Modernizing Athletic Training in New Jersey: Why A-1446 Matters
*UPDATE: S317/A1446 has officially been signed into law by Governor Phil Murphy on October 20, 2025!
Congratulations to our client, the Athletic Trainers’ Society of New Jersey and TZG’s Eric Orlando and Karlito Almeda on this major victory for athletic trainers in NJ. Introduced in the Senate in 2024, this legislation marks the first major update to New Jersey’s Athletic Trainer Licensure Act since the 2006–2007 Legislative Session. With its passage, the law expands care beyond athletes to all physically active people, raises education requirements to a master’s degree and modernizes the definition of athletic training to reflect today’s full scope of care.
Next, the Athletic Trainer Advisory Committee will develop comprehensive rules and regulations to implement these updates, ensuring that New Jersey’s athletic trainers can fully utilize their training and expertise to serve their communities.
On June 12, 2025, Eric Orlando of The Zita Group testified before the Assembly Oversight, Reform, and Federal Relations Committee on behalf of our clients, the Athletic Trainers’ Society of New Jersey (ATSNJ), in support of A-1446. A-1446 aims to update the “Athletic Trainer Licensure Act” for the first time since the 2006-2007 Legislative Session.
What is A-1446?
A-1446 would modernize and revise New Jersey’s “Athletic Trainer Licensure Act” for the first time since 2007. These long-overdue updates reflect how the profession has evolved and ensures that athletic trainers are able to serve the broader needs of New Jersey residents.
Key amendments include:
- Expands who athletic trainers can treat by replacing the term “athlete” with “physically active person” which includes individuals involved in sports, performing arts, recreation, employment, or military service.
- Aligns NJ law with neighboring states such as New York, Pennsylvania and Connecticut.
- Updates NJ’s athletic training licensure standards to align with national certification and education requirements and increases educational standards to a master’s degree for state licensure.
- Updates and clarifies the definition of “athletic training” to reflect the actual scope of the profession, including a clear definition of “illness” and what trainers can treat in both emergency and ongoing clinical situations.
Why It Matters
Athletic trainers are highly educated, nationally certified healthcare professionals who play a critical role in injury prevention, emergency care, and rehabilitation. However, current New Jersey law limits their ability to serve a broader population due to outdated definitions and restrictions. A-1446 addresses this by expanding access to care, reducing regulatory confusion and ensuring trainers can fully apply their education and training within appropriate boundaries. The legislation gives the profession of athletic training the ability to meet the real-world needs of patients at schools, in workplaces or everyday life.
Looking Ahead
With Assembly Oversight, Reform, and Federal Regulations Committee approval secured, A-1446 heads to the Assembly Appropriations Committee and S-317 in the Senate for a floor vote, potentially by the end of June.
If enacted, A-1446 will bring New Jersey’s licensure standards in line with national best practices and advance the profession to the benefit of healthcare consumers statewide. It will help attract and retain top talent, expand access to care, and ensure athletic trainers continue delivering high-quality, accessible healthcare services across a variety of settings.
To learn more about A-1446, contact Eric Orlando at eorlando@tzgrp.com.
Stay tuned for more updates.
About The Zita Group
The Zita Group is a woman-owned government and public affairs firm, both founded and led by Patrizia “Trish” Zita. Our bipartisan, experienced team of strategic consultants is widely respected by elected, appointed and government officials of both parties across New Jersey’s political landscape. We provide our clients unique insights into the decision-making process at the highest levels. We bring to bear credible working relationships with executive branch officials, legislators, and staff. Our team’s effectiveness has been demonstrated again and again by the results we achieve for our clients.
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