What Does it Take to Be an Adapted Physical Education Specialist?
Job Description: 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.
Life As an Adapted Physical Education Specialist
- Attend in-service training, workshops, or meetings to keep abreast of current practices or trends in adapted physical education.
- Write or modify individualized education plans (IEPs) for students with intellectual or physical disabilities.
- Assess students' physical progress or needs.
- Provide students positive feedback to encourage them and help them develop an appreciation for physical education.
- Prepare lesson plans in accordance with individualized education plans (IEPs) and the functional abilities or needs of students.
- Adapt instructional techniques to the age and skill levels of students.
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What Every Adapted Physical Education Specialist Should Know
When polled, Adapted Physical Education Specialists say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Instructing: Teaching others how to do something.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Other Adapted Physical Education Specialist Job Titles
- Adapted Physical Education Specialist-Workshop Leader
- Physical Education Teacher
- Student Education Specialist
- Physical Education Trainer
- Physical Education Provider
Are There Job Opportunities for Adapted Physical Education Specialists?
In the United States, there were 41,300 jobs for Adapted Physical Education Specialist in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 9.9% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 4,100 new jobs for Adapted Physical Education Specialist by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 3,400 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Adapted Physical Education Specialist are Utah, Arizona, and Hawaii. Watch out if you plan on working in North Dakota, North Carolina, or Nebraska. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Salary for an Adapted Physical Education Specialist
The average yearly salary of an Adapted Physical Education Specialist ranges between $34,580 and $98,730.

Adapted Physical Education Specialists who work in Oregon, Rhode Island, or Virginia, make the highest salaries.
How much do Adapted Physical Education Specialists make in each U.S. state?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $60,840 |
Alaska | $62,040 |
Arizona | $48,850 |
Arkansas | $34,140 |
California | $66,640 |
Colorado | $51,370 |
Connecticut | $70,200 |
District of Columbia | $67,310 |
Florida | $51,500 |
Georgia | $58,010 |
Hawaii | $37,160 |
Idaho | $47,080 |
Illinois | $54,120 |
Indiana | $46,190 |
Iowa | $75,280 |
Kansas | $67,310 |
Kentucky | $58,910 |
Louisiana | $57,490 |
Maryland | $51,090 |
Massachusetts | $56,700 |
Michigan | $72,670 |
Minnesota | $68,540 |
Mississippi | $57,280 |
Missouri | $55,780 |
Montana | $58,430 |
Nebraska | $60,060 |
Nevada | $55,650 |
New Hampshire | $48,150 |
New Jersey | $65,380 |
New Mexico | $56,290 |
North Carolina | $45,670 |
Ohio | $42,690 |
Oklahoma | $40,300 |
Oregon | $81,990 |
Pennsylvania | $66,780 |
Rhode Island | $81,180 |
South Carolina | $62,740 |
Tennessee | $57,580 |
Texas | $53,840 |
Utah | $72,290 |
Vermont | $45,400 |
Virginia | $78,340 |
Washington | $59,520 |
West Virginia | $53,030 |
Wisconsin | $63,010 |
What Tools do Adapted Physical Education Specialists Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Adapted Physical Education Specialists may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Email software
- Database software
- Individualized Educational Program IEP software
- Student record software
How to Become an Adapted Physical Education Specialist
Individuals working as an Adapted Physical Education Specialist have obtained the following education levels:

How many years of work experience do I need?

Who Employs Adapted Physical Education Specialists?

The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

References:
Image Credit: woodleywonderworks via Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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