International Certification


A. CATA members going international

International Arrangement Information:

Since August 3rd, 2021, CATA is a partner in the International Arrangement (IA) with Athletic Rehabilitation Therapy Ireland (ARTI), British Association of Sport Rehabilitators (BASRaT) and the Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer (BOC). The IA allows certified CATA members to attempt partner Athletic Training and Therapy certification exams; without graduating from one of their accredited institutions. This process was developed to ensure comparable best practices, quality education, professional standards, and the opportunity for CATA members to be more mobile between partner countries. IA partners have developed this process with the recognition that organizational autonomy is vital to its success.

To ensure success of this process the IA partners are working with International Consultants of Delaware, Inc. (ICD), a division of CGFNS International Inc. CGFNS has been the world’s largest credentials evaluation organization for the nursing and allied health professionals since 1977.

ICD is a charter member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) that is a globally recognized expert in credentials evaluation for education, employment, immigration, licensure, and certification. Together, ICD worked to align CATA with all IA partners’ national credentialing standards. This process aimed to ensure validity, reliability, consistency, accuracy, fairness and legal defensibility across all education and certification processes.

CATA member applying to an IA partner:

For CATA member applicants wishing to obtain certification from an IA partner (e.g., BOC, ARTI or BASRaT), they will need to become a member of that association first. Each IA partner will have a membership fee. For more information regarding each IA partners application process, visit the website of the organization you would like to be credentialed:

After a CATA member becomes a member of an IA partners organization, they will then be directed to ICD’s online portal to input information and collect documentation. CATA members will be required to:

  • Pay ICD an evaluation of credential administrative fee of $275 (USD).
  • Submit 2 notarized identity documents (an additional cost for notarization may be required) e.g., drivers license, passport, marriage license.
  • Provide official transcripts from your post-secondary CATA accredited institution; and
  • Submit 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.
  • Submit a signed Certification Form from the CATA’s head office. The form will be available to download from the ICD application portal.

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 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

Are you thinking about going international?

The CATA has prepared the following 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.

Helpful Links:

B. International Arrangement members applying to CATA

For International Arrangement (IA) partner member applicants wishing to obtain certification from CATA, they must be 1) fully certified [i.e. Certified Athletic Trainer (USA), Certified Athletic Therapist (Ireland) or a Sport Rehabilitator (BASRaT)] and 2) in good standing with the BOC, ARTI or BASRaT.

STEPS:

  1. Apply to CATA to become a Temporary International Candidate (TIC). Here is the link to the CATA Temporary International Membership Application. There is a non-refundable registration fee of $50.00 (CAD) to start this process with the CATA. (A CATA member number will not be provided until the process with ICD has been completed and your CATA membership fee is paid.)
  2. 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. They charge a fee of $275 (USD) to complete this process.

    Additionally, ICD will require you to:
    • Submit 2 notarized identity documents (an additional cost for notarization may be required) e.g., drivers license, passport, marriage license
    • Provide official transcripts from your post-secondary accredited institution
    • Submit 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.
    • Submit 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.
  3. When all your documentation has been received and the application has been completed with ICD, a report will be issued to the CATA where they will determine if are eligible to take the CATA exam. The CATA will review the ICD report and will contact you to discuss next steps. 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.
  4. Once you are accepted by the CATA and pay the membership, they will then be able to apply to take the CATA exam. See the cost to attempt the CATA exam

For additional information or assistance, please contact the International Candidate Liaison at internationalcandidateliaison@athletictherapy.org.

IMPORTANT Reminder for TIC members applying for the CATA exam:

Before you can apply for the CATA exam:

  • You must have completed and carry a valid First Responder (or equivalent) certification through a nationally based provider which, at the time of the exam application, has an expiry date that is after the date of the examination. A regular CPR/AED certification does not meet this requirement.
  • It is recommended that candidates check to see where a First Responder course is available near them as they are not frequently offered and not as accessible as a regular CPR class
  • Not all First Responder courses are considered equivalent. For a list of approved courses, please refer to the National Certification Examination Handbook that will be available upon CATA membership approval.

About the CATA Exam:

  • Timeline: 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. Once all documents have been received by ICD, a report should be sent to CATA within 7-10 business days. CATA will then 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 Exams are held twice per year, in June and November. The CATA Exam is available in Computer Based Examination format and therefore the exam has the ability to be written domestically or internationally. The CATA Exam Handbook will contain 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.

What is the best way to prepare/study for the exam?

It is recommended that you thoroughly read the CATA Exam Handbook as well as seek guidance from the International Candidate Liaison prior to attempting the CATA exam. There are no specific CATA 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 CATA 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 Tool kit

Are you thinking about coming to Canada?

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 CATA National Certification Exam as a BOC Certified Athletic Trainer, an ARTI Certified Athletic Rehabilitation Therapist or a BASRaT Sport Rehabilitator?

Currently, to attempt the CATA 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). Additionally, you are required to carry a valid First Responder (or equivalent) certification through a nationally based provider which, at the time of the exam application, has an expiry date that is after the date of the examination.

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 CATA exam.

2. What do I need to do before attempting the CATA exam?

Candidates are required to have a First Responder certification before writing the CATA exam. A regular CPR/AED certification does not meet this requirement. It is recommended that candidates check to see where a First Responder course is available near them as they are not frequently offered and not as accessible as a regular CPR class. Please note that not all First Responder courses are considered equivalent. Also, the First Responder course must be completed before the candidate is allowed to apply for the exam.

It is also 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 CATA exam.

3. How do I check if my First Responder course is acceptable?

Please refer to the CATA Members portal, under the Candidate Members Tab; First Responder Certification, for a list of the minimum competencies that must be met in order for a course to be accepted. For a list of specific courses that have been approved by CATA to meet the First Responder requirements, please refer to the CATA Examination Handbook.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. When do I apply to do the CATA exam? What are the fees?

Once your report has been received from ICD, the CATA will determine if you are eligible to take the CATA 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 CATA exam. See the cost to attempt the CATA exam.

7. 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.

8. 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 CATA exam.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. What is the exam format like?

The written examination is 200 multiple choice questions and written in one three-hour block.

12. 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 CATA exam. There are no specific CATA exam preparation textbooks. Please contact the International Candidate Liaison at internationalcandidateliaison@athletictherapy.org if you have any questions.

13. 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.

14. Where do I find an application to become a CATA member?

Follow this link for the membership application: CATA Temporary International Membership Application

15. 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.