Students are admitted into the program on a competitive basis following completion of prerequisite courses (see requirements for admission). Students must also meet the "Technical Standards for the Undergraduate Athletic Training Program at Penn State University" related to the physical and psycho-emotional demands placed upon students in the major. Upon admission, students complete a 5-semester sequence of coursework and supervised clinical rotations. Students typically commit 200 to 300 hours to clinical practical experiences in each of the last 4 semesters of the program.

Students seeking to transfer from other colleges or universities will have their transcripts evaluated after acceptance to Penn State to identify those courses and credits that will be applied to completion of degree requirements. Coursework specific to athletic training will not be considered for transfer unless completed in a Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) accredited athletic training education program.

Upon graduation and successful completion of the national BOC examination, students may seek employment in various professional settings including: professional sports, colleges and universities, secondary schools, hospitals, sports medicine clinics, industrial settings plus many more.