Finding and hiring qualified Certified Athletic Trainers (ATs) has become a challenge for many schools, hospitals, colleges, and sports organizations. Whether you're trying to fill a full-time position, replace a departing Athletic Trainer, or expand your sports medicine program, recruiting the right candidate requires more than simply posting a job opening.
FLEX Performance provides specialized Athletic Trainer Recruiting Services, helping employers identify, evaluate, and hire qualified Athletic Trainers for permanent positions nationwide.
As an Athletic Trainer-owned and operated company, FLEX understands the profession, the employment market, and what candidates look for when considering new opportunities.
Why Is It Difficult to Recruit Athletic Trainers?
Recruiting Athletic Trainers can be challenging because employers compete for a specialized group of healthcare professionals with specific education, certification, and state licensing requirements.
Several factors can make positions difficult to fill:
Compensation that may not align with candidate expectations.
Evening, weekend, and seasonal scheduling requirements.
Geographic location and willingness to relocate.
Limited professional development or advancement opportunities.
Competition from hospitals, colleges, professional sports organizations, and other employers.
Job responsibilities that extend beyond traditional athletic training coverage.
Employers may receive applications but still struggle to identify candidates who have the necessary credentials, clinical experience, and interest in the position.
What Are Athletic Trainer Recruiting Services?
Athletic Trainer Recruiting Services help employers identify and hire qualified Athletic Trainers for permanent employment.
Unlike temporary staffing, where a staffing company employs the Athletic Trainer, direct-hire recruitment focuses on finding a candidate who will become an employee of the hiring organization.
FLEX Performance assists employers with candidate sourcing, initial screening, credential review, candidate introductions, and interview coordination.
The employer retains responsibility for final interviews, hiring decisions, compensation, and employment.
How Does FLEX Performance Recruit Certified Athletic Trainers?
FLEX Performance uses a targeted recruiting approach built around the Athletic Training profession.
Our recruiting process includes:
Position Review: We review the employer's job description, responsibilities, compensation, schedule, and required qualifications.
Candidate Sourcing: We identify prospective candidates through Athletic Training professional networks, recruiting channels, and targeted outreach.
Initial Screening: We evaluate candidates' credentials, experience, career interests, and alignment with the position.
Candidate Presentation: We introduce qualified candidates to the employer for consideration.
Interview Coordination: We assist with candidate communication, interviews, and the hiring process.
Placement Support: We help coordinate the transition from candidate selection to employment.
Our goal is to provide employers with qualified, interested candidates rather than simply forwarding resumes.
What Types of Organizations Can Use Athletic Trainer Recruiting Services?
FLEX Performance recruits Athletic Trainers for organizations across the United States, including:
Hospitals and Healthcare Systems
Hospitals frequently employ Athletic Trainers to provide outreach services to local high schools, support orthopedic and rehabilitation programs, and expand community sports medicine services.
High Schools and School Districts
Schools may recruit Athletic Trainers for full-time or part-time positions supporting student-athlete healthcare, injury prevention, concussion management, and emergency response.
Colleges and Universities
Collegiate athletic departments require Athletic Trainers with experience supporting competitive athletic programs, rehabilitation, injury management, and team travel.
Professional and Youth Sports Organizations
Professional teams, academies, and youth sports organizations may need Athletic Trainers with specialized experience in their respective sports and competitive environments.
Industrial and Occupational Health Employers
Employers in physically demanding industries increasingly utilize Athletic Trainers for injury prevention, early intervention, ergonomic education, and employee health programs.
What Qualifications Should Employers Look for When Hiring an Athletic Trainer?
Employers should evaluate both clinical qualifications and the candidate's ability to succeed in the specific work environment.
Important considerations include:
Board of Certification (BOC) certification.
Applicable state licensure or eligibility for licensure.
Education from an accredited Athletic Training program.
Current emergency response and CPR/AED qualifications.
Clinical experience relevant to the position.
Communication and documentation skills.
Ability to collaborate with physicians and other healthcare professionals.
Experience working independently when required.
FLEX Performance understands these qualifications because our recruiting team comes from the Athletic Training profession.
How Much Does It Cost to Recruit an Athletic Trainer?
The cost of recruiting an Athletic Trainer depends on the position, hiring requirements, compensation, and recruitment agreement.
One common arrangement is contingency-based direct-hire recruitment, where the recruiting agency earns a placement fee only when a referred candidate is successfully hired and begins employment.
Placement fees are commonly structured as a percentage of the employee's first-year base salary.
For example, under a hypothetical 20% placement fee agreement, an Athletic Trainer hired at a $70,000 annual base salary would result in a one-time $14,000 recruitment fee.
FLEX Performance provides recruitment proposals based on the employer's specific needs. Fees, exclusivity, payment terms, and any replacement-search provisions are established in the agreement.
What If Our Athletic Trainer Salary Is Not Competitive?
Compensation is one of the most important factors in recruiting qualified Athletic Trainers.
Employers should evaluate the complete employment opportunity, including base salary, benefits, work schedule, location, professional development, and advancement opportunities.
Sign-on bonuses and relocation assistance can help attract candidates, but they do not necessarily replace the need for a competitive base salary.
FLEX Performance works with employers to review the position and identify potential recruiting challenges before beginning a search.
When candidate expectations do not align with an employer's compensation package, we can provide feedback to help the organization make informed hiring decisions.
Can FLEX Performance Recruit Athletic Trainers Outside California?
Yes. FLEX Performance offers direct-hire Athletic Trainer recruitment services nationwide.
Our recruiting services are not limited to the states where FLEX currently provides contracted Athletic Training coverage.
For positions requiring relocation, we can identify candidates who are interested in moving and review their eligibility to obtain the necessary state credentials.
Final licensure verification and employment requirements remain the responsibility of the hiring organization.
What Is the Difference Between Direct-Hire Recruiting and Temporary Athletic Trainer Staffing?
Direct-hire recruiting and temporary staffing serve different needs.
Direct-Hire Recruiting: FLEX identifies and refers qualified candidates for permanent employment with the client. The employer hires and manages the selected Athletic Trainer directly.
Temporary Athletic Trainer Staffing: FLEX provides an Athletic Trainer for a defined assignment or coverage period under a staffing agreement.
Some organizations need both services.
For example, a hospital may engage FLEX to recruit a permanent Athletic Trainer while also arranging temporary coverage to maintain sports medicine services during the hiring process.
How Long Does It Take to Recruit an Athletic Trainer?
Recruitment timelines vary depending on the position's compensation, geographic location, qualifications, schedule, and candidate availability.
Positions in rural communities, those requiring relocation, and positions with specialized responsibilities may require additional recruiting time.
FLEX Performance works with employers to establish realistic expectations and communicate throughout the recruiting process.
Although no recruiting agency can guarantee an exact hiring timeline, a targeted search can help employers reach candidates beyond those actively applying to public job postings.
Why Choose FLEX Performance for Athletic Trainer Recruiting?
FLEX Performance was founded and is operated by Certified Athletic Trainers who understand the clinical and operational demands of the profession.
We do more than recruit Athletic Trainers. We employ and manage Athletic Trainers working in high schools, colleges, professional sports, and other healthcare environments.
That experience gives us firsthand insight into:
The qualifications required for different Athletic Training positions.
The compensation and scheduling factors that influence candidate interest.
The challenges employers face when trying to fill vacant positions.
The importance of finding candidates who are a good fit for both the organization and the position.
Our goal is to help employers build sustainable Athletic Training programs through effective recruiting and staffing solutions.
How Do I Get Started With Athletic Trainer Recruiting Services?
If your hospital, school, college, sports organization, or company is struggling to hire a Certified Athletic Trainer, FLEX Performance can help.
We begin by reviewing your open position, staffing needs, compensation, and hiring timeline. From there, we can recommend a direct-hire recruitment strategy, temporary staffing support, or a combination of both.
Contact FLEX Performance to discuss Athletic Trainer Recruiting Services and request a recruitment proposal.
FLEX Performance LLC
Email: flex.admin@flexperformance.net
Phone: (916) 467-9509
Website: flexperformance.net
