This study was concerned with assessing the relative importance of prior teaching experience as a criterion in the selection of family life teachers. Comparisons between experienced and non-experienced teachers were made in three areas: sex knowledge, counseling adequacy, and competency in handling family-life issues. Scores derived from each area suggest that there is essentially no measurable difference between experienced and non-experienced teachers. This finding reinforces the belief that specialized training of family life teachers is important for the future of family life education. (A six-item bibliography is included.) (Author)