Athletic Trainers in Kansas are Governed By the Kansas Board of Healing Arts

Athletic trainers are an indispensable component to scholastic athletes’ health and well-being in Kansas. Recognizing their importance, athletic trainers in the state of Kansas fall under the purview of the Kansas Board of Healing Arts. The Board of Healing Arts (“the Board”) has the authority to license, investigate, and discipline athletic trainers in the same manner as physicians, psychologists, and other health care professionals. The Board’s supervision ensures all athletic trainers are licensed and maintain the minimum level of competence required to treat athletes. Any athletic trainer falling below those standards or failing to satisfy other mandated requirements is subject to discipline. Professional licensing attorney Danielle Sanger has vigorously advocated against discipline on behalf of professional licensees, including athletic trainers, in Kansas and Missouri.

Governance of athletic trainers in Kansas is bestowed upon the Board by statute. That statute, K.S.A. 65-6901 et seq., defines an athletic trainer and a trainer’s duties. Additionally, the statute authorizes the Board to minimum standards for an athletic trainer, licensing requirements, establish regulations governing the practice of athletic training, establish fees, and grounds for discipline. Discipline under the statute includes a criminal sanction for practicing as an athletic trainer without a license which is a class b nonperson misdemeanor. The statute authorizes additional, non-criminal discipline, depending upon the nature of the violation, as denial of licensure, revocation of license, public censure, probation, or any other discipline the Board deems appropriate. The Board also had the authority to apply for an injunction from a court having jurisdiction to immediately stop a violation of the rules and regulations.

The Board is permitted to issue discipline for a number of violations. Violations under the statute are:

  • Use of alcohol and/or drugs to the “extent that it impairs the individual’s ability to engage in athletic training”;
  • Felony conviction or other action that betrays the public trust;
  • Committing fraud or misrepresentation to obtain or maintain a license;
  • Committing fraud or misrepresentation to obtain a fee or other economic benefit;
  • Incompetence, fraud, or other misrepresentation while practicing as an athletic trainer;
  • Violating, or helping someone else violate, any rule or regulation established under the statute;
  • Impersonating an athletic trainer;
  • Intentionally or negligently violating rules or regulations established by statute;
  • Violating the public trust; or
  • Professional misconduct as defined by the rules and regulations established by the statute.

To this point in 2015, the Board has levied discipline against three athletic trainers. One applicant for licensure as an athletic trainer disclosed that he had acted as and held himself out as an athletic trainer in 2014 for the Wichita High School system as well as a semi-professional soccer team without being licensed. The Board issued discipline in the nature of a public censure.   The Board also ordered the applicant to research and draft an essay on the importance of an athletic trainer’s licensing requirements and delineating the scope of practice for an athletic trainer.  

Another athletic trainer faced discipline for failing to timely renew her license.  The trainer practiced athletic training during the months in which she was unlicensed. The Board found she committed misconduct by practicing athletic training without a license. She was publically censured for her transgressions.

A third trainer was disciplined for practicing without a license. This trainer held himself out as an “Interim Head Athletic Trainer” for a community college athletic program despite failing to timely renew his license. This trainer was subject to public censure and ordered to research and draft an essay to be published for public review discussing the importance of licensing and scope of the athletic trainer’s practice.

Professional Licensing Attorney Ready to Help Fight for You

Although public censure and writing an essay does not appear to be serious punishment, any public reprimand against a professional license could have disastrous consequences. Contact Kansas Professional Licensing Defense Lawyer Danielle Sanger if you are facing discipline in Kansas or Missouri. Attorney Sanger is renowned for tirelessly fighting for her clients and obtaining just results. Call Attorney Sanger today at 785-979-4353 today to schedule a consultation.