HB314: HB314 Professions and businesses; athletic trainers; revise and update definitions

Georgia's athletic trainer licensing law (O.C.G.A. Chapter 5 of Title 43) sets out who can call themselves an athletic trainer, what the job covers, and how the Georgia Board of Athletic Trainers oversees the profession. This bill updates several parts of that law. It revises the definitions of 'athletic injury' and 'athletic trainer,' removing outdated wording while keeping the core rule that trainers act on the advice and consent of a physician. It also updates the board's powers, including how it prepares and approves the certification exam. A new provision requires students in athletic training programs, now called 'athletic training students,' to work under the 'direct supervision' of a physician or licensed athletic trainer, meaning that supervisor must be physically present and immediately available. Finally, it updates the education and certification requirements applicants must meet to become licensed, including graduating from an accredited program or holding certification from the Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer.

• Revises the legal definitions of 'athletic injury' and 'athletic trainer' in Georgia's athletic trainer law (O.C.G.A. § 43-5-1), removing outdated language.
• Updates the Georgia Board of Athletic Trainers' duties, including how it prepares and approves the certification exam for license applicants (O.C.G.A. § 43-5-6).
• Requires students working as athletic training students to be under the 'direct supervision' of a physician or licensed athletic trainer, meaning the supervisor is physically present and immediately available (O.C.G.A. § 43-5-7).
• Updates the education requirements for licensure, requiring applicants to graduate from an accredited athletic training program or submit equivalent credentials approved by the board (O.C.G.A. § 43-5-8).
• Preserves the board's ability to license out-of-state athletic trainers without examination if their home state offers the same reciprocity to Georgia licensees.
• Allows the board to license applicants who hold certification from the Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer without requiring a separate exam.

Licensed athletic trainers in Georgia, students enrolled in athletic training educational programs, the Georgia Board of Athletic Trainers, physicians who supervise trainers and students, and colleges or universities running accredited athletic training programs.

The bill changes who can supervise athletic training students and how, requiring a physician or licensed trainer to be physically present and immediately available, which could affect how schools and clinics structure student training. It also updates licensing standards that determine who can legally work as an athletic trainer in Georgia.

• Section 1 rewrites O.C.G.A. § 43-5-1 to update the definitions of 'athletic injury' and 'athletic trainer' and clarifies that the law does not require licensure for teachers, coaches, or volunteers who don't call themselves athletic trainers.
• Section 2 revises O.C.G.A. § 43-5-6 so the board 'approves' rather than solely 'conducts' the certification exam and keeps its other rulemaking and licensing duties.
• Section 3 rewrites O.C.G.A. § 43-5-7, renaming student roles as 'athletic training students' and requiring their work be under the 'direct supervision' of a physician or licensed athletic trainer, defined as physically present and immediately available.
• Section 4 revises O.C.G.A. § 43-5-8, requiring license applicants to graduate from an accredited athletic training program or submit equivalent credentials, while preserving reciprocity for out-of-state trainers and a grandfather clause for those licensed before July 1, 2004.
• Section 5 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2025-03-06Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
2. 2025-03-04House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (House)
3. 2025-03-04House Third Readers (House)
4. 2025-02-26House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
5. 2025-02-11House Second Readers (House)
6. 2025-02-10House First Readers (House)
7. 2025-02-06House Hopper (House)

• John LaHood (R, HD-175)Primary sponsor
• Alan Powell (R, HD-033)
• Rick Jasperse (R, HD-011)
• Charles Cannon (R, HD-172)
• Dexter Sharper (D, HD-177)

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 4, 2025

   93 yea, 77 nay (8 not voting, 2 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #152

• athletic trainers
• professional licensing
• sports medicine
• health care regulation