Achieving Certification in Physical Education: A Comprehensive Guide

Physical education plays a vital role in the holistic development of children, fostering not only physical skills but also social, emotional, and cognitive growth. Becoming a certified physical education teacher requires a dedicated commitment to promoting healthy lifestyles and developing students' physical literacy. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the requirements and pathways to obtaining physical education certification, focusing on key aspects such as educational programs, practical experience, and state-specific regulations.

The Role of a Physical Educator

Physical educators are responsible for teaching Pre-Kindergarten through grade twelve children the performance and understanding of basic motor skills, games, and lifelong fitness activities as well as the social and personal skills related to participating in physical activities. Physical Educators at all levels are responsible for addressing these skills on a continuum of ability levels to include meeting the needs of children with disabilities. The competency of basic locomotor and non-locomotor movements in various forms and patterns is the focus at the elementary level. At the elementary level, an elementary curriculum will include instruction in psychomotor skills such as running, walking, hopping, jumping, kicking, throwing, and striking. The middle school physical education teacher typically works with grades 6-8. They are responsible for the future development of motor and non-locomotor movements through an array of varied organized individual and team activities, stressing social skills in the curriculum. Secondary physical education (grades 9-12) stresses participation in life long activities such as aerobics, rock climbing, hiking, biking, jogging, and functional training. The high school curriculum encourages students to become proficient in activities that can be experienced over a lifetime. Some schools offer a wellness curriculum for their students that emphasize a holistic approach to wellness, including classes in first aid, interpersonal relationships, sexuality, and nutrition in addition to sport and movement activities.

Educational Pathways to Certification

A bachelor's degree is a foundational requirement for physical education certification. Undergraduate programs typically offer specialized tracks, such as the Health and Physical Education (HPE) Emphasis, which leads to certification in states like Pennsylvania and many others. These programs prepare students to teach grades Pre K-12 in health and physical education, as well as coach in a variety of settings.

Key Components of HPE Programs

Practical Experience: A crucial aspect of these programs is providing teacher candidates with practical opportunities to work with students in Pre K-12 settings.
Up-to-Date Content and Methods: Teacher candidates learn to incorporate current knowledge and techniques to promote physically active and healthy lifestyles for youth.
Instructional Strategies: Programs emphasize the development of instructional strategies aimed toward Pre K-12 students to encourage the practice and promotion of health, wellness, and physical education.
Fitness-Enhancing Activities: Candidates learn to engage students in understanding and performing activities that contribute to disease prevention, enjoyment, challenge, self-expression, and social interactions.
Health Skills Development: Programs focus on how to develop lessons and presentations utilizing health skills such as analyzing influences, accessing information, interpersonal communication, decision making, goal setting, self-management, and advocacy, aligning with the National Health Education Standards.

Curriculum Considerations

High school courses in areas like fitness, sport, biology, anatomy and physiology, and exercise physiology provide a solid foundation for college study. Courses in child development (emotional, social, and physical) are also beneficial.

State-Specific Requirements

Students who plan to work in public schools must be licensed or certified in the state in which they teach. Private and parochial schools vary in their requirements for teaching certification. It is essential to research the specific requirements of the state where you intend to teach, as they can vary significantly.

Pennsylvania as an Example

In Pennsylvania, students must meet requirements mandated by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE). An example of a program that leads to certification in Pennsylvania is Eastern University's Health and Physical Education Certification program which prepares teachers and educational practitioners who can serve in a variety of school settings. Students are trained to communicate effectively, think critically, embrace cultural and linguistic diversity, implement wellness curriculum, practice inclusive interventions, learn independently and collaboratively, and serve competently in their chosen field. Students who seek similar credentialing in states other than Pennsylvania are advised to contact the appropriate credentialing agency within their home state to seek information and additional guidance about credentialing in your state of residence. Additional state or local district requirements may exist for field placements in this state. Out-of-state student placements cannot be guaranteed by the program or the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences.

Louisiana as an Example

In Louisiana, teacher candidates will have to meet certain criteria for certification. Have an overall undergraduate GPA of 2.2 or higher; students with less than a 2.2 GPA may be admitted conditionally. Candidates will receive, during their initial consult, a course prescriptive form from the Office of Student Services in the College of Education and Human Development. The School of Kinesiology may require additional coursework to be completed prior to acceptance into the PBC. Professional Education Course Requirements (22 cr. No final grade below “C” accepted for any professional education or specialized academic education course required for this certification. You must complete 6 credit hours of either the academic internship or the teacher residency as part of the Certification-Only Program requirements. The academic internship or the teacher residency must be completed in two consecutive semesters as required by the Louisiana Department of Education. The Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) (5622, 5623, or 5624) and 10 credit hours of course work must be passed prior to registering for the academic internship or the teacher residency. If the Louisiana Department of Education issued you a Practitioner’s License 2 (PL2) and you have 0-2 years of teaching experience in your certification area, you may be eligible for the academic internship. The academic internship begins only in the fall semester and is one full school year, or two consecutive semesters. The academic internship must be completed in two consecutive semesters as required by the Louisiana Department of Education. Candidates are required to register for EDCI 485 (3 cr. hrs.) in the fall semester and EDCI 487 (3 cr. The approval to enroll in the academic internship will be given by the Director of the Office of Teacher Clinical Experiences. You must submit a copy of the contract from the school system in which you are teaching, or you must submit a letter (on school letterhead) from the principal verifying at least one year of full-time employment relevant to your certification area during enrollment in the program. NOTE: The letter from the principal must specifically state the subject area and grade level you are currently teaching. You must complete the teacher residency if you currently do not have a teaching job. The teacher residency is a year-long residency which consist of EDCI 485 (3 cr. hrs.) in the fall semester and EDCI 487 (3 cr. hrs.) in the spring semester. The approval to enroll for the teacher residency will be given by the Director of the Office of Teacher Clinical Experiences. Upon approval, it is your responsibility to register for the appropriate course and pay the fees for the required courses. The Director of the Office of Teacher Clinical Experiences will assign you to a school based on your certification area. Candidates will complete Residency I and Residency II under the supervision of the cooperating teacher at the assigned school. You must submit proof of affiliation with a professional educational organization offering education liability insurance, such as A+PEL, LAE, LAHPERD, Kappa Delta Pi, etc.

Key Considerations for Out-of-State Students

Students pursuing certification outside of their state of residence should:

Contact the Credentialing Agency: Reach out to the appropriate agency in their home state for information and guidance.
Inquire About Additional Requirements: Be aware that additional state or local district requirements may exist for field placements.
Understand Placement Guarantees: Recognize that out-of-state student placements cannot be guaranteed by the program or the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences.

Demonstrating Pedagogical Competence

Teacher candidates must demonstrate pedagogical competence according to performance and professional dispositions rubrics/standards set forth by the program and The College of Education.

Continuing Education and Advancement

Soon after being hired, most states require physical educators to earn advance credits or degrees. As hired physical educators become more experienced and educated, they may find individual advancement in the form of higher pay. Some physical educators advance in administrative roles as either a director of physical education, adapted physical education, athletic director, or school principal.

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Professional Organizations

The Student SIG serves its members by fostering active student involvement and networking within SHAPE America and developing a community of students committed to the advancement of physical education, physical activity and health education. The SIG promotes opportunities for SHAPE America student members to participate in professional development and pursue and explore current interests/trends while participating in leadership and engagement opportunities to promote the profession.

Alternative Paths and Considerations

Some individuals pursue the field of physical education because of an affection with their own schooling and physical education experience. Some individuals discover their love of teaching movement through prior work related experiences. It is suggested that young people interested in the field obtain work experience that involves working with children, sport, and movement activities. With an undergraduate degree, graduates may acquire a full time position immediately or they may find that they have to take part time work until a full time position opens. It is advantageous if a graduate is willing to accept a position in more than one district and/or state as well as with various grade levels. Some physical educators choose to coach or officiate as well. To teach within these programs, it is wise for a student studying to be a physical education teacher to complete health courses or acquire a health license in addition to a physical education license. Membership in Future Teachers of America or similar high school organizations such as Big Brother/Big Sister programs is also suggested.

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