225 ILCS 5/1

The General Assembly finds that athletic training in the State of Illinois affects the public health, welfare, and safety and its regulation and control to be in the public interest. It is further found and declared that, as a matter of public policy in the public interest, athletic trainers, as defined in this Act, merit and receive the understanding and confidence of the public and, to this end, that only qualified persons be permitted to hold themselves out to the public as athletic trainers in the State of Illinois. This Act shall be liberally construed to best carry out these findings and purposes.