For the third consecutive year, 100 percent of Ohio Northern University graduates who took the athletic training Board of Certification exam passed on their first attempt. ONU is one of only three professional programs in the state of Ohio to achieve a 100 percent first-time passage rate for three straight years. Ohio State University and Denison University are the other two schools to accomplish this feat.

The Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) released the results, which showed that ONU was one of 55 professional programs across the country to have a 100 percent first time passage rate during 2011-2013. A total of 358 professional programs had had students challenge the BOC exam during the 2011-13 academic years; the average passage rate for first-time students was 82 percent.

Michelle Wilson, ONU associate professor of athletic training and athletic training program director, “We are extremely proud of our athletic training program graduates who have achieved this outstanding success on the national certification examination.  This is a true testament to the quality and dedication of our students, faculty, staff and administration, and demonstrates our graduates are well trained for the future once they graduate.”

All CAATE-accredited athletic training programs are required to demonstrate a 70 percent, three-year aggregate first-time passage rate on the board of certification exam, and, as of 2014-15, programs failing to meet this standard will have their accreditation status changed to “probation.” 

 In 2013, the Ohio Northern University athletic training program received the maximum continuing accreditation award of 10 years from CAATE. The ONU program has met all of the nationally recognized Standards for Accreditation of Professional Athletic Training Programs as set by the CAATE. ONU’s program was initially accredited in 1998.

ONU is one of 26 professional (entry-level) programs accredited in the state of Ohio and one of more than 350 professional programs accredited nationally. ONU’s athletic training program, which has four full-time faculty and three full-time staff members, strives to offer athletic training students the academic and professional services they need to become certified athletic trainers.

ONU offers students a unique and comprehensive educational and clinical foundation relating to the profession of athletic training and strives to promote excellence through scholarship, skill and professionalism.