Becoming an athletic trainer is no easy task. After an undergraduate degree with a major in athletic training and often a graduate degree, candidates must be certified before they can get a job in their field. They study, they work hard and they want to be recognized for that — which is why they will correct you if you happen to omit the word "athletic" in their title.

"It’s important that we are identified as who we are," said National Athletic Trainers’ Association President Chuck Kimmel. "As athletic trainers, we are proud of our education, our certification and the licensure that we have in many states that many professions don’t enjoy."

Kimmel pointed out that being called simply a "trainer" lumps athletic trainers in with personal trainers, a profession that does not have requirements that are as stringent and that occasionally receives negative publicity.

"We’re not those other professions. The fact is that most people who practice those other professions do it ethically," he said. "But the preparation for being a personal trainer is not nearly as rigorous as it is for an athletic trainer. That distinction needs to be clearly drawn. ... I just think the public needs to know who they’re dealing with."

Even preferable to athletic trainer would be "certified athletic trainer," but Kimmel said he thinks the title might just be too cumbersome for common use.

"We would prefer that," he said. "I wouldn’t say it’s a bad idea, I just don’t know that it would catch on."