2.3. Members shall refrain from, and report illegal or unethical practices related to athletic
training.
2.4. Members shall cooperate in ethics investigations by the NATA, state professional
licensing/regulatory boards, or other professional agencies governing the athletic training
profession. Failure to fully cooperate in an ethics investigation is an ethical violation.
2.5. Members must not file, or encourage others to file, a frivolous ethics complaint with any
organization or entity governing the athletic training profession such that the complaint is
unfounded or willfully ignore facts that would disprove the allegation(s) in the complaint.
2.6. Members shall refrain from substance and alcohol abuse. For any member involved in an
ethics proceeding with NATA and who, as part of that proceeding is seeking rehabilitation for
substance or alcohol dependency, documentation of the completion of rehabilitation must be
provided to the NATA Committee on Professional Ethics as a requisite to complete a NATA
membership reinstatement or suspension process.
3. Members Shall Maintain and Promote High Standards in Their Provision of Services
`3.1. Members shall not misrepresent, either directly or indirectly, their skills, training,
professional credentials, identity, or services.
3.2. Members shall provide only those services for which they are qualified through education or
experience and which are allowed by the applicable state athletic training practice acts and other
applicable regulations for athletic trainers.
3.3. Members shall provide services, make referrals, and seek compensation only for those
services that are necessary and are in the best interest of the patient as delineated by professional
statements and best practices.
3.4. Members shall recognize the need for continuing education and participate in educational
activities that enhance their skills and knowledge and shall complete such educational
requirements necessary to continue to qualify as athletic trainers under the applicable state
athletic training practice acts.
3.5. Members shall educate those whom they supervise in the practice of athletic training about
the Code of Ethics and stress the importance of adherence.
3.6. Members who are researchers or educators must maintain and promote ethical conduct in
research and educational activities.
4. Members Shall Not Engage in Conduct That Could Be Construed as a Conflict of Interest, Reflects
Negatively on the Athletic Training Profession, or Jeopardizes a Patient’s Health and Well-Being.
4.1. Members should conduct themselves personally and professionally in a manner that does not
compromise their professional responsibilities or the practice of athletic training.
4.2. All NATA members, whether current or past, shall not use the NATA logo or AT logo in the
endorsement of products or services, or exploit their affiliation with the NATA in a manner that
reflects badly upon the profession.
4.3. Members shall not place financial gain above the patient’s well-being and shall not
participate in any arrangement that exploits the patient.
4.4. Members shall not, through direct or indirect means, use information obtained in the course
of the practice of athletic training to try and influence the score or outcome of an athletic event, or
attempt to induce financial gain through gambling.
4.5. Members shall not provide or publish false or misleading information, photography, or any
other communications in any media format, including on any social media platform, related to
athletic training that negatively reflects the profession, other members of the NATA, NATA
officers, and the NATA office.
5.2 OTC Patient Care Protocols