The Program at Eastern Kentucky University has a long and proud history. Eastern's Athletic Training Program (AT Program) first received approval by the National Athletic Trainers' Association in 1980. The AT Program received its initial accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) in 1991; followed by re-accreditation in 1996 and 2002. EKU was the first university in the Commonwealth of Kentucky with a nationally accredited AT Program, and until the fall of 2005, was the only accredited AT program in the Commonwealth. Since July 1, 2006, EKU's AT Program has been accredited by the Commission on the Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE). Since inception, faculty, staff and alumni of the program have received prestigious recognition such as entry into the NATA Hall of Fame, employment positions with professional athletic teams, reputable colleges and universities, and as directors of sports medicine clinics since 1971. The program is designed for those students who want to meet the educational competencies established by the National Athletic Trainers Association Executive Committe on Education, and the standards set for credentialling as an Athletic Trainer by the Board of Certification (BOC). After completing the EKU - AT Program, a student is eligible to take the BOC examination. Passing the certification exam will broaden employment possibilities at the secondary school, college, university, professional, performing arts, and private/clinical settings.

Athletic Trainers work in a variety of settings, the traditional settings being high schools, sports medicine clinics, colleges and professional sports. Other settings include: Performing Arts (Cirque, Ballet Companies, Disney, etc) NASCAR/Indy Car Racing Teams U.S. Military Law Enforcement Physician Extenders Professional Rodeo Industrial/Corporate Setting (i.e. Boeing, Toyota, Coke, etc).