If You’re Questioning Your Career Path in Athletic Training, You’re Not Behind

At some point in an athletic training career, many professionals reach a moment they don’t talk about openly.

It’s not burnout — at least not in the way people usually mean it.
It’s a quieter realization: “I love being an athletic trainer… I just don’t know if this setting is right for me anymore.”

For years, the profession has framed doubt as a problem to fix — a sign you need more grit, better time management, or thicker skin. But the stories athletic trainers are sharing now suggest something different.

What if questioning your path isn’t failure?

What if it’s awareness?

When the Job Stops Fitting (But the Profession Still Does)

Many of the athletic trainers who shared their experiences with us had followed the “right” path. They had worked in collegiate athletics, chased competitive environments, and invested years into demanding schedules.

Some loved parts of it. Others felt proud of the work they’d done.

And yet, over time, something felt off.

What they described wasn’t a loss of passion for athletic training — it was a growing misalignment between how they were working and how they wanted to live.

Long hours. Limited flexibility. Constant availability.
High expectations with little margin.

The profession hadn’t failed them — the structure had.

Pivots Aren’t Step Backs

One of the most persistent fears around career pivots in athletic training is the idea that moving away from traditional or prestigious settings means “giving something up.”

The reality shared by many ATs was the opposite.

Those who transitioned into secondary schools, military settings, industrial roles, clinical environments, or private practice consistently spoke about:

• Increased autonomy

• Clearer boundaries

• Being trusted as healthcare providers

• Better work-life balance

• Renewed fulfillment

Several even noted they were making more money while working fewer hours.

Importantly, many of these roles weren’t originally part of their plan. They found them through curiosity, necessity, or simply saying yes to something different.

And once they did, they didn’t feel like they had settled — they felt like they had arrived.

The Early-Career Reality Check

What’s striking is that this shift isn’t only happening mid-career.

Some of the most reflective responses came from ATs in their first few years of practice. Individuals who once idolized Power 4 football or Division I roles now openly acknowledged that their priorities had changed.

Not because they lacked ambition, but because they were paying attention.

They noticed how certain environments affected their energy, relationships, and mental health. And they chose settings where they could make a meaningful impact and sustain themselves.

That’s not opting out.

That’s opting in — intentionally.

You Don’t Owe the Profession Your Burnout

One of the unspoken pressures in athletic training is the idea that struggle is a rite of passage. That if a role is difficult, it must be valuable. That exhaustion is proof of commitment.

But the ATs who shared their stories made something clear:

Suffering is not a prerequisite for impact.

Providing care, supporting athletes, and contributing to communities does not require sacrificing your health, relationships, or identity outside of work.

Choosing a role that allows you to stay in the profession long-term is not selfish — it’s responsible.

Reframing the Pivot

A career pivot doesn’t have to be dramatic. It doesn’t mean leaving athletic training behind. Often, it simply means finding a setting where your skills are:

• Fully utilized

• Respected

• Sustainable

Athletic trainers are increasingly building careers that fit their lives — not forcing their lives to fit a job description.

And that shift is shaping the future of the profession.

If You’re in That In-Between Space

If you’re questioning your current role, wondering what else might be possible, or feeling pulled toward something different — you’re not alone.

You’re not late.
You’re not behind.
And you’re not failing athletic training.

You’re responding to the same signals many ATs are hearing right now: that longevity, balance, and fulfillment matter.

The profession isn’t shrinking — it’s expanding.

And there’s room for you in it.