Athletic trainers.

Existing law provides for the regulation of various professions and vocations, including those of an athlete agent. This bill would make it unlawful for any person to hold himself or herself out as an athletic trainer or a certified athletic trainer, or to use specified terms to imply or suggest that the person is an athletic trainer, unless he or she is certified by the Board of Certification, Inc., and has either graduated from a college or university, after completing an accredited athletic training education program, as specified, or completed eligibility requirements for certification by the Board of Certification, Inc., prior to January 1, 2004. The bill would make it an unfair business practice to use the title "athletic trainer," "certified athletic trainer," or other specified terms that imply or suggest that the person is an athletic trainer if he or she does not meet the requirements described above. This bill, notwithstanding these provisions, would authorize a person who has worked as an athletic trainer in California for a period of 20 consecutive years prior to January 1, 2015, and who is not otherwise eligible to use the title "athletic trainer," to use that title.