A provision in New Jersey's Athletic Trainer Compact bill will let licensed trainers from other states work in NJ without NJ licensure—and that changes how health services must operate.
Most New Jersey health services owners don't realize that S4113, which enters the state into the Athletic Trainer Compact, contains a provision that fundamentally changes who can legally practice athletic training in the state—and how your business manages compliance.
Here's what's happening: Once New Jersey joins the compact, athletic trainers licensed in any other member state can practice in New Jersey under what's called a "compact privilege" without obtaining a separate New Jersey license. This is not a reciprocal licensing agreement. It's a direct grant of practice rights that bypasses the traditional state licensing pathway.
If you operate a sports clinic, physical therapy practice, gym, school athletic program, or any health service that employs or contracts with athletic trainers, you now face a new operational reality. You must be able to verify whether an athletic trainer holds a valid license in a compact member state and confirm their eligibility to practice under compact privilege in New Jersey. This verification responsibility falls on the employer or facility, not the state.
The practical impact: your compliance burden increases. You're now managing two categories of athletic trainers—those with New Jersey licenses and those practicing under compact privilege—each with different regulatory standing. Your HR and credentialing processes need to account for this distinction.
For New Jersey-licensed athletic trainers, the competitive landscape shifts. Out-of-state trainers can now enter the New Jersey market without paying New Jersey licensing fees or meeting New Jersey-specific requirements. This creates a lower-barrier entry point for practitioners from other states.
For the state itself, this eliminates a revenue stream. New Jersey will no longer collect licensing fees from athletic trainers who choose to practice here under compact privilege rather than obtaining state licensure.
S4113 becomes effective immediately upon enactment. However, the Athletic Trainer Compact itself activates only after seven member states have enacted it. Until that threshold is reached, the compact privilege provision remains dormant. Once the seventh state enacts its version, the compact activates and out-of-state athletic trainers can begin practicing in New Jersey under compact privilege.
The relevant sections governing this provision are found in Article IV and Article V of the bill text (pages 1–2 of S4113 as introduced).
If you employ or contract with athletic trainers, review your credentialing and verification procedures. Understand which states are compact members and what documentation you'll need to confirm compact privilege eligibility. Consider whether your liability insurance and employment agreements address practitioners operating under compact privilege versus traditional licensure.
This is a structural change to the regulatory environment, not a temporary policy shift. Planning ahead ensures your business stays compliant and avoids gaps in your verification processes.
For a detailed, business-specific guide to the Athletic Trainer Compact's operational requirements, contact your state health services association or licensing counsel.