nd to teach.
If you would like to find out more about the specific state certification requirements for teaching, or the licenses you need to teach at different levels, we’ve added a link to our ‘useful resources’ section below (entitled State Teaching Requirements).
It goes without saying that you will also need to be passionate about what you’re teaching, as this will help tremendously with being able to convey the importance of health and nutrition in a way that’s interesting to the age range you’re teaching.
Hopefully the information above has provided you with a basic idea of what’s required to enter the world of PE teaching, but if you want to find out more, we’ve also put together a shortlist of recommended resources below. These are designed to cover everything you need to know, from salary expectations all the way through to recommended universities and the license application process.
10 Useful resources for studying to become a teacher of Physical Education
- 1. Online tuition programs
Unfortunately these are often only available for residents of those specific states, and are supplementary to a pre-existing teaching degree. This means that they aren’t generally considered a valid starting point for a career in teaching.
However, the United States Sports Academy does appear to offer online study for their Bachelor of Sports Science degree.
While there are a number of online tools that can be used to discover online degree opportunities, it’s always worth checking with the University or college that you’re enrolling with, as well as your local state’s teaching requirements to ensure they consider that particular course a valid path of entry into teaching Physical Education.
- 2. Searching for jobs as a PE teacher
Once you’ve passed your Bachelor’s Degree, and have the certifications and license required by the state you would like to teach in, you’re probably going to want to start looking for employment opportunities.
While some schools will announce vacancies on their social media accounts or personal websites, one of the best resources you can use is still a dedicated job search engine.
General job search sites such as Indeed, , and are certainly effective options, but it’s also possible to keep track of local opportunities using specific school jobs websites.
Two of the best options in this category are SchoolSpring, and TopSchoolJobs (lets you filter by state). As with other jobs, you can also use services such as GlassDoor to discover new employment opportunities, as well as find out more about the experiences of teachers who have already taught there.
- 3. Student Financial Aid
As an office of the U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid offers more than $150 billion each year to students in need of financial assistance as they progress through their higher education courses.
Whilst there is a certain level of eligibility criteria that you need to pass in order to qualify for federal student aid, in most cases this will simply be proving your enrolment in an eligible degree or certificate program, demonstrate the need for financial assistance, and have a valid social security number.
Non-U.S. Citizens are also considered, but if you’re considering seeking this type of aid, there are a few more guidelines you’ll need to comply with. A full list of eligibility requirements for U.S. and non-U.S. citizens can be found here.
This is also the website you will be directed to if you were to apply for a direct loan through the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program, where you will be asked to fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Screenshot of the Federal Student Aid website
- 4. Federal Pell Grant Program
Whilst federal student aid in the form we mentioned above usually involves a loan, Federal Pell Grants are a type of financial assistance that doesn’t have to be repaid.
The amount offered differs based on your personal circumstances, as well as the circumstances surrounding your school attendance, with the maximum amount awarded changing from year to year.
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