Get Certified
The Adapted Physical Education National Standards (APENS) were developed by the National Consortium for Physical Education for Individuals with Disabilities (NCPEID) to define the essential knowledge and skills needed to provide high-quality adapted physical education services.
CAPE Certification
NCPEID established the APENS to define the knowledge required to deliver high-quality adapted physical education services. To ensure professionals meet these expectations, NCPEID awards the Certified Adapted Physical Educator (CAPE) certification to individuals who successfully meet all APENS eligibility requirements and pass the APENS national certification examination.
Two certification tracks are available:
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- Practitioner Track, for PK–12 school-based professionals.
- Higher Education Track, for faculty who prepare preservice or in-service adapted physical education professionals.
Individuals who earn CAPE certification demonstrate that they have met the nationally validated knowledge standards needed to provide appropriate adapted physical education services to students with disabilities or to prepare future professionals in higher education settings.
CAPE certification is valid for seven years. To maintain certification, individuals must complete the recertification process. Details on eligibility, requirements, and application procedures are provided below.
All applications for earning or renewing CAPE certification are administered through Human Kinetics. Hyperlinks will be added when available.
CAPE Certification and Recertification Tracks
Initial CAPE Certification: Practitioner Track
Information before you begin your application
Valid Teaching License
- You must hold a valid teaching license in Physical Education, Health and Physical Education, or Adapted Physical Education
Coursework Completion
- You must provide documentation of at least twelve semester credit hours focused on the educational needs of individuals with disabilities.
- At least nine of these credit hours must be in Adapted Physical Education
- All coursework will be verified by an APENS Committee member.
Instructional Experience
- You must document a minimum of two hundred instructional hours in Adapted Physical Education.
- These hours will be verified by a member of the CAPE Committee.
Exam Requirement
- You must pass the APENS exam before CAPE certification can be awarded.
CAPE Recertification: Practitioner Track
CAPE recertification requires earning at least ten points across approved professional activities during the seven-year certification period. You will complete only the categories that apply to you. Each selected activity must include the required supporting documentation.
Activities you may document include:
- Current NCPEID Membership (1 point)
- You will be asked to provide your NCPEID membership number to verify current membership status.
- Sustained Service Teaching in Higher Education (1 point for every 2 completed years, 3 points maximum)
- You will be asked to provide the institution where you taught, the years of service, and the name and contact information of an individual who can verify your service.
- Sustained Service Teaching as an APE Practitioner (PK–12 or equivalent) (1 point for every 2 completed years, 3 points maximum)
- You will be asked to provide the school district or institution, the years of service, and a contact who can verify your role as an APE practitioner.
- Peer-Reviewed Publications in APE/APA (1 point per publication, 3 points maximum)
- You will be asked to provide full citation information for each publication, including DOI numbers when available.
- Conference Presentations in APE/APA (1 point per presentation, 3 points maximum)
- You will be asked to provide the conference name, year, and title of each presentation.
- Attendance at APE/APA-Related Conferences (1 point per conference attended, 3 points maximum)
- You will be asked to provide the conference name and year attended.
- Elected Board Member Service (State or National APE/APA/Sport Organization) (1 point per term of service, 3 points maximum)
- You will be asked to provide the organization name, years served, and a brief description of your role.
- Elected Chair Service (State or National APE/APA/Sport Organization) (1 point per term of service, 3 points maximum)
- You will be asked to provide the organization name, years served, and a brief description of your responsibilities.
- Additional APE/APA Professional Certifications (1 point per certification, 3 points maximum)
- You will be asked to provide the certification name, year earned, and contact information for the certifying body.
- Additional Graduate-Level Coursework in APE/APA (1 point per course completed, 3 points maximum)
- You will be asked to provide the course prefix, course name, institution, and year taken.
- Continuing Education in APE/APA (1 point per qualifying experience, 3 points maximum)
- You will be asked to provide the issuing entity, number of credits earned, date completed, and topic of study.
- In-Service Presentations Related to APE/APA (1 point per presentation, 3 points maximum)
- You will be asked to provide the presentation title or topic, year delivered, and the name and email of a supervising administrator.
- Mentorship or Supervision of Interns/Student Teachers in APE (1 point per supervision experience, 3 points maximum)
- You will be asked to provide the institution, year(s) of supervision, number of students mentored, and a verifying contact.
- Post-Secondary APE Courses Taught (1 point per course taught, 3 points maximum)
- You will be asked to provide the course prefix, course name, institution, and a verifying contact.
- Coaching Experience Serving Individuals with Disabilities (1 point per full season coached, 3 points maximum)
- You will be asked to provide the sport coached, organizational affiliation, years coached, and a brief description of your role.
- APE Program Development in Higher Education (1 point per program developed or initiated, 3 points maximum)
- You will be asked to provide the institution, type of program developed or initiated, and supervisor contact information.
- APE Program Development in PK–12 Education (1 point per program developed or initiated, 3 points maximum)
- You will be asked to provide the school district, type of program developed or initiated, and administrator contact information.
Please note:
Point values may not always reflect the exact time associated with each activity. The recertification system is designed to recognize a broad range of professional contributions that reflect the depth and scope expected of individuals holding CAPE certification. All documentation is reviewed by an APENS Committee member.
Initial CAPE Certification: Higher Education Track
Information before you begin your application
Higher Education Degree Earned
- You must hold a degree in Physical Education, Health and Physical Education, or Adapted Physical Education at the graduate level (master’s or doctoral degree).
Courses Taught in Higher Education
- You must document at least twelve semester credit hours of college or university teaching in adapted physical activity or adapted physical education.
- All instructional credits will be verified by an APENS Committee member.
Exam Requirement
- You must pass the APENS exam before CAPE certification can be awarded.
CAPE Recertification: Higher Education Track
CAPE recertification requires earning at least ten points across approved professional activities during the seven-year certification period. You will complete only the categories that apply to you. Each selected activity must include the required supporting documentation.
Activities you may document include:
- Current NCPEID Membership (1 point)
- You will be asked to provide your NCPEID membership number to verify current membership status.
- Sustained Service Teaching in Higher Education (1 point for every 2 completed years, 3 points maximum)
- You will be asked to provide the institution where you taught, the years of service, and the name and contact information of an individual who can verify your service.
- Sustained Service Teaching as an APE Practitioner (PK–12 or equivalent) (1 point for every 2 completed years, 3 points maximum)
- You will be asked to provide the school district or institution, the years of service, and a contact who can verify your role as an APE practitioner.
- Peer-Reviewed Publications in APE/APA (1 point per publication, 3 points maximum)
- You will be asked to provide full citation information for each publication, including DOI numbers when available.
- Conference Presentations in APE/APA (1 point per presentation, 3 points maximum)
- You will be asked to provide the conference name, year, and title of each presentation.
- Attendance at APE/APA-Related Conferences (1 point per conference attended, 3 points maximum)
- You will be asked to provide the conference name and year attended.
- Elected Board Member Service (State or National APE/APA/Sport Organization) (1 point per term of service, 3 points maximum)
- You will be asked to provide the organization name, years served, and a brief description of your role.
- Elected Chair Service (State or National APE/APA/Sport Organization) (1 point per term of service, 3 points maximum)
- You will be asked to provide the organization name, years served, and a brief description of your responsibilities.
- Additional APE/APA Professional Certifications (1 point per certification, 3 points maximum)
- You will be asked to provide the certification name, year earned, and contact information for the certifying body.
- Additional Graduate-Level Coursework in APE/APA (1 point per course completed, 3 points maximum)
- You will be asked to provide the course prefix, course name, institution, and year taken.
- Continuing Education in APE/APA (1 point per qualifying experience, 3 points maximum)
- You will be asked to provide the issuing entity, number of credits earned, date completed, and topic of study.
- In-Service Presentations Related to APE/APA (1 point per presentation, 3 points maximum)
- You will be asked to provide the presentation title or topic, year delivered, and the name and email of a supervising administrator.
- Mentorship or Supervision of Interns/Student Teachers in APE (1 point per supervision experience, 3 points maximum)
- You will be asked to provide the institution, year(s) of supervision, number of students mentored, and a verifying contact.
- Post-Secondary APE Courses Taught (1 point per course taught, 3 points maximum)
- You will be asked to provide the course prefix, course name, institution, and a verifying contact.
- Coaching Experience Serving Individuals with Disabilities (1 point per full season coached, 3 points maximum)
- You will be asked to provide the sport coached, organizational affiliation, years coached, and a brief description of your role.
- APE Program Development in Higher Education (1 point per program developed or initiated, 3 points maximum)
- You will be asked to provide the institution, type of program developed or initiated, and supervisor contact information.
- APE Program Development in PK–12 Education (1 point per program developed or initiated, 3 points maximum)
- You will be asked to provide the school district, type of program developed or initiated, and administrator contact information.
Please note:
Point values may not always reflect the exact time associated with each activity. The recertification system is designed to recognize a broad range of professional contributions that reflect the depth and scope expected of individuals holding CAPE certification. All documentation is reviewed by an APENS Committee member.