Predictors of Success on the NATABOC Certification Examination.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the degree to which a selected number of variables could predict success on the first attempt at the National Athletic Trainers' Association Board of Certification Examination.


METHODS
Data were obtained from the student records of subjects who were enrolled in the same undergraduate athletic training education program for a minimum of two years, maintained a minimum GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale, and had taken the National Athletic Trainers' Association Board of Certification Examination. A telephone survey of the subjects was used to supplement these records.


METHODS
Fifty-two subjects (38 male, 14 female) who had been enrolled for a mean of seven semesters (+/-2.57) participated in this study. Subjects maintained a mean overall GPA of 3.27 (+/- 0.39), with an athletic training mean GPA of 3.34 (+/-0.43) and an academic minor mean GPA of 2.91 (+/-0.46). The mean ACT composite score was 18 (+/-4.02).


METHODS
Subjects sat for the National Athletic Trainers' Association Board of Certification Examination. Examination passing status, rather than subjects' scores on individual sections, was used in the analysis.


RESULTS
Analysis using forward multiple linear regression indicated that no single independent variable predicted examination success. However, a strong interrelationship was present between several of the independent variables. Multiple discriminant analysis was used to determine the nature and strength of these interrelationships. A composite set of variables was formed to include overall academic GPA, athletic training GPA, academic minor GPA, ACT composite score, and number of semesters of university enrollment. This composite set explained 42% of the variance in predicting successful completion of the entire examination on the first attempt. The predictive power of the composite set greatly decreased after the first examination attempt.


CONCLUSIONS
Academic variables are the strongest predictors of first-time success on the overall National Athletic Trainers' Association Board of Certification Examination and its component sections.
Gary L. Harrelson is Manager at Educational Services and Technology, DCH Regional Medical Center, Adjunct Assistant Professor at University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401.
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Harrelson
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Gallaspy
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Knight
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Leaver-Dunn