Adapted physical education specialists design and teach fitness and movement programs for students with disabilities or other special needs. You work in schools, support students' physical development, and need a bachelor's degree to get started.
Pathly builds you a free, personalized roadmap and helps your counselor champion you along the way.
You teach physical education classes tailored to students with disabilities, injuries, or other conditions that affect movement. Your work involves assessing each student's abilities, creating individualized fitness plans, and instructing them in sports, exercise, and wellness. You communicate regularly with other educators, parents, and specialists to track progress and adjust your approach. You also think creatively to adapt activities so every student can participate meaningfully. The role combines hands-on instruction with careful observation and ongoing strategy development.
Core work activities
Career video courtesy of CareerOneStop.
Adapted Physical Education Specialists earn a median of $76,580 a year, based on 2025 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and location.
The outlook is modest. Employment is projected to grow 1 percent from 2024 to 2034, little or no change for all occupations, with about 2,900 openings a year.
Top skills
Knowledge areas
You'll need a bachelor's degree in adapted physical education or a related field. Your coursework covers education theory, exercise science, psychology, and counseling approaches. During your degree, you'll complete supervised teaching experiences in school settings. You'll also develop strong communication and critical thinking skills through coursework and fieldwork. Many programs require you to pass assessments demonstrating your knowledge of adapted instruction methods and your ability to support diverse learners effectively.
Most paths to this career start with a bachelor's degree in education or a related field. The specific route depends on your background and timeline, so Pathly can map the adapted physical education specialist path that fits you with your school counselor to map out the steps that fit your situation.
You're drawn to work that centers on helping others. You enjoy direct interaction, building relationships, and seeing the impact of your support on students' growth and confidence.
Reading about a career is the easy part. Turning it into a plan is where most students get stuck. Pathly takes you from curious to a clear next step, and gives your counselor the insight to champion you along the way.
Start with a quick quiz and assessments that surface your personality, your EQ, and what really motivates you, so your next steps are built around who you actually are.
Your free AI guide weighs this career against your strengths and goals, and surfaces the colleges, trades, and scholarships that match, so you know if it truly fits before you commit.
Get a personalized, step-by-step plan to reach this career, with the training, coursework, and credentials tracked in one place. Link your school or IEC and your counselor in the loop.
Last updated July 1, 2026.
Data sources. Career details from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Salary and outlook figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025 wages; 2024–2034 projections), delivered via the CareerOneStop API. Certification, licensing, wage, and outlook data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by USDOL/ETA and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).