A physical education teacher introduces school-age children and teenagers to games and sports activities that aim to develop skills and physical health. This figure is needed in both private and public primary and secondary schools. A gym teacher encourages students to adopt healthy habits and motivates them to stay healthy through physical activity. Like any teacher, the PE teacher must have excellent public speaking skills and leadership skills, to be able to teach students how to perform particular activities and at the same time maintain control of the class.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Preparation
Step 1. Get your degree
A degree in Exercise Science is a prerequisite for teaching.
- The degree course is divided into three years of study in which a first level degree is obtained, plus two years to achieve the specialist degree (second level).
- During your university studies, you will take theoretical and practical lessons on a wide range of sports and physical activities, without however neglecting the teaching methodology, the legal and economic aspects of teaching and prevention.
Step 2. Get experience with an internship
Once graduated, it is advisable to carry out a good number of teaching hours, as a trainee, to have a greater chance of success. To teach in public school you will have to win a state competition through which you will be awarded a "professorship". For private schools this is not necessary, but you will need to demonstrate that you have an excellent educational background to be hired.
- The amount of internship hours required may vary based on the type of school you wish to work at, so inquire carefully.
- Many universities offer their students and recent graduates apprenticeship programs to help them gain experience. Inquire at the secretariat of your faculty.
Step 3. Get experience in both physical activity and sports
If you want to work in the physical education sector, you must be familiar with both playing many sports and athletic training.
A very simple, but effective way to achieve this is to train some youth or amateur team for free
Step 4. Take teaching and pedagogy lessons
During the five years of university you will have the opportunity to study this kind of courses as well.
These lessons will not only help you understand if you are suitable for teaching, but also to decide what kind of postgraduate specialization you will need to obtain to become a gym teacher
Part 2 of 3: Teaching qualification
Step 1. Get the teaching qualification
Once you graduate, the next step is to obtain the qualification through a postgraduate program that accredits you as an educator.
- This program includes an active training placement (TFA) and a final exam. To date, only those who have obtained the qualification can access competitions to teach in public schools.
- This limited number program includes a two-year course of study which is accessed by qualifications and exams. You will also need to complete an apprenticeship in schools of at least six months.
- The trainee is assigned a mentor, that is, an experienced teacher, who will have the task of monitoring the activity and expressing a final evaluation together with the head teacher. If the judgment is positive, the candidate will be able to take the final exam and will be enabled to teach. Otherwise, he will be able to repeat the internship in another school and, if the evaluation is still negative, he will be able to finish the program but will not be granted the qualification.
- When carrying out research on qualification programs, also evaluate the prestige of the university and of the course itself, as well as the duration, the requirements to access it, the costs and the presence or absence of economic benefits. Do not forget that courses are limited, so check how many "freshmen" are allowed. Take into consideration how big the university is and where it is located in relation to your area of residence (since attendance is compulsory and you will have to go there every day).
- Remember that you can apply for teaching qualification in any state of the European Union, but this is a specific qualification for each country. This means that you will only be able to teach in Spain if you follow the habilitation program in this country.
Step 2. Do your internship
You must teach in a state school for at least six months.
If you want to obtain the qualification abroad, check the exact duration of the internship; in Italy it takes at least six months
Step 3. Pass the state exam
At the end of the habilitation course you must pass a state exam and present a good assessment by the internship mentor in order to become a full-fledged teacher.
- Check with your university for the dates in which you will have to take the exam, the procedures vary from one university to another.
- The exam aims to ascertain both the student's knowledge of general culture topics and the possession of specific teaching skills.
- To find out more, you can do a simple online search with the keywords "qualification to teach".
Step 4. Request your license
Visit the website of the Ministry of the School of the Nation where you followed the qualification program to get all the details regarding the request for the qualification diploma. In Italy, for example, the university issues a provisional but perfectly valid certificate, waiting for the Ministry to send the official diploma by registered mail.
- Remember that without qualification you cannot access public competitions and that you can teach in the state where you obtained it.
- Currently, in Italy, a reform of public education is underway which also provides for the modification of the methods for obtaining the teaching qualification. Always inquire at the university where you study and consult the website of the Ministry of Education. If you want to teach in a private school, the competition is not necessary, as you are hired directly by the institution itself. This does not mean that you do not have to be licensed, as many schools, in order to be recognized and equalized by the state, must ensure that the teaching staff meets the criteria established for public schools. In any case, given that this legislation varies from country to country, if you have decided to teach abroad you must obtain all the information from the school ministry of your destination state.
Part 3 of 3: Getting the Job
Step 1. Prepare all documents
Although the procedure varies according to the type of competition and the type of school you want to teach, you still need to submit a certain package of documents which includes:
- An updated curriculum. Be sure to highlight all of your recent school education, accolades, and activities. Check for errors. Delete all old or irrelevant information. For more details read this article.
- A cover letter. This should be specific to the competition / selection you are applying to and should contain your motivations and interest in the specific job. Don't forget to mention the qualifications that make you a good fit for the role. You will find many tips on the internet on how to effectively write such a letter.
- A statement of the teaching status. In this document you should mention all your goals as a teacher, the reasons why you want to teach, your pedagogical philosophy and your method. It is a statement that identifies your interests and aspirations as an educator through practical examples of how you will achieve certain results, you will need to report specific experiences of the problems you have faced in your career and, if available, strong and supportive evaluations from your former students.
- References. Many personnel searches require a list of references; you must indicate the name and contact information of the schools where you have already worked or carried out your internship that can recommend you positively. Remember to ask each institution for authorization before adding it to the list of references.
Step 2. Look for open positions
Once you have obtained the qualification, you are ready to look for a job. There are many places to start:
- Check the competition notices of schools in your area or district. On the website of the Ministry of Education you will find a virtual bulletin board with all open calls.
- Go to trade fairs. It is a way to meet other people in the education sector, including organizations that are looking for staff. When you go to these places, treat each meeting as if it were a job interview, bring copies of your resume and try to deliver them to the greatest number of people you meet. These fairs are advertised on the websites of private and public schools and on those dealing with physical education.
- Rely on job search websites, but specific to the teaching sector. These are specialized websites in the school and are the best choice for anyone looking for a job as a teacher.
Step 3. Follow the instructions to apply for an open position
If you have found a "professorship" to which you aspire, follow the instructions in the notice of competition or the procedure imposed by the private institution to the letter.
- Make sure you meet all the necessary requirements and submit the documentation by the deadline set.
- Keep a record of all the jobs you've applied to and the responses you've received to avoid re-submitting for the same position twice, forgetting if you've been contacted for an interview, or sending additional information (if requested).
