3144
84.8% of people in this occupational group work in:
NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.
This section shows the short-term demand forecasted for this occupation in Alberta over a 3-year period. It also shows the number of people employed in the occupation.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2021 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.
Source: 2023-2025 Alberta Short-Term Employment Forecast
NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.
To see data for all occupations, visit Occupations in Demand.
This section shows the employment outlook for this occupation in Alberta over a 5-year period.
Employment outlook is influenced by a wide variety of factors including:
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.
Source: 2021-2025 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook
Annual growth is from 2021 to 2025. New positions created each year are in addition to job openings created by employment turnover.
NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.
Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.
Salaries for certified athletic therapists vary greatly. Often, athletic therapists work on a term-contract basis.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
Unless otherwise noted, the data shown here is for all industries and all regions in Alberta.
All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production), and other forms of compensation.
To see the full survey data for this NOC group, visit the wage profile.
Other wage sources
To make an informed wage and salary decision, research other wage sources [pdf] to supplement this data.
High Reliability, represents a CV of less than or equal to 6.00% and 30 survey observations and/or represents 50% or more of all estimated employment for the occupation.
| Wages* | Low (5th percentile) | High (95th percentile) | Average | Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting | $16.50 | $37.85 | $30.64 | $35.81 |
| Overall | $19.50 | $49.80 | $37.38 | $43.13 |
| Top | $20.91 | $50.33 | $40.81 | $47.67 |
Swipe left and right to view all data. Scroll left and right to view all data.
* All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production) and other forms of compensation.
Pay brackets for hourly wages
| ALL INDUSTRIES | $64,143 |
|---|---|
| Health Care & Social Assistance | $63,833 |
| Public Administration | $73,071 |
Alberta Athletic Therapists Association (AATA) website: www.aata.ca
Canadian Athletic Therapists Association (CATA) website: athletictherapy.org
Get information and referrals about career, education, and employment options from Alberta Supports.
Updated Mar 31, 2020. The information contained in this profile is current as of the dates shown. Salary, employment outlook, and educational program information may change without notice. It is advised that you confirm this information before making any career decisions.
