The article reviews scientific papers, analyzes the properties of personality and personality traits that determine the formation of entrepreneurial competence in secondary school. The following research methods were used: general theoretical – the study of psychological, pedagogical and methodological literature on the problem of formation of entrepreneurial competence in students in secondary education (analysis and synthesis; abstraction and concretization; generalization and systematization; induction and deduction; comparison and opposition). Theoretical – method of causal analysis; method of historical analysis; prediction. Empirical – observation of the modern educational process at school. The entrepreneurial qualities of a student adapted to the dynamic changes of modern society are considered. It is shown that in the structure of entrepreneurial competence of schoolchildren the following qualities are characteristically expressed: initiative, susceptibility, perseverance, courage and willingness to risk, focus on efficiency and quality, responsibility and commitment, independence and self-confidence, the ability to convince, creativity. The importance of studying the psychological basis of entrepreneurial competence, which is the driving force of entrepreneurial activity, is revealed. The criteria of formation of entrepreneurial competence in physics lessons, namely motivational-value, cognitive-cognitive, activity-practical and creative, are defined. The theoretical value of the work is connected with the attempt to substantiate the criteria for the formation of entrepreneurial competence in physics lessons. The practical value lies in the fact that the materials of the article can be used by subject teachers, teachers of institutes of postgraduate pedagogical education, social teachers. Further study is require in the following aspects: the diagnosis of entrepreneurial competence, the development of methods for the formation of entrepreneurial competence of secondary school students in physics lessons, comparative analysis of the formation of entrepreneurial competence in schools, the analysis of forms and methods of formation of entrepreneurial skills in other countries.