Mercer University’s inaugural class of Master of Athletic Training (MAT) students recently achieved a 100% first-time pass rate on the Board of Certification (BOC) exam.

“We are very proud of this inaugural cohort,” said Dr. Bill Holcomb, program director and professor of athletic training. “These students worked very hard for two years as our program was evolving, and we congratulate them on this tremendous accomplishment.” 

The BOC was incorporated in 1989 to provide a certification program for entry-level athletic trainers. It is recognized by all state regulatory agencies to meet the exam requirement to practice as an athletic trainer.

The national average for first-time pass rate in 2019-2020 was 77.6%. Data from the 2020-2021 exam cycle will be available in 2021.

Mercer’s College of Health Professions launched the MAT program on the Macon campus in June 2018 and graduated its first class in May. In April, the program was awarded full accreditation status by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education.

“I congratulate Dr. Holcomb, the athletic training faculty, students and staff for their commitment to excellence,” said Dr. Lisa Lundquist, dean of the College of Health Professions. “The time, effort and focus to ensure these students are practice-ready upon graduation is commendable.”

The six-semester, 70-credit-hour program pairs classroom-based instruction with clinical laboratory courses and clinical experiences. Students are led by a distinguished faculty of athletic trainers and clinical experts and receive hands-on instruction from trained preceptors in a variety of clinical settings.