A study examined the differences in perception of characteristics necessary for success as a physical educator among beginning and senior physical education majors, student teachers who had completed a year of field experience, entry year teachers, and teachers with at least five years of teaching experience. Subjects placed in rank order 25 characteristics which had been determined to be representative of general behaviors or qualities necessary for a successful physical educator. Beginning majors had significantly different perceptions than groups with greater educational or teaching experience. Management characteristics were given more value by teachers with field experience than by students in preparation. The groups tended to be more consistent in the identification of least important characteristics than in consistently determining those of most importance. Professional characteristics lessened in value after the entry into professional preparation courses and continued to decline in importance with field experience. (JD)