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To become a PE teacher in Vermont, complete these four steps:
 | Earn a Bachelor’s Degree and Approved Preparation Program |
 | Complete the Required Praxis Exams |
 | Apply for PE Teacher Licensure in Vermont |
 | Renew Your Vermont PE Teacher License |
The Vermont Agency of Education’s goal with regard to physical education is to help students develop skills and knowledge that will help them enjoy a lifetime of healthful physical activity. Physical education expectations are divided into four areas of learning:
- Knowledge/motor skills
- Physical fitness
- Affective qualities
- Social interaction
All learning outcomes are organized by grade cluster (pre-K and K; 1 and 2; 3 and 4; 5 and 6; 7 and 8; and 9-12).
Step 1. Complete a Bachelor’s Degree and Approved Preparation Program
You may earn your bachelor’s degree by pursuing one of two routes:
Traditional Route
If you choose to pursue a traditional route to licensure in Vermont, you must complete an Approved Program for the Preparation of Educators. Approved preparation programs at the bachelor’s level include all necessary coursework requirements, as well as a student teaching experience. There are currently three teacher preparation programs in Vermont for individuals seeking careers in physical education. You may also complete a teacher preparation program through a post-baccalaureate or master’s degree program.
Upon the successful completion of a teacher preparation program, you will be recommended for licensing from the institution at the time of graduation.
Physical education teachers, who are authorized to teach PK-6, 7-12, or PK-12, must demonstrate knowledge of physical education concepts and skills that are in line with current national professional standards, which include understanding the following:
- Human development, including progression from early childhood through adult growth and development
- Biophysical and social-psychological concepts fundamental to skill movement, physical fitness, and physical activity
- Historical, philosophical, and sociological perspectives in physical education
- Effects of age, gender, socioeconomic status, and culture upon physical activity
- Strategies for modifying instruction for students’ diverse physical abilities, skills, learning styles, and prior experiences
- Selection, planning, and implementation of developmentally appropriate curriculum
- Developmentally appropriate strategies for teaching movement concepts, skills, development, and personal fitness
- Principles of effective behavior management for a physical education setting
- Effective verbal and nonverbal communication techniques to encourage and enhance student performance
- The cross-curricular link between a physical education curriculum and other subjects
- Appropriate use and interpretation of various formal and informal assessment techniques and strategies in physical education
- Community resources to enhance physical activity and wellness opportunities
Alternative Route
You may still earn licensure to teach physical education in Vermont through an Alternative Route program, also known as Peer Review. To qualify for licensure via an alternative route, you must possess a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a major in the content area of endorsement being sought (physical education or a similar program).
The Alternative Route to licensure includes a five-stage process:
- Apply to a Peer Review Program
- Attend a Peer Review Clinic to prepare your professional portfolio
- Prepare your Professional Portfolio
- Complete the Evaluation Process (includes an evaluation of your portfolio; a panel interview; and peer review evaluation to ensure all competencies are met)
- Receive a Peer Review Panel’s Recommendation
The cost of eligibility determination is $40, and the peer review process is $1,200. You can learn more about the peer review process by reading the Handbook for Applicants.
Step 2. Complete the Required Praxis Exams
All candidates for physical education teacher jobs in Vermont must complete two PRAXIS examinations to meet initial licensure requirements:
- PRAXIS CORE (The PRAXIS I was phased out in June 2013): The Core Academic Skills for Educators Test includes reading, mathematics and writing. You must receive the following minimum scores to pass the PRAXIS CORE exam:
- Reading: 156
- Mathematics: 150
- Writing: 162
- PRAXIS II: Endorsement in Physical Education: Content and Design includes 90 multiple-choice questions and 2 constructed-response questions, which are broken down into the following categories:
- Content Knowledge and Student Growth and Development
- Management, Motivation, and Communication
- Planning, Instruction, and Student Assessment
- Collaboration, Reflection, and Technology
- Instructional Design
You must receive a minimum score of 169 to pass the PRAXIS II exam. You can learn more about this examination by reviewing the Physical Education: Content and Design study companion.
You can register for the PRAXIS exams, view all testing requirements, upcoming testing dates, and nearby testing centers through the PRAXIS Series website.
Step 3. Apply for PE Teacher Licensure in Vermont
To become a physical education teacher in Vermont, you must download, complete, and submit an Application for Initial Licensure. This application cannot be emailed or faxed. Your license must include the appropriate endorsement code for physical education (08).
Note: If you are qualifying for licensure through peer review, you must first receive a recommendation from the Peer Review Panel to the Vermont Standards Board for Professional Standards in order to be granted a license and endorsement in physical education. You will then be informed by the Educator Quality Division Director as to how to proceed with your initial application for licensure.
Your completed application for an initial license in Vermont, along with all related documentation and a check or money order for $160 (made payable to Vermont AEO-Licensing Office), must be sent to:
Office of Educator Licensing
219 North Main Street
Barre, Vermont 05641
You may contact the Licensing Helpline at 802-479-1700 or AOE.LicensingInfo@state.vt.us. with any questions you have regarding licensure or eligibility for PE teacher jobs in Vermont.
Step 4. Renew Your Vermont PE Teacher License
To renew your Vermont Level I license, you need to show proof of the completion at least three professional credits (or 45 hours) and complete a Verification Worksheet. You can read more about activities that qualify for professional learning credit here. The Level I license is valid for a period of three years.
To earn a Level II license, you must submit an Individual Professional Learning Plan and document at least nine professional development credits, three of which must apply directly to your physical education endorsement. The remaining six professional development credits must fall within the A Vision for Teaching, Leading, and Learning: Core Teaching and Leadership Standards for Vermont Educators. The Level II license is valid for a period of seven years.
Detailed renewal instructions and forms can be found here.
Phys Ed Teacher Salary in Vermont
Statistical data recorded by the Vermont Department of Labor reveals a median physical education teacher salary in Vermont of $82,680, which is significantly higher than the nationwide median of $57,690, in fact about 30% higher. The average in Vermont is just 6% less than the median at $77,640. The lowest salary brackets (10th and 25th percentile) generally account for recent grads and those with minimal experience. In Vermont, those salaries range between $54,100 and 70,230. Likewise, the highest salary brackets (75th and 90th percentile) typically account for physical education teachers with a lot of experience. In Vermont, those salaries range between $90,630 and $95,390.
The following are nationwide salaries recorded by the U.S. Department of Labor. By comparison, physical education teachers in Vermont fare extremely well when compared to their national counterparts:
Median: $57,690
Average: $63,770
10th Percentile: $26,820
25th Percentile: $41,020
75th Percentile: $79,070
90th Percentile: $108,450
Physical education teacher salaries in Vermont as recorded by the U.S. Department of Labor shown below: