CATA accreditation for Athletic and Exercise Therapy degree
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May 28, 2009
Camosun’s innovative Athletic and Exercise Therapy degree (BAET) was granted full accreditation by the Canadian Athletic Therapist Association (CATA) at the May meeting of the Board of Directors. CATA leadership responded to unanimous positive recommendation from the organisation’s external site visitation team.
“Camosun is the only CATA-accredited institution west of Calgary, and only one of seven in Canada,” says Dr. Peter Rehor, Director of Camosun’s Centre for Sport and Exercise Education. “The new BAET is the first degree of its kind globally that combines two highly respected and sought-after skill sets, athletic therapy and exercise therapy. We’re very proud of this achievement.”
Offered at Camosun’s new Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence, the BAET is a four-year degree program aimed at the prevention, immediate care, and rehabilitation of musculoskeletal injuries, and the prevention and management of hypokinetic (inactive lifestyle) diseases like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, osteoporosis and obesity.
Camosun College’s Athletic and Exercise Therapy degree was granted provincial accreditation by the Ministry of Advanced Education last September. A full cohort of students began study in the fall, hoping that CATA accreditation would be granted to the college, allowing BAET graduates to become Certified Athletic Therapists.
“Professional accreditation is the highest recognition one can place on an applied degree,” says Baldev Pooni, Vice-President, Education & Student Services. “Our students will be that much better served with enhanced opportunities for rewarding careers in their chosen profession.”
Graduates of the BAET will work with those who are physically active (athletes and recreationally active populations) to prevent and manage their injuries as well as those individuals who have conditions and diseases which have been the result of an inactive lifestyle (such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, osteoporosis and obesity).
“It’s great to know that I can study in Victoria at a brand-new facility,” says student Jenn McKinnon. “The program has already helped me become a better (student) therapist, and I can’t wait to become certified in a year’s time when I graduate.”
The BAET addresses the design and application of conditioning and rehabilitation programs that enable injured and diseased individuals to return to activity. The BAET program provides knowledge and advanced skills in athletic and exercise therapy, exercise science, and business skills to operate a successful practice.
Through extensive clinical and fieldwork experiences, students will gain the theoretical knowledge, practical skills, and prerequisites necessary to seek designation as Certified Exercise Physiologist with the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP) and Certified Athletic Therapists with CATA.
More information about Camosun’s Centre for Sport and Exercise Education, contact 250-220-2566.
Last updated: March 17, 2010 2:11 pm
