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Health and Physical Education

Paths to Licensure

George Mason University offers assistance to individuals seeking Virginia Teacher Licensure in PreK-12 Health and Physical Education. Students may follow one of the following three paths, depending on their current qualifications and experience.

Path One (Standard Path):
Enrollment in the B.S. Ed. Degree Program in Physical Education with Teacher Licensure for PreK-12 in Health and Physical Education

This path is designed for students seeking a degree and teacher licensure in Physical Education. Steps on this path include:

Path Two:
Conversion of Provisional Licensure in Health and Physical Education

To be eligible for Provisional Licensure, an applicant must first be hired by a Virginia school division as a full time Health and Physical Education teacher, based on meeting content area requirements. These teachers are then responsible for meeting all requirements within three years to convert a Provisional License to a full (five-year, renewable) license. The steps on this path to licensure include:

  • •Discussing your application and enrollment with Linda Krout, Academic Advisor, for the School of RHT. E-mail: lkrout@gmu.edu Phone: 703-993-2096
  • •Having a degree in a related field
  • •Obtaining a full time Health and Physical Education teaching position with a Virginia educational agency and gain a three-year non-renewable provisional license
  • •Passing the VCLA and PRAXIS II tests
  • • Having a letter of evaluation listing courses needed for Full Licensure
    (see below: list of Mason courses to fulfill VDOE requirements)

Further information about Teacher Licensure

The Virginia Department of Education (www.pen.k12.va.us) Go to the “For Teachers” link on the home page. The following four important sites are found under the first category, Virginia Licensure. Call the Virginia Department of Education for the most current information.

1) Professional Teacher Assessment describes passing scores for Praxis I and SAT/ACT scores used as exemptions; PRAXIS II and VCLA passing scores

2) Questions and Answers on the Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment provides information about the newly required Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment (VCLR) for licensure.

3) Routes to Licensure in Virginia list the four education courses required for a PreK-12 endorsement. This applies to provisional licensure only.

4) Virginia Licensure Regulations for School Personnel, page 44, lists the 6 categories for an endorsement in health and physical education. These categories are subject to transcript evaluation by the Virginia Department of Education and Mason’s Health and Physical Education program.

Mason Course Equivalencies- For Provisionally Licensed Teachers Only:

Each provisionally licensed teacher will receive a letter of evaluation from the Virginia Department of Education listing requirements which must be met. Below are George Mason University's course equivalencies for the six broad academic categories published by the Virginia Department of Education.

a. Personal health and safety: 6 semester hours

Required courses:

  • HEAL 110 (3)
  • HEAL 205 (4)

b. Human anatomy, physiology, and kinesiology: 12 semester hours

Required courses:

  • BIO 124 (4)
  • BIO125 (4)
  • PHED 300 (3)
  • PHED 450 (4)

c. General health and physical education theory, including planning, administration, and assessment principles: 6 semester hours

Select from these courses:

  • PHED 403 (3)
  • PHED 404 (3)
  • PHED 306 (3)
  • PHED 365 (3)

d. Physical education methodology courses, including team, individual, adaptive, cooperative activities, rhythms and dance: 9 semester hours

Required courses:

  • PHED 201 (3)
  • PHED 202 (3)

AND select from these courses:

  • PHED 308 (3)
  • PHED 273 (2)
  • PHED 274 (2)
  • PHED 275 (2)

e. Health methods courses: 6 semester hours

Required course:

  • HEAL 405 (3)

AND select one course with HEAL prefix (other than HEAL 110 and HEAL 205)

f. Health and physical education electives: 6 semester hours

Select from these courses:

  • Any of the courses listed in previous categories (not already filling another requirement)
  • PRLS 316 (3)  
  • PRLS 460 (3)

Additional State Requirements for PreK-12 endorsement: 15 semester credits:

  • Human Growth & Development (3 semester credits)
  • Curriculum and Instruction (3 semester credits)
  • Classroom and Behavior Management (3 semester credits)
  • Foundations of Education (3 semester credits)
  • Reading for the Specialty Areas (EDRD 300 - 3 semester credits)