As stated earlier, the primary way to become a physical-education teacher is to attend a college or university and enter a teacher-preparation program.
Some states have experimented with alternative routes to certification for teaching, but these all involve college graduation and, eventually at least, some specific teacher preparation. The purpose of this section is to describe the different ways in which teachers are prepared.
Because the federal Constitution leaves the responsibility for education to the states, the rules for teacher certification are made by state legislatures.
Teacher education in the takes place almost exclusively at colleges and universities. Programs of teacher education in colleges and universities must adhere to standards that are devised by state legislatures or state departments of education.