The International Arrangement (IA) ensures comparable best practices, quality education, professional standards, and provides an opportunity for certified members of partner organizations to be more mobile between partner countries. Since 2021, CATA has partnered in the IA with Athletic Rehabilitation Therapy Ireland (ARTI), British Association of Sport Rehabilitators (BASRaT) and the Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer (BOC). IA partners have developed this process with the recognition that organizational autonomy is vital to its success.
For CATA Members Going International
Looking for certification from an IA partner?
1. Apply to become a member of the desired association.
2. After becoming a member of an IA partner organization, input information and documentation in ICD’s online portal.
3. Complete the requirements, including payment to ICD, submission of identity documents, and submission of official transcripts and signed Education Form. Visit the ICD application portal for more.
4. Submit a signed Certification Form from the CATA’s head office. The form will be available to download from the ICD application portal.
What's Next?
Once all requirements have been met, ICD will produce a report to the applicant’s intended IA partner. That IA partner will review the ICD report and will contact the applicant to discuss next steps.
Each IA partner may have additional requirements that need to be met prior to challenging their certification process. This requirement is at the discretion of each individual IA partner but will mostly surround educating applicants on country specific differences (e.g., scope of practice, health care system, insurance, and liability coverage). For additional information or assistance, please contact the International Candidate Liaison at internationalcandidateliaison@athletictherapy.org.
International Toolkit for CATA Members
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The CATA has prepared this Toolkit to help CATA Certified Athletic Therapists who are considering studying, volunteering, or working internationally. The tips, information, guidelines, and processes outlined in this toolkit are based on best practices and policies as suggested by international organizations and institutions. |
Resources
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For International Arrangement Members Applying to CATA
Interested in certification from CATA?
You must be:- Fully certified [i.e. Certified Athletic Trainer (USA), Certified Athletic Therapist (Ireland) or a Sport Rehabilitator (BASRaT)]; and
- in good standing.
Here’s how to get started
- Apply to CATA to become a Temporary International Candidate (TIC). There is a non-refundable registration fee of $50.00 (CAD) to start this process with the CATA.
- Once the registration fee is paid, you will be directed to the International Consultants of Delaware, Inc. (ICD) website to complete a credentials evaluation process with them. There is a fee of $275 (USD) to complete this process. The ICD will prompt you to provide further documentation such as:
- 2 notarized identity documents (i.e. driver's license, passport, marriage license).
- Official transcripts from your post-secondary accredited institution.
- A signed Education Form from the registrar of the academic institution in which you graduated. The form will be available to download from the ICD application portal.
- A signed Certification Form from your certifying organization to show that you are a member in good standing. The form will be available to download from the ICD application portal.
- When all your documentation has been received and the application has been completed with ICD, a report will be issued to the CATA which will determine if you are eligible to take the National Certifcation exam. If accepted, there will be an annual CATA membership fee that is prorated per month left in the calendar year, depending on when the application is accepted. At this time, you will receive a CATA member number.
- Once you are accepted by the CATA and pay the membership, you will then be able to apply to take the National Certification Exam.
About the CATA Exam
Timeline
You have one year to attempt the exam after being accepted as an official TIC member of the CATA. Once all documents have been received by ICD, a report should be sent to CATA within 7-10 business days. CATA will be in contact with the applicant to confirm receipt of the ICD evaluation and provide a timeline going forward.
Limit
There are no limits to the number of times you can attempt certification, however you must re-attempt any failed exam within two years.
Where & When
Currently, the National Certification Exam is held twice per year, in June and November. The National Certification Exam is available in Computer Based Examination format and therefore the exam has the ability to be written domestically or internationally. The National Certification Exam Handbook has all the necessary information for online proctoring, including system requirements, registration process, exam day expectations and exam support.
Format
The written examination is 200 multiple choice questions and written in one three-hour block.
Thoroughly read the National Certification Exam Handbook and seek guidance from the International Candidate Liaison prior to attempting the exam. There are no specific National Certification Exam preparation textbooks; however, it is suggested that you read the TIC’s GAP information document that will be provided to you once you have been accepted by the CATA to attempt the exam. It is also recommended that you contact the International Candidate Liaison at internationalcandidateliaison@athletictherapy.org prior to writing the exam or if you have any questions.
International Toolkit for International Applicants
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The CATA has prepared the following Toolkit to help athletic therapists, athletic trainers, and sport rehabilitators who are considering studying, volunteering, or working in Canada. The tips, information, guidelines, and processes outlined in this toolkit are based on best practices and policies as suggested by Canadian organizations and institutions. |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I qualify to write the National Certification Exam as a BOC Certified Athletic Trainer, an ARTI Certified Athletic Rehabilitation Therapist or a BASRaT Sport Rehabilitator?
Currently, to attempt the National Certification exam, you must be in good standing with the BOC, ARTI or BASRaT, and then apply to CATA to become a Temporary International Candidate (TIC).
Once you become a TIC with the CATA, you will be directed to the International Consultants of Delaware, Inc. (ICD) website to complete an application with them. When your application has been completed with ICD, a report will be issued to the CATA where they will determine if you are eligible to take the National Certification Exam.
2. What do I need to do before attempting the National Certification Exam?It is suggested that you read the TIC’s GAP information document that will be provided to you once you have been accepted by the CATA to attempt the National Certification Exam.
3. Do I need to have graduated from an accredited degree granting program or do previous internship programs qualify?
Candidates need to be a Certified Athletic Trainer (USA), Certified Athletic Therapist (Ireland) or a Sport Rehabilitator (BASRaT), in good standing, in order to join the CATA as a Temporary International Candidate. They will not be able to join until they are fully certified. Candidates who are currently taking a certification exam in another country or waiting for results will not be accepted.
4. Do I need to be a member of the CATA before I apply to ICD?
Yes, you must complete a CATA Temporary International Membership form and pay a $50.00 non refundable registration fee before you can apply to ICD.
5. When do I apply to do the National Certification Exam? What are the fees?
Once your report has been received from ICD, the CATA will determine if you are eligible to take the National Certification Exam. If accepted, there will be a CATA membership fee that is prorated per month left in the calendar year, then you will be able to apply to take the National Certification Exam. See the cost to attempt the National Certification Exam.
6. Is there a timeline during which I must write the exam once I become a member?
Yes, there is a timeline for certification. You have one year to attempt the exam after being accepted from the ICD report that you are an official TIC member of the CATA.
7. Is there a limit on the number of times I can attempt the exam?
There are no limits to the number of times you can attempt certification, however you must re-attempt any failed exam within two years. CATA recommends that TICs contact the International Candidate Liaison (internationalcandidateliaison@athletictherapy.org) for guidance prior to attempting the National Certification Exam.
8. Where and when can I write the exams?
Currently, the National Certification Exam is held twice per year, in June and November and is offered in Computer Based Examination format. All the necessary information for online proctoring, including system requirements, registration process, exam day expectations and exam support can be found in the National Certification Examination Handbook which will be made available to you upon membership approval.
9. Can I write the written exam in my home country?
The National Certification Examination is available in Computer Based Examination format; therefore, there is the ability to write the exam domestically or internationally.
10. What is the exam format like?
The written examination is 200 multiple choice questions and written in one three-hour block.
11. What is the best way to prepare/study for the exam?
It is recommended that you thoroughly read the National Certification Examination Handbook as well as seek guidance from the International Candidate Liaison prior to attempting the National Certification Exam. There are no specific exam preparation textbooks. Please contact the International Candidate Liaison at internationalcandidateliaison@athletictherapy.org if you have any questions.
12. Am I automatically allowed to work in Canada once I become certified with the CATA?
Certification with the CATA does not infer any legal status or eligibility to work in Canada. If you are not a Canadian citizen, please refer to the government of Canada websites for more information about visas and immigration regulations. If you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, your certification status permits you the same status as any other voting member of the CATA.
13. Once I am certified how do I maintain my certification in both countries at the same time?
In Canada, you are required to fulfill CATA’s Maintenance of Certification requirements which include, among other things, obtaining 21 continuing education units (CEUs) every three years. Certification maintenance is a three-year cycle. Some of your CEUs could be applied to more than one association simultaneously. CEU’s can be obtained by completing a variety of educational activities, such as: professional development courses (face-to-face, online, hybrid courses, etc.), committee work, post-secondary courses, graduate studies, specific volunteer work, etc.