Adapted Physical Education Specialists

The employment outlook for adapted physical education specialists is solid. More attention is being paid to identifying children with disabilities early on, so more adapted physical education specialists will be needed to screen and place students in special education programs and instruct and guide them. The Department of Labor projects a 3 percent employment growth for all special education teachers, including adapted physical education teachers, through 2028, which is slower than the average for all other occupations. The federal budget affects special education programs, but laws mandate that students with disabilities have access to free public education. States must maintain the same level of financial support for special education each year.

Adapted physical education professionals specializing in early childhood and working with students with multiple disabilities, severe disabilities, or autism spectrum disorders may have good job opportunities. The job can be exhausting, with long hours spent working with individuals and groups while standing and moving, and time on computers to track students' progress, write reports, and other administrative tasks. As a result, there is high turnover; people frequently leave the job due to burnout or retirement. Certified adapted physical education specialists and those with a master's degree will have the best employment prospects.