Passed the NASM test, but............

The NASM test is very hard but not for the right reasons. The questions are very wordy and complex. I'd say 66% of my mental effort and time went into dissecting the questions. To find out what they were really asking. The questions could have been alot more clear. But then more people would pass :)
Aside from the nature of the test, there are some other things that bugged me:
* I wasn't allowed to see my score.
* They ommitted ALL review material from the base package. If you want that, you have to buy their "e-teach" program for another $350.00. Five years ago I bought their 2nd edition and it did include all the review material. Chapter tests, quizzes, etc.
* To get my certificate, I simply print it myself with a link they emailed me. Yeah I feel important.

Now for the upside: The context in the book is EXCELLENT. As far as what the book teaches. The knowledge is really good. Very functional. Backed up with science. I liked that.

My Thoughts, NASM

by Clifton
(Carmel, Indiana)

I have been lifting for a long time now, am a competitive bodybuilder, sponsored by a supplement company, and have a few clients (left their trainers for me). I have had the training material for a while now and did some moderate studying. Already having a degree in exercise science I had a solid background in the technical part as well. I just finished taking the test and failed with a 65%. The thing that bothers me about NASM is that they did not ask many questions at all about actual training. I had zero questions about how to do a squat or a bench press, or even a simple dumbbell curl! What I got instead was several questions asking about a crouching tiger to leap frong plank in mid air to two finger curl. And the rest of the exam seemed to ask about how to talk to people and make them feel nice about themselves. I should have known these were the type of questions that would be on this test based off of what I see at my gym. So my advice to you is skip all the actual training material and go straight to how THEY set up THEIR programs and how THEY talk to people and you should do fine.

NASM Recertification is too Costly

$325-$400 plus $99 every two years is too much to ask.

Other programs allow CEUs to be obtained through places like LesMills Quarterlies, and online courses that are much cheaper. I don't mind the initial cost of NASM because it is so well recognized, but I refuse to be locked into a scheme that has me paying for years to come.
Sorry guys.