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About this exam

National Board Certification is described by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards as the most respected professional certification available in education, designed to develop, retain, and recognize accomplished teachers and to generate ongoing improvement in schools nationwide. The Early and Middle Childhood Physical Education certificate area sits within that system, and Component 1: Content Knowledge is one of the components candidates complete. This page and the practice material behind it are independent study aids; they are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the National Board. The National Board reports that 146,000+ teachers have achieved National Board Certification, and it states that it is committed to expanding access to certification so that every student has the opportunity to learn from an accomplished, Board-certified teacher. Because the National Board publishes its own standards, component instructions, and scoring information, treat those official materials as authoritative and use independent practice only to rehearse recall, pacing, and reasoning about physical education content for early and middle childhood learners. Note also that the National Board says it is updating its Information Release Policy for greater transparency; no effective date appears in the source, so confirm current policy details directly with the National Board before you rely on them.

What you'll study

Common questions

About NBPTS EMC PE preparation

What is the NBPTS Early and Middle Childhood Physical Education certification?

It is a National Board certificate area for teachers of physical education with early and middle childhood students. National Board Certification is described by the National Board as the most respected professional certification in education, built to develop, retain, and recognize accomplished teachers and to drive ongoing school improvement. Confirm eligibility and component requirements on the National Board site.

Who should pursue this certificate?

Accomplished physical educators working with early and middle childhood learners who want national recognition of their practice. The National Board states it is committed to expanding access to certification so every student, regardless of background or circumstance, can learn from a Board-certified teacher. Check the current eligibility rules and your state's incentives before applying.

What does Component 1: Content Knowledge involve?

Component 1 is the content knowledge component of National Board Certification; the National Board publishes its specific format, timing, and scoring on its own Component 1 page. Read that page and the certificate-area standards before planning study. This independent practice material is not a substitute for the official component instructions, which control every procedural detail.

How hard is the content knowledge component?

Expect it to demand deep, connected knowledge of physical education rather than isolated facts: movement concepts, developmentally appropriate practice, assessment, and how you justify decisions for early and middle childhood learners. Difficulty is best judged against the published standards and scoring guidance, since the National Board sets the bar and reports results.

Can I retake a component if I do not score well?

Retake and scoring rules are set by the National Board, and the source text for this page does not state them. Do not rely on secondhand claims about retake limits, waiting periods, or fees. Verify the current policy in your candidate account or on the National Board's official component and policy pages before you make a scheduling decision.

How long is the assessment and how much time do I get?

The source material available here does not state a duration, item count, or passing score for Component 1, so none is given on this page. Those details live in official National Board materials and can change between assessment cycles. Confirm timing and scoring from the National Board directly rather than from third-party summaries.

What is the best study order?

Start with the certificate-area standards, since they define what accomplished practice looks like. Then map your gaps against them, study the weakest domains first, and finish with timed recall practice that forces you to justify instructional choices. Keep a written log of decisions you cannot defend, because those become your next study targets.

What are common failure modes?

Typical weaknesses include memorizing activities instead of the principles behind them, ignoring developmental appropriateness for early versus middle childhood, and describing lessons without explaining why they work or how learning is assessed. Another frequent problem is preparing from unofficial summaries instead of the National Board's own standards and component instructions.

How many teachers hold National Board Certification?

The National Board states that 146,000+ teachers have achieved National Board Certification. That figure reflects the whole certified population across certificate areas, not this physical education area alone, and the National Board does not break it down on the pages summarized here.

Is this site officially connected to the National Board?

No. This is independent study material and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. National Board Certification and its component requirements, fees, and policies are defined solely by the National Board, and its official pages should always be your source of record.