As sports’ exposure at Iowa State increases, so does the exposure that educational programs associated with ISU athletics receive.

The ISU Athletic Training Education Program became only the second of two Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs to be accredited in athletic training in the state.

The training program is run by the athletic department and the Iowa State University department of Health and Human Performance.

The certification of the program comes after nearly three and a half years of evaluation.

ISU Curriculum Director Mary Meir said that the accreditation will help the recruitment of students and increase awareness in the program.

“This gives us better credibility and national recognition,” Meir said. “This is actually something we’ve been doing for a long time.”

Approximately 35 students apply to the program each year but heavy competition keeps more than half of them out with only 15 admitted.

Assistant Athletics Director Frank Randall set up the program along with C.R. Bickerstaff in the 1960s.

Randall said that Iowa State requires students to do more training, which creates a stronger background for graduates coming from Iowa State.

“The main thing is that this finally gives nation recognition for a training program that’s been one of the nation’s top programs for almost 30 years now,” he said.