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.

$64,270
Median Annual Pay
Jobs growth:
-1% projected 2024โ€“2034
Bachelor's degree
Typical Entry-Level Education

What They Do

Adapted Physical Education Specialists design and deliver customized physical education programs for students with disabilities or developmental delays. They work primarily in schools, assessing each student's physical abilities and creating modified activities that help them participate in movement and exercise. Throughout the day, they might guide a student with cerebral palsy through adapted sports drills, teach motor skills to children with autism, or help someone recovering from an injury safely rebuild strength and coordination. These specialists collaborate closely with classroom teachers, occupational therapists, and families to ensure their programs align with each student's broader educational goals.

Programs That Prepare You

College programs linked to this occupation, ranked by graduate earnings

Special Education and Teaching(doctoral)Vanderbilt University, TN
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Special Education and Teaching(masters)California State University-Fullerton, CA
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Special Education and Teaching(masters)Pace University, NY
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Special Education and Teaching(masters)Touro University California, CA
$78,975
Special Education and Teaching(masters)Notre Dame de Namur University, CA
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Special Education and Teaching(masters)CUNY Brooklyn College, NY
$77,678
Special Education and Teaching(masters)California State University-Long Beach, CA
$77,631
Special Education and Teaching(masters)California State University-East Bay, CA
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Special Education and Teaching(masters)CUNY Hunter College, NY
$77,182
Special Education and Teaching(masters)CUNY City College, NY
$76,836
Special Education and Teaching(masters)Manhattan University, NY
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Special Education and Teaching(masters)Hofstra University, NY
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Special Education and Teaching(masters)Long Island University, NY
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Special Education and Teaching(masters)CUNY Lehman College, NY
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Special Education and Teaching(masters)St. John's University-New York, NY
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Special Education and Teaching(masters)College of Staten Island CUNY, NY
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Special Education and Teaching(masters)CUNY Queens College, NY
$74,496
Special Education and Teaching(masters)California State University-Dominguez Hills, CA
$74,460
Special Education and Teaching(masters)University of Washington-Seattle Campus, WA
$73,549
Special Education and Teaching(masters)Point Loma Nazarene University, CA
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Special Education and Teaching(masters)University of Illinois Chicago, IL
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Special Education and Teaching(masters)California State University-Fresno, CA
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