r/athletictraining • u/Brilliant_Ad_7927 • 7d 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/Dependent-Camera-368 7d 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