All school search, finder, or match results, as well as colleges and universities displayed as "Featured School(s)" or "Sponsored Content" are advertisers that compensate us for placement on this site. The resources, editorial content, and school evaluations published on this site are developed independent of the schools that advertise here.
Featured Program: Bachelor of Science in Health Science Featured Program: Master of Science in Physical Education Featured Program: M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction: Health and Wellness Featured Program: Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Health Studies - Health Promotion and WellnessIf you want to become a physical education teacher in New York, you must be able to successfully complete the following steps:
| Choose a PE Teacher Preparation Pathway |
| Complete PE Teacher Certification Testing Requirements |
| Apply for an Initial New York Teaching Certificate |
| Maintain your Certification through Professional Development |
| Achieve a New York PE Teacher Professional Certificate |
The New York State Education Department has a clear and well-established Physical Education Profile, a State-developed resource that details the physical education component within the New York State Learning Standards for Health, Physical Education, and Family and Consumer Sciences.
The Physical Education Profile is used by physical education teachers in New York to ensure individual student achievement of the learning standards and for evaluating the quality of their physical education program. It also serves as means by which physical education teachers can demonstrate accountability for achievement in physical education.
There are two commencement-level assessments for determining the competency and proficiency in eight different categories of physical activity:
There are a number of paths you may take to begin pursuing a physical education teaching career in New York, depending on your background and education:
Pathway 1: Completing a Teacher Preparation Program
If you are a high school graduate without a bachelor’s degree, your pathway should include pursuing a bachelor’s degree from an approved teacher preparation program approved by the New York State Department of Education. Approved teacher preparation programs meet the following requirements:
You must complete your bachelor’s program through a regionally accredited higher institution or one that has been approved by the New York State Education. You can view a list of the Approved Teacher Preparation Programs in New York here. There are currently 67 approved programs for physical education in New York State.
Upon registering for the bachelor’s degree that leads to certification in physical education, the institution will provide you with a Student Application Information Sheet, which will clearly outline all of the steps you need to take to complete the program and apply for a certificate through that approved program pathway.
Before you can enroll in a physical education student teaching experience, you must have a grade of C or better in all physical education core courses, and you must meet all other competency requirements as set forth by the academic institution.
Pathway 2: Completing a Higher Preparation Teacher Preparation Program
If you have already obtained a bachelor’s degree, you may enroll in a graduate program through a college or university in New York that leads to a teaching certificate. You must complete your graduate program at a New York State higher preparation institution and complete an internship at a K-12 school to qualify for certification.
Pathway 3: Completing an Approved Teacher Preparation Program through Alternative Certification
If you already possess a bachelor’s degree that demonstrates subject matter expertise (such as a bachelor’s degree in sports fitness) and you want to become a physical education teacher in New York, you can enroll in one of the Alternative Teacher Certification (ATC) programs that are offered by college-school partnerships in a number of locations throughout the State. ATC allows you to complete your teacher education study to qualify for certification.
To qualify for ATC, you must possess a bachelor’s degree, with a minimum GPA of 3.0 in a subject-specific area, or at least 18 semester hours in physical education with at least 12 semester hours in a related subject.
Upon completion of the ATC program, you must pass the Assessment of Teaching Skills – Written (ATS-W) to be recommended for a teaching certificate.
