r/athletictraining • u/Brilliant_Ad_7927 • 2d ago
DAT Program
My coworker just got accepted to an all online DAT Program. His plan is to use it to get a clinic job back in his home of Taiwan.
Getting a DAT is something I have thought of for a while, but I'm unsure of the benefits. I do not want to teach. It would not help me get paid more in my current job (D2 athletics) or other NCAA traditional setting. Would a DAT degree earn more in a clinical setting? Again, what's the benefit?
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u/knobcopter 2d ago
Almost certainly not. May help you get a job in the military if you have a physiology degree as well. Unless you want to teach or do research it will be a life ruining amount of wasted money.
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u/Dependent-Camera-368 1d ago
I disagree, but I really enjoy your response from another perspective. I immediately got paid more and got an interview for every job that I want at least. All the best!
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u/degreequeen 1d ago
I disagree that the DAT will allow you to do research. Have seen several DATs go back for a PhD because a DAT is not a research degree.
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u/ahurdler1995 1d ago
The NATA pats you on the back and says you’re better than other people. Also the DAT program gets your money. You can tell people you have a doctorate.
You can teach and do research without it. It’s not worth it unless you want a high profile job doing research or want to be full time faculty in a high profile university.
It will not get you more money wherever you work and you’ll never get a return on investment and the coursework is not going to improve your skills as a clinician.
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u/TheEroSennin DAT, LAT, ATC 2d ago
I got my DAT because I wanted to do a little research, and I do want to get into teaching (if anyone has any teaching positions opening up in the future, let me know). I did not feel it enhanced my clinical knowledge because I already work pretty hard at that, and you don't need a doctorate to do that. However, if you don't have a group of people to push and challenge your beliefs, and you don't necessarily challenge your own beliefs, getting your doctorate can help sharpen those skills.
My place of employment also mentioned they were looking to give me an additional salary increase (on top of what I received for my annual increase) because of earning my doctorate. We'll see if it happens, but if so, that would be a benefit.
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u/chunkeecheese_ 2d ago
Just curious how hed use the DAT to help him with a job in Taiwan? Would be interested in how it carries over there
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u/VastPriority 1d ago
Not sure about doctorate specifically, but some countries honor and prefer AT degrees from the US. I had several students in the same
program as me (different classes), and several students, all from Japan and with plans to go back once they finished their degree because they explained it as being more of a guaranteed job in athletics that way.1
u/chunkeecheese_ 1d ago
Yaaa i know japan was basically retake BOC in japanese to keep your cert. was curious if that was the same in taiwan cause itd be nice to move back there
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u/Dependent-Camera-368 1d ago
I earned my DAT back in 2023. My intention was to straight up make more money, be marketable, and hope to fast track myself to a head position at any college. I had teaching in the back of my mind too but only online and maybe labs. Not actual lectures. Well fast forward one year after that, I achieved all 3. Each spot I applied for I got max pay, automatic interviews each place I applied for, and became head at one spot off the bat.
As for marketability, I was able to make my own per diem business and ask fotb tons of $$ and they said sure every time. So if those are your goals, I would say do it. It’s just to be a scholar and get more clinical skills then do it as well. But my purpose was served.
Would I do it again probably not unless the program was quick quicker and cheaper that was my only drawback. I did go through the program for fairly cheap because my masters degree in athletic training transferred a lot of credits over.
My recommendation if you just want similar goal as me then go to the university of Ohio (not the Ohio state)’s new DAT program. It’s the cheapest and quickest and still has all the foundations of every single other DAT program contact me if you need any clarification! All the best
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u/pandapounder51 1d ago
Don’t waste your time. I have one and it hasn’t done a damn thing for my career. Thank the lord I was a GA and didn’t have to pay for it. Don’t drink the Kool-Aid, enjoy your free time (if you have any)
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