Career in Physical Education

5 minute read
Physical Education

Physical education degree holders are well versed in the science of psychomotor skills used by humans while playing sports or doing some heavy activities. Since different activities require a specific set of psychomotor skills, learning from trained professionals is what you need. Furthermore, with changing lifestyles, new diseases, mental stress, etc, the demand for domain related experts has also increased. This is where Physical Education experts come into the picture. Based on the specialisation, these professionals can train in various activities like Swimming, Yoga, Aerobics, Athletics, etc. With changing trends and careers in Physical Education, an individual can also provide assistance upon graduating in Dietetics and Nutrition courses, Health and Physical education, etc. Today, we shall see how to make a career in Physical education, what are the courses offered in the world along with why physical education is important.

What is Physical Education?

The importance of sports and fitness has surely increased in the present era where physical and mental well-being are consistently emphasised upon. As academic institutions are implementing physical education as an essential part of their curriculums, a wide range of career opportunities are available in this field. Physical Education simply refers to the inclusion of physical activities and sports to encourage psychomotor learning amongst students. A career in Physical Education is perfect for those interested in learning about the importance of physical education in every child’s academic journey to facilitate holistic development of every individual.

Benefits of Physical Education:

Here are the physical education benefits-

  • Improves physical abilities 
  • Reduces risk of heart illness and
  • Enhances bone strength
  • Helps maintain body weight 
  • Helps promote health 
  • Reduces stress and risk of depression 
  • Pramod active lifestyle
  • Boosts self-confidence and esteem 

Skills Required to Build a Career in Physical Education

At first, the candidate would get a job as an instructor or supervisor at any sports event but slowly, more options will open in areas like Yoga, Aerobics, Naturopathy, etc. Even in some colleges, Physical Education as a subject has become compulsory. So, if you want to build a successful career in the field of Physical Education, here are the skills which are needed the most:

  • Excellent athletic and teaching abilities
  • Good leadership qualities to lead the people they are either training or supervising.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills to bring out one’s true self in either the game or activity.
  • Should be disciplined
  • Patient, perseverant, and Flexible
  • Should be adequately skilled in their chosen domain
  • Should be able to boost morale and instill the skill of cooperation into others

Subjects in Physical Education

From becoming a crucial subject at various study levels, the curriculum of physical education involves various intricacies. Through the tabulated below physical education subjects, you will be equipped with proficiency to pursue a career in this field-

Anatomy and Physiology  Foundation of Physical Education  Body Conditioning 
Track and Field  Game of Specialization  Physiology of Exercise 
Sports Sociology Health Education, First Aid and Rehabilitation  Methods of Teaching in Physical Education 
Sports and Exercise Psychology Test, Measurement and Evaluation in Physical Education Sport Journalism 
Balanced Education  Organization and Administration Physical Growth and Development

Step 1: Pursue a Bachelor’s Course

The very first step in building a career in this field is to enrol in an undergraduate course. Generally running for a period of 3-4 years, these programs are available as Bachelor of Arts [BA], Bachelor of Science [BSc] such as BSc Sports Science or Bachelor of Education [BEd]. Tabulated below are the Physical Education courses and the universities offering them- 

University Country Courses
Buckinghamshire New University UK BA Hons in Sports and PE
BA Hons in Sports and PE with Foundation Year
Durham University UK BA Hons in Sports, Exercise and Physical Activity
Staffordshire University UK B.Sc Hons in PE and Sport Coaching
Mount Royal University Canada Bachelor of Health and PE- Athletic Therapy
Bachelor of Health and PE- Physical Literacy
University of Alberta Canada BA in Physical Education
Virginia Commonwealth University USA B.Sc in Education-Health and PE
University College Cork Ireland B.Ed Hons in Sports Studies and PE

Note: Physical Education has been abbreviated to PE

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Step 2: Enroll in a Master Level Physical Education Course

Though you can enter the professional world upon completing an undergraduate course, getting a master’s degree will help you gain advanced knowledge pertaining to the field of Physical Education. Furthermore, you can gain expertise in a specific subfield which will aid in skill development. Running for a period of 1-2 years, here are some of the universities and their Physical Education courses that you can consider. 

Universities Country Courses
University of Malaya Malaysia Master of Physical and Health Education
Central Connecticut State
University
USA MS Physical Education – Exercise Science
Edith Cowan University Australia Master of Teaching [Primary/Secondary]
Staffordshire University UK  Secondary Physical Education- PGCE

Step 3: Get Certified

Becoming certified to teach physical education is as important as being eligible to teach academic courses. Although the requirements can vary from one country/state to another, teaching this subject at academic institutes or starting your own practice requires a license or a certification. For the license, you would need: 

  • Bachelor’s degree in the related field
  • Proof of completing a teacher training program that includes a period of supervised student teaching.
  • To pass the state examination.

It is important to note that based on your specialisation, you will be required to obtain other certifications like First aid and CPR, Lifeguard certification, Sports therapy certification, etc. Be sure to check out the certification process before deciding a particular Physical Education course lie Yoga, Aerobics or Zumba, etc.

Step 4: Gain Work Experience

The final step in making a successful career in this field is to gain relevant work experience. With the introduction of new co-curricular activities in school and university curriculum, the demand for physical trainers, personal trainers and teachers or gurus has increased. Moreover, with Zumba, Yoga, Aerobics, Swimming, etc emerging as new modes of exercise, the scope of physical education has been observed as very successful and thriving. Let’s take a look at some of the employment areas and work profiles for physical education graduates that one can consider: 

Employment Areas

  • Health Industries
  • Sports Industries
  • Schools
  • Colleges
  • Personal Trainers
  • Sports Clubs
  • Corporate Trainer
  • Event Organising

Physical Education Work Profiles

  • Teacher
  • Chiropractor
  • Athletic Coach
  • Physical Therapist
  • Personal Trainer
  • Corporate Fitness Instructor
  • Recreation Worker
  • Zumba Teacher
  • Yoga Instructor
  • Fitness Director
  • Gym Owner
  • Sports Manager
  • Health Educator

FAQs

What do you mean by career in physical education?

A career in Physical Education corresponds to coaching, training and fitness instruction for which professionals are needed in academic institutions, health care centres, fitness centres and clubs, etc. You can choose from a wide range of areas of expertise in Physical Education such as sports training and coaching, Yoga instruction, corporate fitness instruction, gym training, physical therapy, amongst others.

What are the career options in physical education?

A vast range of career options are available in Physical Education:
-Teacher
-Fitness Coach
-Sports Management
-Personal Trainer
-Corporate Fitness Instructor, etc.

Is PE teaching a good career?

Yes, it is a lucrative career option for those interested in exploring opportunities in academia to build a career in Physical Education. Academic institutions offer promising salary packages and perks to PE teachers thus offering immense career scope for this profile.

As the world is becoming more health-conscious and shifting towards alternate means of exercising, the career path for physical education professionals is not restricted to the abovementioned job profiles. If you also want to explore this field but are unsure about which course to pursue then reach out to our experts at Leverage Edu through an e-meeting and get all your queries answered within minutes!

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2 comments
    1. Hi Muskan,
      Here’s a brief answer to your question- A new physical education teacher or instructor may expect to earn between $20,000 and $25,000. It will increase in a few years. Only by loving what one does will one be able to inspire enthusiasm and devotion in his or her students for sports. Here are some blogs on Physical Education that will help you establish your career in the same field:
      https://leverageedu.com/blog/diploma-in-physical-education/
      https://leverageedu.com/blog/bachelor-of-physical-education/
      https://leverageedu.com/blog/physical-education/

    1. Hi Muskan,
      Here’s a brief answer to your question- A new physical education teacher or instructor may expect to earn between $20,000 and $25,000. It will increase in a few years. Only by loving what one does will one be able to inspire enthusiasm and devotion in his or her students for sports. Here are some blogs on Physical Education that will help you establish your career in the same field:
      https://leverageedu.com/blog/diploma-in-physical-education/
      https://leverageedu.com/blog/bachelor-of-physical-education/
      https://leverageedu.com/blog/physical-education/

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