Adapted Physical Education Specialists

Certification or Licensing

All public schools require teachers to be licensed. For employment, teachers must have completed a teacher preparation program, which includes supervised teaching experience. Many states offer general licenses for special education, allowing teachers to work with students with disabilities. Special education teachers, including adapted physical education teachers, must complete a period of student teaching to qualify for licensing. Student teaching may last for one to two years and entails creating lesson plans and teaching students in a classroom setting under the guidance and supervision of a mentor teacher. Student teaching is often included in undergraduate and graduate programs for special education.

Other Requirements

Many schools require teachers to have a clean record and pass a background check, possibly including a drug test, to qualify for employment.