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Adapted Physical Education Specialists

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeModerate pressure

What they do

Provide individualized physical education instruction or services to children, youth, or adults with exceptional physical needs due to gross motor developmental delays or other impairments.

Kinds of work

  • Social: Helping, teaching, caring for and supporting other people.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.
  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.

Moderate pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $76,580 Median per year Most earn $48,440–$120,080

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Discuss with education professionals the physical abilities or disabilities of students and the accommodations required to enhance their school performance.
  • Provide students positive feedback to encourage them and help them develop an appreciation for physical education.
  • Discuss with education professionals the physical abilities or disabilities of students and the accommodations required to enhance their school performance.
  • Review adapted physical education programs or practices to ensure compliance with government or other regulations.
  • Maintain thorough student records to document attendance, participation, or progress, ensuring confidentiality of all records.
  • Discuss with education professionals the physical abilities or disabilities of students and the accommodations required to enhance their school performance.

Job outlook

United States
2% more jobs by 2035, slower than average · about 2,300 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Elementary and secondary schools72.0%
  • Educational support services4.3%
  • Services for the elderly and persons with disabilities3.2%
  • Offices of physical, occupational and speech therapists, and audiologists2.8%
  • Local government, excluding education and hospitals2.7%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 6 months to 1 year

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeExperience before this job: 6 months to 1 year

Adapted Physical Education Specialist is usually not a job you start straight out of school. Most people need a bachelor's degree plus about 6 months to 1 year of related work, often in a classroom with students who have disabilities.

  1. High school diploma with strong PE, health, and science classes

    4 years

    Building a base in biology, anatomy, and physical education gives you the background for a college kinesiology or PE major.

  2. Bachelor's degree in physical education, kinesiology, or special education

    4 years

    This degree teaches movement science, child development, and how to teach students with disabilities, which are the core skills of this job.

  3. Special Education Teacher, Middle School

    6 months to 1 year

    Working in a classroom with students who have disabilities gives you hands-on experience adapting lessons, and it usually leads to the teaching license many states require.

  4. Adapted Physical Education Specialist

    Ongoing

    You design individual movement programs for students with physical needs, working with teachers, therapists, and families. Check your state's license or certification requirements for this role.

Where it can lead

  1. Instructional Coordinator

    2-4 years of experience first

    You would shift from direct teaching to planning programs, training staff, and reviewing how well lessons work across a school or district. This role usually asks for more schooling, often a master's degree.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take PE, health, and biologyThese classes build the movement and body knowledge you will use in adapted PE and help you decide if the field interests you.
  • Volunteer with programs for athletes with disabilitiesMany towns run sports or recreation programs for people with disabilities, and volunteering shows you how adapted activities work in practice.
  • Join a unified sports team or peer buddy programPlaying alongside classmates with disabilities teaches patience, communication, and how to adjust activities so everyone can take part.
  • Get a summer job as a camp counselor or youth sports helperWorking with kids every day builds experience and shows you how to keep groups safe and engaged.
  • Get CPR and first aid certifiedMany schools and community groups offer these courses, and they are a valuable skill for anyone working with students who have physical needs.

In college

  • Major in kinesiology or physical educationThese majors cover movement science and teaching methods, which form the foundation for adapted PE. Look for any adapted PE or motor development courses your school offers.
  • Take courses in child development and disability studiesUnderstanding how students with disabilities learn and move helps you plan lessons that really fit each student.
  • Complete a field placement or student teaching in special educationHands-on time in a real classroom builds experience that employers and licensing boards look for.
  • Work as a campus recreation or fitness center staff memberCampus jobs teach you to supervise activities, explain exercises clearly, and work with a wide range of people.
  • Join a PE or kinesiology student clubClubs often bring in guest speakers, offer volunteer events, and help you meet people already working in the field.

Tips for getting started

  • Look for paid or volunteer work with children or teens who have disabilities. Real experience matters a lot when employers hire for this job.
  • Ask your state's education department or a local school district what license or certification you need for adapted PE, and plan your college courses around it early.
  • Check the career page for typical pay near you and nationally, so you know what to expect as you plan your path.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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