Physical Education Teachers: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of physical education teachers about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for physical education teachers to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of physical education teachers expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for physical education teachers.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Physical Education Teachers?
Do physical education teachers need a degree? What kind of experience do physical education teachers typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for physical education teachers to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Physical Education Teachers
Jobs Postings for Physical Education Teachers By Education
- Master's degree: 19,807 (32%)
- Bachelor's degree: 13,734 (23%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 13,092 (21%)
- No Education Listed: 10,240 (17%)
- High School or GED: 4,138 (7%)
A master's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of physical education teachers. According to job data, a master's degree was required for 32% of positions. In 23% of job listings a bachelor's degree was required and in 21% of postings a ph.d. or professional degree was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Physical Education Teachers
Jobs Postings for Physical Education Teachers By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 3,485 (28%)
- 2-3 Years: 5,989 (48%)
- 4-6 Years: 2,323 (19%)
- 7-9 Years: 292 (2%)
- 10+ Years: 423 (3%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for physical education teachers. In 48% of job postings for Physical Education Teachers, employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience. In 28% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 0-1 years of experience, while 4-6 years of experience was sought in 19% of job postings for physical education teachers.
What Kind of Degree Do Physical Education Teachers Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for physical education teachers, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 15 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective physical education teachers, and in 2021 a total of 556,133 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective physical education teachers.
Top Degree Programs for Physical Education Teachers
Top 5 Degree Programs for Physical Education Teachers (2021)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies. | 366,667 |
| General Studies. | 129,753 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, Other. | 37,634 |
| Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General. | 9,051 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods, Other. | 6,141 |
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies. | 366,667 |
| General Studies. | 129,753 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, Other. | 37,634 |
| Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General. | 9,051 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods, Other. | 6,141 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas, Other. | 2,323 |
| Teacher Assistant/Aide. | 1,740 |
| Bilingual and Multilingual Education. | 1,302 |
| Teaching Assistants/Aides, Other. | 728 |
| Multicultural Education. | 354 |
| Montessori Teacher Education. | 252 |
| Online Educator/Online Teaching. | 79 |
| Driver and Safety Teacher Education. | 55 |
| Indian/Native American Education. | 34 |
| Adult Literacy Tutor/Instructor. | 20 |
Top Online College For Working Adults
Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Degree Options for Physical Education Teachers
Focus your online doctorate in educational technology at Franklin University and earn an Ed.D. Instructional Technology degree (Doctor of Education in Instructional Design Leadership).
- Years To Complete: 3
Become a stronger and more confident and conscious leader with Franklin’s 3-year Ed.D. doctorate with a focus on Higher Education. In this 100% online program, you’ll learn and apply theoretical frameworks and data-informed leadership skills across different organizational contexts within the college and university setting.
- Years To Complete: 3
Educational and business settings need effective and ethical leaders. Franklin’s 3-year Ed.D. with a focus on Organization Leadership equips you to become a transformative leader. With this 100% online doctor of education, you’ll develop expertise in educational technology, data-driven decision making and real-world change management.
- Years To Complete: 3
Become a more relevant and responsive leader with a 100% online Ed.D. in PK-12 Leadership from Franklin. This 3-year program will help you become a visionary leader ready to solve the learning, technology and cultural challenges facing PK-12 districts and schools.
- Years To Complete: 3
What Skills Do Physical Education Teachers Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by physical education teachers to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for physical education teachers, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Physical Education Teachers
Based on 43,553 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Physical Education Teachers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Curriculum Development | 3,397 | 8% |
| Lesson Planning | 3,034 | 7% |
| Pedagogy | 2,843 | 7% |
| Physical Education | 2,183 | 5% |
| Social Sciences | 2,107 | 5% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Physical Education Teachers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Teaching | 28,974 | 67% |
| Communications | 13,057 | 30% |
| Multilingualism | 7,948 | 18% |
| Research | 7,832 | 18% |
| Writing | 6,581 | 15% |
Based on 43,553 job postings related to physical education teachers, curriculum development was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 8% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for lesson planning, pedagogy, physical education, social sciences and bilingual (spanish/english) were also highly sought.
As for common skills, teaching was the most desired skill found in job postings for physical education teachers, followed by communications, multilingualism, research, writing and english language.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Curriculum Development | 3,397 | 8% |
| Lesson Planning | 3,034 | 7% |
| Pedagogy | 2,843 | 7% |
| Physical Education | 2,183 | 5% |
| Social Sciences | 2,107 | 5% |
| Bilingual (Spanish/English) | 2,018 | 5% |
| Learning Management Systems | 1,969 | 5% |
| Online Teaching | 1,871 | 4% |
| Student Engagement | 1,867 | 4% |
| Merchandising | 1,762 | 4% |
| Classroom Management | 1,751 | 4% |
| Nursing | 1,668 | 4% |
| Powertrain | 1,632 | 4% |
| Biology | 1,587 | 4% |
| Special Education | 1,554 | 4% |
| Syllabus Development | 1,530 | 4% |
| Psychology | 1,524 | 3% |
| Colocation | 1,513 | 3% |
| Computer Science | 1,440 | 3% |
| Lecturing | 1,413 | 3% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Teaching | 28,974 | 67% |
| Communications | 13,057 | 30% |
| Multilingualism | 7,948 | 18% |
| Research | 7,832 | 18% |
| Writing | 6,581 | 15% |
| English Language | 5,344 | 12% |
| Management | 4,514 | 10% |
| Leadership | 4,422 | 10% |
| Planning | 4,339 | 10% |
| Innovation | 3,716 | 9% |
| Mentorship | 3,498 | 8% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 3,367 | 8% |
| Spanish Language | 3,159 | 7% |
| Mathematics | 3,155 | 7% |
| Advising | 3,082 | 7% |
| Customer Service | 2,698 | 6% |
| Sales | 2,427 | 6% |
| Ethical Standards And Conduct | 2,323 | 5% |
| Problem Solving | 2,156 | 5% |
| Coordinating | 1,850 | 4% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about physical education teachers? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for physical education teachers.
What do physical education teachers do?
How much do physical education teachers make?
All Occupations
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has compiled data for dozens of in-demand jobs. Explore our full catalog of occupation data by visiting the link below.