How to Become a Physics Teacher
How to become a physics teacher, in short: earn a bachelor’s degree in physics or a related science, complete a teacher preparation program, and pass your state’s required licensure exams. Alternative certification lets career-changers with a physics-related degree start teaching on a provisional license while finishing coursework. Requirements and reciprocity rules vary by state.
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Fewer people are qualified to teach physics than any other subject in American high schools. Cornell University has identified physics as the field with the most severe teacher shortage in secondary education, and many of the people currently teaching it aren’t certified in the subject. That shortage means real opportunity for anyone with a physics background who’s willing to get certified.
Every state sets its own path to physics teacher certification. Still, the core structure is consistent: a relevant bachelor’s degree, a teacher preparation program, a state licensing exam, and an application to your state’s board of education. Traditional and alternative routes both lead to the same license. This guide walks through both paths, what physics teachers actually do day-to-day, and what the job pays.
Use the links below to jump to certification requirements, the step-by-step path, salary data, and reciprocity information.
- What physics teacher certification means
- How to become a physics teacher
- What physics teachers do
- Why the physics teacher shortage matters
- Physics teacher salary and job outlook
What Physics Teacher Certification Means
Certification is the process states use to confirm that someone teaching physics actually knows physics, and knows how to teach it. Because physics is a demanding subject with real prerequisite math and lab skills, most state boards of education require more than a general science endorsement. They want to see coursework specific to physics, not just a broad “general science” degree.
Requirements vary by state, but nearly every state requires at least a bachelor’s degree in physics or a closely related discipline, such as physical science or engineering physics, from an accredited institution. A teacher preparation program, whether completed before or after that degree, adds the pedagogy: lesson planning, classroom management, and student assessment. From there, most states require candidates to pass a state-approved content exam. Many states use the Praxis Physics: Content Knowledge exam, while others require their own state-specific assessments before issuing an initial license.
Certification earned in one state doesn’t automatically transfer everywhere. Most states participate in some form of teacher licensure reciprocity, meaning they’ll recognize an out-of-state license if it meets comparable standards. However, you’ll often still need to submit transcripts and pass that state’s specific exam requirements. Check your state’s teacher certification requirements before assuming your license will carry over directly.
How to Become a Physics Teacher
The path breaks down into four steps, though the order can shift depending on whether you’re coming straight from an undergraduate program or switching careers.
1. Earn a bachelor’s degree in physics or a related science. Most states require substantial physics coursework, not just a handful of survey classes. A degree in physics, applied physics, or engineering physics from an accredited college or university satisfies this for nearly every state.
2. Complete a state-approved teacher preparation program. This is where you learn actually to teach, not just understand the material. Programs cover lesson design, classroom management, and supervised student teaching. Some undergraduate physics education programs build this in. Career-changers usually complete it separately through a post-baccalaureate or alternative certification program.
3. Pass your state’s licensing exam. Most states require candidates to pass a state-approved content exam. Many states use the Praxis Physics: Content Knowledge exam, sometimes paired with a general teaching-methods exam like the Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching. In contrast, others require their own state-specific assessments. Texas is among the states that use state-specific educator certification exams rather than Praxis for physics certification.
4. Apply for licensure through your state board of education. Once you’ve cleared the exam and coursework requirements, you submit transcripts, exam scores, and any required background check to your state’s licensing agency. Approval results in an initial teaching license, sometimes provisional pending a few remaining requirements.
Traditional vs. Alternative Certification
Not everyone follows the four steps in that order, and that’s the real distinction between traditional and alternative certification.
| Path | Who It’s For | How Licensure Works |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional Certification | Undergraduates completing a physics education degree | Finish the degree and student teaching before applying for a full initial license |
| Alternative Certification | Career-changers who already hold a physics-related bachelor’s degree | Start teaching under a provisional license while finishing required coursework and exams |
Alternative certification exists specifically because the physics teacher shortage is severe enough that states need working professionals, engineers, and physics graduates who didn’t originally plan to teach. If you already have the content knowledge, an alternative program gets you into the classroom faster and lets you complete the pedagogy requirements while employed. See how alternative teaching certification works for a broader look at eligibility and program types across states.
What Physics Teachers Do
Physics teachers carry the same core responsibilities as any classroom teacher: building lesson plans, maintaining classroom management, grading student work, and coordinating with colleagues and administrators on curriculum goals set by the state or district. What sets the job apart is the subject matter itself.
A physics teacher has to move fluidly between explaining abstract concepts, like Newton’s laws of motion or Einstein’s theories of relativity, and demonstrating them concretely through classroom experiments. That combination of explanation and hands-on demonstration is what makes physics instruction distinct from most other science teaching. A partially filled bucket of water swung in a vertical circle illustrates centripetal force. A balloon rubbed against hair and stuck to a wall demonstrates static electricity. These aren’t gimmicks. They’re how physics teachers make abstract laws tangible before students ever see the math behind them.
Physics teachers are also uniquely positioned to point students toward a wide range of careers. Physics underlies medicine, engineering, environmental science, and even finance, where quantitative modeling draws directly on physics training. Students who take physics seriously in high school carry that foundation into fields far beyond the sciences.
Why the Physics Teacher Shortage Matters
Cornell University has identified physics as the subject with the most severe secondary-education teacher shortage in the country, and a large share of current physics teachers aren’t certified specifically in the subject. That gap has consequences beyond any single classroom. Federal researchers have pointed to this shortfall as a factor limiting the pipeline of students entering STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) fields in college.
As a result, physics has been designated a high-need teaching area in many states, which often comes with loan forgiveness programs, signing incentives, or expedited alternative certification pathways. The American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) offers teaching materials, conferences, and mentoring specifically to support new physics teachers navigating their first years in the classroom.
Physics Teacher Salary and Job Outlook
Physics teachers are typically classified under the same BLS category as other secondary school teachers, since salary and job growth data isn’t broken out by subject area. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, secondary school teachers earned a median annual salary of $72,040 as of May 2025, with the middle 50% earning between roughly that figure and $92,570.
| Measure | National Figure |
|---|---|
| Median annual wage | $72,040 |
| Mean annual wage | $76,320 |
| 90th percentile wage | $107,600 |
| National employment | 1,065,210 |
The BLS projects secondary school teacher employment to decline 1.6% nationally between 2024 and 2034, though 66,200 average annual openings are still expected each year from retirements and career changes. That national figure reflects overall enrollment trends across all subjects. Physics specifically bucks that trend in most districts, since the subject-specific shortage identified by Cornell means physics teaching positions are consistently harder to fill than the aggregate secondary-teacher numbers suggest.
Frequently Asked Questions
What degree do I need to become a physics teacher?
Most states require at least a bachelor’s degree in physics or a closely related science, such as applied physics or engineering physics. A master’s degree isn’t typically required for initial licensure, though some districts pay more for teachers who hold one.
Can I become a physics teacher without an education degree?
Yes. Alternative certification programs are built for exactly this situation. If you hold a bachelor’s degree in physics or a related field, you can typically start teaching under a provisional license while completing the required education coursework and passing your state’s licensing exam.
Do I need to pass the Praxis exam to teach physics?
Most states require candidates to pass a state-approved content exam. Many states use the Praxis Physics: Content Knowledge exam, sometimes paired with a general teaching-methods exam, while others require their own state-specific assessments. Texas is among the states that use state-specific educator certification exams rather than Praxis. Check your state’s licensing details to confirm which exam applies to you.
Will my physics teaching certification transfer if I move to another state?
Often, but not automatically. Most states have reciprocity agreements that recognize out-of-state licenses meeting comparable standards. However, you’ll typically still need to submit transcripts and may need to pass that state’s specific exam requirements before your license transfers fully.
Is there really a shortage of physics teachers?
Yes. Cornell University has identified physics as the subject with the most severe secondary-education teacher shortage nationally, and many current physics teachers aren’t certified specifically in the subject. That shortage translates into real hiring demand for newly certified physics teachers.
- Cornell University has identified physics as having the most severe teacher shortage among secondary school subjects. That makes it one of the highest-need STEM teaching fields nationally.
- Both traditional and alternative paths lead to full licensure. A bachelor’s degree, a teacher preparation program, and any required state-approved licensure exams are common requirements either way.
- Certification doesn’t automatically transfer between states. Check reciprocity rules and any state-specific exam requirements before assuming your license carries over.
- Median pay sits at $72,040 nationally. Physics-specific demand runs higher than the aggregate secondary-teacher job market suggests.
Find accredited physics teacher certification programs, including application requirements and licensing timelines for your state.
May 2025 US Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS wage estimates and 2024-2034 employment projections for Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers, Middle School Teachers, and High School Teachers reflect state and national data, not school-specific outcomes. State or district job-growth projections are sourced separately from national BLS outlook data. Conditions vary by school sector, subject area, and district. Data accessed July 2026.
