Master of Athletic Training (M.A.T.) Degree Earns CAATE Accreditation
May 26, 2022

Angelo State University’s Master of Athletic Training (M.A.T.) graduate degree program has earned accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) with the initial accreditation in place through the 2026-27 academic year.
Earning CAATE accreditation means that ASU graduates of the M.A.T. programs will be eligible to sit for the Board of Certification (BOC) examination to become Certified Athletic Trainers.
ASU launched its M.A.T. program in 2020 and graduated the first five students with their M.A.T. degrees earlier this month. With ASU earning CAATE accreditation, those five students are now eligible to take the BOC examination as early as this summer.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment opportunities for Certified Athletic Trainers are expected to increase by nearly 25% through 2030. Nine ASU students just completed their first year in the M.A.T. program, and eight new students will begin the program in June.
The initial CAATE accreditation process takes over a year to complete and includes a self-study by the university, followed by a peer review to validate the self-study and evaluate the program’s compliance with the 2020 CAATE Standards for Accreditation of Professional Athletic Training Programs. There are currently 94 Standards that must be met in four categories:
- Program Design and Quality
- Program Delivery
- Institutional Organization and Administration
- Curricular Content
The Peer Review Report is then evaluated by a Review Committee, which gives a recommendation to the CAATE Commission that makes a final decision on accreditation.
ASU earned the maximum initial accreditation period of five years. Subsequent re-accreditations will last for up to 10 years. The review for ASU’s first re-accreditation will take place during the 2026-27 academic year.