How to Become a P.E. Teacher

Becoming a teacher, even a P.E. teacher, is not something that can be accomplished overnight. Like all teachers, a candidate for a position as a P.E. teacher must attend college and take the required education courses in order to become certified to teach physical education classes.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• High school diploma or GED
• College diploma
• Teaching certification

1. Graduate high school or obtain your GED. If you have either one, you must apply to and get accepted to a college or university. Upon acceptance, you will take entrance exams if you have not already taken your ACT or SAT tests in high school. Once you have taken the entrance exams, you can declare your major and begin choosing classes that will be credited towards your degree in education. A counselor can help you select the classes that are right for the major you have chosen.

2. 
    
   Volunteering to work with youth groups is a good way to boost your resume.

   Physical education teachers are required to complete a four-year degree program and obtain a bachelor's degree in either physical education and athletic training, or a similar education-based degree. If you choose a degree program that is concentrated on physical education, you will have to choose an aspect to concentrate on. Some of the choices include health promotion and exercise science.

3. Obtain a certificate in teaching. In addition, you will have to be certified in the state in which you will teach. The majority of physical education teachers teach other subjects in addition to physical education. If they are not teaching, then they usually provide substitute teaching services as needed, or they perform administrative duties. Very rarely does a P.E. teacher just teach physical education.

4. Volunteer with youth groups. This will give you a chance to gain experience in working with children and it will also look good on your resume once you complete college and begin looking for work. In addition, this sort of voluntary work can also help you earn a place in a degree program.

5. Begin submitting your resume to various school districts who may be looking for a physical education teacher. If you move out of the state you are certified in, you may have to apply for certification in the new state, but it is best to check with your new employer first.

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