Just passed the NASM cert exam!!

by John
(Missouri)

I will tell you that it is brutal. Please study all of the topics listed in the NASM outline guide.

Find all of the practice test questions you can and learn those. Don't just memorize the answers, but know the why's and how's.

It's essential to MEMORIZE all of the exercises mentioned in the book, except the reference pages in the back. Know exactly which exercise belongs to which training phase and why. Know the muscles involved. Know the regressions and progressions of them as well..cold.

Know your special populations. Know assessments cold. Know why knees turn in our out and feet turn out and how to correct it.

Know the energy stuff like the three pathways for getting energy.

I thought I was fully prepared, but wasn't. I'm actually surprised I passed.

Good luck!

Just Passed NASM Exam 4 Today! February 2013

by James

After about five months of studying I passed the NASM exam on my first try! About 15-20 questions in I was almost sure I was going to fail. The way the questions were worded was very different from the practice test and threw me off at first. But once I settled in it became easier.

I took the practice test about 20 times and it did help get me familiar with the right topics for the exam. The exam is definetely a step up from the practice test but does contain some of the same questions and questions that are relative to others on the practice test. If your not getting at least a 95% on your practice test than you are in trouble! So take as much as you can. You must know Program Design Continuum(Page 341) The Progression Continuum(Page 345)Neural Activation(Page 38)Functions of The Heart&Blood(Pages 52&54)Muscles As Movers(Page 42)Energy(Page 67-68) All of Chapter 6(Page 99) Compensations,Imbalances and Corrective Strategies(Page 183)Stretching Techniques(Page 162)
Cardiorespiratory Training Methods(Page 199)Muscles of the Core(Page 211). Be familiar with all Core,Balance,Flexibility and Resistance exercises and whether they are stabilization, power, etc. You also need go to Appendix D(Muscular System Page 575) and try to memorize the isolated function of every muscle. You should also know your key word definitions. This is a hard exam for most of us, so get to know as much of this stuff as you can.

Good Luck!

Passed NASM 4th Edition exam on first try (Nov. 2012)

by Sarah
(Maryland)

I feel like I really overstudied!

The exam was not as hard as I thought it would be. You have 120 min to answer 120 questions, all multiple choice.

Things that you definitely want to know are:
-The Phases of the OPT model and the corresponding stretches and exercises pg.9-14 and appendix B
-Compensations, Muscle Imbalances and Corrective Strategies on pg. 183
-Fitness assessment (Overhead squat, pushing, pulling)

Just knowing those really well will probably get you by, but you should also be very familiar with:
-Anatomy of the core
-Definitions of the different type of flexibility and stretches
-Recommended macronutrient intake
-Sets and reps for endurance, hypertrophy, strength and power
-Progression and regression of stabilization exercises
-Blood pressure and zone heart rates.

Something that really helped me was the exam prep on this website.

Good Luck!


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Anyone taken the NASM Version 4 test?

by Melissa
(Chicago)

I am currently studying for the NASM exam, and I believe the book has changed based on the below posts. Has anyone recently taken the exam? I am kind of freaking out - I am scheduled to take the exam next week.

NASM Exam - 7/20/2013 Houston, Texas

by "Me-Me" Wells
(Houston, Texas)

The exam is pretty much the CPT-4 Practice Exam but reworded. There are some other questions thrown in which I beleive are the research questions of which you can identify imediately. The main questions that I found precise and of many were the musculeur functions (Basic and Applied Science), exercise techniques and training instructions. They were sometimes asked twice but worded differently. Know the funtions and exercises.

My advice to you is study (if you are self-study). Don't MEMORIZE anything. Know why it's done the way it is and the result of it. Use your time to study at least 2-3 hours a day for long term memory. If you use your time wisely, by the time you reach 1 month before exam scheduling of your 180 days, you will have known everything there is to know. Don't be nervous or freakout (like I did) because the test is very easy but you must have studied every bit of your BOOK, ETeach, flash cards, etc...anything that can assist with studies. For those that did not pass, you need to better prepare yourself and study as if you are back in school again. Like I told my adult kids when they were in school, "If you don't get it in 9 months, you won't get it in 2 months." I didn't believe in summer school. 6 months of self study for NASM certification is a sufficient amount of time to ace the test but if you choose to bundle your studies in 1 or 2 months, you have just set yourself up for failure.

Blessings to you and see you in the field. -"Me-Me" Wells