Certification NASM Personal Trainer

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“Our free practice exam mirrors the topics covered in the NASM exam.” (about me)

Certification NASM Personal Trainer

Certification as a NASM personal trainer is a popular option. NASM personal training offers a CPT (Certified Personal Trainer) qualification as well as two more advanced qualifications.

You can compare NASM Certification against other Personal Trainer Certifications using our Certification comparison table. You can also see what other readers are saying about the NASM certification and the NASM exam .

While you can get your certification as a NASM personal trainer without being a member of NASM or taking any of their workshops, they offer workshops in major cities every couple of months.

Who is NASM?

NASM is short for the National Academy of Sports Medicine. They have been around since 1987 and boast over 100,000 members. The certification as a NASM personal trainer is widely accepted in the industry and is now accredited by the NCCA.

The NASM Time Limit

You must take the exam within 120 days of enrolling. It's not a big deal, but it may be significant for people new to personal training that need more time to prepare.

Although you can purchase a 90 day extension for $75, this whole expiration date may be an issue for some people. If you don't plan on starting on your certification right away, you way want to wait to sign up for the NASM program until you are ready to start studying.

What's the test about?

Tests must be taken at a testing center. If you are in a remote location you will want to make sure that you can get to a testing center. This is an even bigger issue if you fail the first time and need to retake the exam.

You get 2 hours to complete 120 questions on the exam covering the following topics:

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Assessment - 25
Exercise Technique - 25
Program Design - 25
Nutrition - 10
Client Relations & Administration - 10
Professional Responsibility - 5
Research Questions - 20

NASM personal training offers a practice exam that you are allowed to take as many time as you like. But there is a lot of disagreement about how accurately the practice exam reflects the actual NASM exam (see our exam discussion page for endless postings on this topic).

Whether you think the NASM practice exam is helpful or not, you should also plan on taking our 500+ question Exam Review Course. At $24.95 it is an easy way to make sure you are ready to pass the NASM test on the first try.

Certifications as a NASM personal trainer requires the usual 18 years old and CPR and AED certification. You must have the CPR/AED certificate before taking the exam. So if you are not certified, or if your certification is going to expire, you may want to take care of that before enrolling in the NASM personal training program (because you only have 120 days to complete the program).

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Here come the costs!

You can take the exam for $549. Or you can take the exam and get all study materials for $599-799 depending on which package you choose!

All packages include textbook, study guide, DVD, Webinar coaching series, online learning, iPod Video, MP3 Audio, and online practice exam. Some packages also include Intro to Personal Fitness Training course and/or Live Workshop. And if you fail, a retest will cost $99 and allows you another 120 days to take the exam.

Recertification

You guessed it! Your certification as a NASM personal trainer expires every two years. You must submit proof of continuing education and a $99 fee to extend your certification.

Next Page: NASM Vital Statistics or Skip to the NASM Reader Comments

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NASM Certification Insider Tips

Our readers submit some great tips about the NASM certification. Click on each tip to read and rate the comments.

NASM CPT Books
Hello everyone!

Can someone please tell me what is the latest edition for the CPT books?

I am planning to buy them used on-line and I just want to ...

NASM Live Workshop
How helpful is the workshop to prepare for the NASM-CPT exam? Is it worth the extra money?

Freshly NASM certified -- First attempt, yes!
First off, my thanks to everyone who took the time to write reassuring posts about the exam, especially those who wrote intricate study detailed guides....

NASM EXAM MUST READ (very long but useful)
Well I will say that I just passed my test about 2 hours ago and couldn't wait to get home and post on this site. A little about my Nasm experience....

My ...

NASM Intro to Personal Fitness Training Course
I am thinking about purchasing a NASM CPT Package but don't know if it's worth paying the extra $100 for the Intro to Personal Fitness Training course ...

NASM Recertification Costs
I am confused about the actual cost of the NASM certification for future years. On the certification comparison webpage it says it costs 700.00 for the ...

Which NASM product package is best?
I have no problem paying for the Premier package, if it's worth it! I was just wondering if anyone had any thoughts on which is the best value. I'm fit ...

NASM Textbook Versions
I am ACE certified and am now studying for the NASM (frankly, I see little to no difference in the materials, despite how I've been hearing that NASM is ...

Buying Certification Materials on Ebay
I have recently become unemployed and have been thinking about becoming a CPT for a number of years so now may be the right time. I would like to take ...

Passed first time
I just sat the NASM exam today and managed to pass first time. I have to say whilst it was difficult, I didn't think it was as hard or as "tricky" as ...

Is NASM a good cert. for sports performance training?
I am 24 years old and i am wanting to get into sports performance training. I have played sports all my life and through college. I have a bachelor's ...

Should I buy the NASM workshop?
I see that NASM offers the studying materials, the test and the workshop for $679. Should I bother with the workshop or just use the study materials?

NASM Questions
I am planning to take the NASM test within the next 5 months and have a few questions.

On the NASM review page, it says after I enroll, i have to take ...

Failed NASM Twice
I just took the NASM exam for the 2nd time, missed it by 7 points, I studied for two months and still failed. The damned questions are very tricky and ...

Is the NASM OPT Model that different than other programs?
I'm in the process of comparing programs to become a CPT and was wondering if the OPT model is as unique and cutting-edge as it sounds?

It seems to ...

NASM Research Questions
Can anyone give a little insight to the research questions? I understand that they are not counted towards your grade? I am just curious as to better ...

Passed the NASM Exam
I think the NASM exam is challenging. I hold three ACE Certifications and wanted to raise the bar a bit. So I purchased the NASM study materials that ...

Is NASM a good choice over the other certifications?
I had almost made up my mind to take up the NASM's CPT certification when I read in another website posted by a fitness trainer herself that NASM is not ...

Don't believe all the negativity
I just took and passed the NASM exam this morning. I have a bachelors and a masters degree but neither are in exercise science, human performance, etc....

I passed but NASM won't give me my score!
I studied for months and months...on and off...I went to a live workshop, watched the DVD's, read the entire book, did all the questions in the study guide ...

NASM is the best!
I have helped more of my clients with NASM-OPT model training then with any other method. And I have the following certifications:

NASM CPT, PES
WITS ...

Should I get the NASM certification first?
Help! I have been told by three gyms (Calloways, 24 Hour Fitness, and Island Athletic Club on Whidbey Island), that the trainers they hire are NASM certified....

NASM took me six months
I think one of the comments listed above is misleading to people as I just took the NASM CPT exam and it took me 6 months to prepare. I have a full time ...

Lifetime Fitness recomended NASM certification
I live a couple miles from a Lifetime fitness club, which I love. I am a chiropractic student and wanted to get a head start on the personal training side ...

Cutting edge certification
NASM is very cutting edge. They do a lot of research and always have many new and exciting concepts. One thing to keep in mind about them is that since ...

NASM is easy
I did this cert in less than two months. I just studied the NASM personal training guide.

Financial Aid for Personal Trainer Certifications
Hello katie, I want to be a trainer very badly, yet i don't have the money to afford the NASM test and book ($679.99). What can i do to get this certification....

NASM is under rated on this site
First off all, NASM is the best organization out there. It is not med-to high, it's the mandatory cert if you work at a lot of the big gyms.

Also the ...

NASM DVD question Not rated yet
OK, So I'm doing the self study thing (getting my materials dirt cheap on ebay, I guess that could be a tip), which has been going pretty good so far. However,...

could buy on craigslist,but,,,, Not rated yet
Hi I saw that i could buy all of the NASM study materials from someone on craigslist, but is it true that i would still have to pay for test separately ...

Passed the NASM the first time yesterday Not rated yet
Well, it wasnt easy but wasnt hard as others have said. I was somewhat nervous/excited. Tougher than some of my college exams but that isnt saying too ...

Passed NASM first time out and here is what I think and how I did it. Sept 09 Not rated yet
I have a great deal to say about the test and the whole process about the testing dynamic. I have been in the fitness business for almost 30 years and ...

Thank you!! :0) Not rated yet
I would like to sincerely thank everyone that submitted information on this website, it helped me out soooooooo much! I wouldn't have studied so hard on ...

Recertification Cost for NASM Not rated yet
I am currently trying to decide which to take out of ACE and NASM. I have an Exercise Science Bachelors degree and want to do in home training. However,...

Just took the NASM Exam. Passed on first try Not rated yet
Whoa! Glad thats over.... Difficult test and truly is different than the study test. Biggest thing to know is the Assessment questions (Overactive and ...

NASM online Intro to personal fitness training course Not rated yet
Anybody know anything about the online intro to PFT course? Is it worth the extra $100? Thanks in advance.

Studied for 45 days and passed NASM on 1st time. Not rated yet
Just like anything elses, if you study it is a passable test on the 1st try. The study questions helped a lot. You can also take the study test as many ...

NASM is a Great Starter Cert Not rated yet
I got my NASM CPT almost two years ago...the cost is a little more than others but the regulations make you stay on top of your game which i like...it ...

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