Adapted Physical Education Specialists
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.
Also known as: Adapted Fitness Professional, Adapted Physical Activity Specialist, Adapted Physical Education Specialist (APE Specialist), Adapted Physical Education Teacher (Adapted PE Teacher), Adapted Physical Educator, Adaptive Physical Education Specialist (Adaptive PE Specialist), Adaptive Physical Education Teacher (Adaptive PE Teacher), Adaptive Physical Educator, ...
Annual Salary
Median annual wage (May 2024)
Job Outlook
Projected growth, 2024–2034 (Slower than average)
What You'd Do
- Review adapted physical education programs or practices to ensure compliance with government or other regulations.
- Request or order physical education equipment, following standard procedures.
- Write reports to summarize student performance, social growth, or physical development.
- 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.
- Provide students positive feedback to encourage them and help them develop an appreciation for physical education.
- Provide individual or small groups of students with adapted physical education instruction that meets desired physical needs or goals.
- Prepare lesson plans in accordance with individualized education plans (IEPs) and the functional abilities or needs of students.
- Maintain thorough student records to document attendance, participation, or progress, ensuring confidentiality of all records.
- Maintain inventory of instructional equipment, materials, or aids.
- Evaluate the motor needs of individual students to determine their need for adapted physical education services.
- Establish and maintain standards of behavior to create safe, orderly, and effective environments for learning.
- Communicate behavioral observations and student progress reports to students, parents, teachers, or administrators.
- Assist in screening or placement of students in adapted physical education programs.
- Assess students' physical progress or needs.
- Advise education professionals of students' physical abilities or disabilities and the accommodations required to enhance their school performance.
- Adapt instructional techniques to the age and skill levels of students.
- Provide adapted physical education services to students with intellectual disabilities, autism, traumatic brain injury, orthopedic impairments, or other disabling condition.
- Instruct students, using adapted physical education techniques, to improve physical fitness, gross motor skills, perceptual motor skills, or sports and game achievement.
- Collaborate with other educational personnel to provide inclusive activities or programs for children with disabilities.
Top Skills
Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)
Knowledge Areas
Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)
Education Level Distribution
Percentage of workers in this occupation by education level
Technology & Tools
Software and tools commonly used in this role
In-Demand Technologies
Other Tools
Work Styles
Personality traits and work styles important for this career
Key Abilities
Cognitive, physical, and sensory abilities important for this role
Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)
Work Activities
General types of job behaviors occurring on this job
Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)
Work Environment
Physical and social factors that influence the nature of work
Related Careers
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Salary data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Outlook data: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034.
This page includes information from the O*NET 30.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license.