Just Passed the NSCA CPT Exam!

by P-Dog
(North Cackalacky)

Here are some tips.....

Get the 3 practice exam set! and take it early on....when you print out the questions and answers it will give you a very accurate picture of which chapters you should study most in my opinion....The techniques chapter (13 I think) is important....

And then when its closer you can re-take them because you get another try for each practice exam.

I have been training for a year and a half and have been training myself for 15 years and I still thought the practice tests were hard and failed all three the week before my test which really made me scared and so i was very methodical about studying the four chapters where i missed a lot: 16, 18, 13, and 25. Could be different for you.

But Then i took the exam and could have missed 16 more questions and still passed per my report!!

The practice tests are harder, I thought, but I also studied the parts I was less familiar with before the real thing.

Sure, there is a TON of info in the book, but some chapters are not represented AT ALL it seemed. So don't give the same weight to every chapter while studying!! I could have saved a lot of time had I taken the practice exams earlier to find out...

I still don't feel like I have comprehension of everything, and I'll go back and probably continue to learn more from that giant-#ss book.

So happy, I get to put those letters after my name now...
I've done really well without them, with 20 clients+ in a private studio, but I think this will really set me up as legit and not a trainer-dummy.

Most people don't care about my certification, but its really about feeling legit versus feeling like a fraud to me. I think this will give me the confidence to approach more corporate and collegiate clients.

NSCA-CPT exam. Study, study, study then study some more?.

by Maripili
(NJ/NYC)

I graduated from a state licensed personal training school in NYC where I had an A average and was often praised by my teacher and classmates for my knowledge and understanding of the overall curriculum; while in school I registered to take the NSCA-CPT exam about 6 weeks after graduation 11/27/08. In addition to my school knowledge, I purchased study materials from NSCA site and the study program from this site and used them to prepare. I failed on my 1st attempt by 8 points. I passed the exam on my 2nd attempt by 5 points 3/13/09. The exam is extremely difficult.

My advice:
1. Purchase and read the text book NSCA's Essentials of Personal Training textbook. I found that the exam doesn't really cover much material from the first 4 or 5 chapters that go deeply into anatomy/muscle/muscle structure and make-up.

2. Purchase NSCA practice exams {I bought all 3 volumes} because they really give you an idea of how the exam and questions are structured. The majority of the questions are not single but multiple answers.

3. One must truly know and understand program design and health assessments blood pressure, BMI, cholesterol, triglycerides, MRH most of the questions are about these topics.

4. One must know all the major muscle groups and their functions.

Maripili Rodriguez, NSCA-CPT
Coaching for a Healthy Lifestyle
Health Counselor, Certified Personal Trainer & Personal Chef
www.myhealthjourney.org

My experience getting certified

by Chris, NSCA-CPT
(Minneapolis, MN)

I've just recently become certified through the NSCA (NSCA-CPT) and I thought I'd try to answer a few of the questions that I see posted here as well as to give some input that I have on the subject. I think that there are a few things that everybody should know about the certification process right off the bat:

1. The best resource for learning is the NSCA's Essentials of Personal Training textbook.

2. The best resource for learning about the exam content is here (click on NSCA-CPT Computer-Based Exam Candidate Handbook): http://www.nsca-lift.org/nscapdf/view.asp

3. It's a better deal to become a member. It saves you a huge chunk of money on the exam and the study materials. It's probably best to get the membership right when you start studying for the exam, especially if you are buying a new textbook.

4. The exam is only hard if you're not ready for it. 57 percent of the people that take it fail it because they weren't prepared. It takes a lot of study time to prepare for this exam. A quick one-time read through the book won't be enough. I took a 3 credit college course to prepare for the exam and let me tell you - when the class was done, most people (including myself) still weren't prepared for the exam. The exam focuses on the finer details of the subject matter in the textbook.

5. Take my word for it when I tell you that you'd be stupid for not taking at least one of the practice exams. Even if you don't need it, at least you'll go in feeling more confidant about your abilities and you won't be freaking out for 3 hours while taking the exam.

I think that it all comes down to really wanting to learn the content. It's actually pretty fun to learn most of the stuff if you have the patience to dig around on Wikipedia to get a better understanding. If you have a passion for training and you can embrace the learning process, it'll just come naturally to you.

Close to taking the exam

I just want to say thank you for this site. I wish I had found it before I signed up with the online school I'm currently enrolled in for my CPT.

Taking the advice of others, I have purchased the practice exam for the NSCA-CPT exam, as well as the "Essentials of Personal Training" textbook. I've also purchased the practice exam from this site. I feel that had I found this website first, I wouldn't have a need for the that school whose materials are out-dated in my opinion. I feel that if the school is has chosen the NSCA-CPT as the test for its students, then they should have used material from that orginization. Again, this is only my opinion.

Thank you Katie for this site. It is a God send. I was so nervous about the exam, but now, I honestly believe I can pass my exam on the first try.

You Can Pass the NSCA Exam on Your First Try

by Paul
(Fort Lauderdale, FL)

I just did and I have no formal education background in exercise or any related degree. I also have no real professional experience as a personal trainer. My experience is limited to 17+ years as an avid weightlifter, workout partner and recreational athlete. This year, I decided to turn my passion into a profession and chose to go after the NSCA-CPT as my certification. I purchased some study materials and began studying every night, late at night after working a full day and helping my wife care for our young daughter at home.

Despite hearing from many people that the pass rate was very low and that I should start with an easier cert, I kept after this one and scored an 82 on my first try! So for anyone currently studying for this test or thinking about it, don't take it for granted that you will have to take it more than once. You can pass it on your first attempt, even if you don't have a background in the field.

Now that I've said all that, let me say that it is a challenging exam. You will have to work hard. I studied at least one hour per night almost every day for four months. Here are some tips that I think helped me do well on the exam.

1. Buy the textbook ("NSCA's Essentials of Personal Training") and read it cover to cover. It is around 640 pages, so that is a daunting task. However, break it down into 10-15 pages a day and do it consistently and you'll have it done in less than 2 months.
2. Take notes while reading the book and review them frequently so that the book material doesn't get stale.
3. Complete the practice questions at the end of every chapter. There are 100 in total.
4. Buy all three NSCA practice tests and take them. Go back and review every question you get wrong. Make sure to spend some extra time re-reading your textbook or notes for any areas you are weak at. If you pass all three practice tests (as I did), you are ready to take the exam.
** a quick note about study materials...You can spend a fortune if you buy all the material from the NSCA website. The textbook and practice exams are the only ones I bought. It cost me about $125. If you master the material in these two items, I don't think there is a need to buy any more. Considering that the test with an NSCA membership costs around $400, its worth not overspending on study material. I also bought the practice course offered from this website. Although the course is not NSCA specific, I thought it was an excellent value for the money and 500 questions will help you get used to test taking.
5. In addition to studying the textbook material, make sure you are well versed in anatomy and have a solid understanding of functional anatomy. This is a must!
6. This test is as much about test taking as it is about knowing the material. You can probably pick up an extra 5-10 questions on the exam just by being a good test taker.
7. Take your time. Both in your studying and when you take the exam. Don't rush through the exam. You have three hours, which is plenty of time. Read the questions completely to avoid silly mistakes.
8. Belive you are going to pass. I think it sets you up for success when you expect something of yourself. Of course, you will have to put in the work, but giving yourself confidence is half the battle.

I hope this helps. I know when I started studying, it was a bit inimidating to constantly hear (both online and from people in the business) how tough this exam is. Study hard and follow the tips above and you'll do well! Now, I am excited to not have to study anymore and get to work as a personal trainer!

-Paul

NSCA Exam Tips

by Brad P.
(CT)

My exam had a lot of sarcomere/I Band/H-Zone related questions on the exercise science/nutrition part. I was surprised as to how many different questions I was asked regarding those. Specifically, they would ask which portion would shorten when performing a specific exercise for example.

Know how to calculate BMI and what would be the exact recommendation of percentage of carbs/protein/fat for a specific athlete. I found myself giving my best educated guess instead of actually doing the math on scrap paper. I also had a good 7-8 questions regarding drugs like erythropoietin and their effects on the body. Know the differences between testosterone and growth hormone and which one is more elevated after training for example. I remember a lot of questions where I was deciphering between these two answers and could not recall which one it was, so make sure you are clear on them.

I ended up passing the exercise science/nutrition section with an 80%. Unfortunately, I did not pass the program design/exercise technique section. I felt kind of up-in-air after completing the first section, but ended up doing fine. I took both sections on the same day. I ended up nearly taking the entire allotted time on the first section (all 1.5 hr) and was only given a 10 minute break until beginning the next section.

I believe I worked too quickly through the practical section because I finished with 40 minutes remaining. By this time, I was mentally drained and just wanted to get out of the testing room that I had been cooped up in for hours on end.

What really hurt me in this section were the Exercise Technique questions, which I am assuming were the first 40 questions with the video. You get to watch the video once, but it does repeat a couple of times. My suggestion (although mine my not be any good because I didn't pass) is read the options before viewing the video so you have an idea of what you're looking for. This was what I did and it was helpful, or so I thought.

I was surprised to see that I only got 22/39 correct in this section. It was ultimately what hurt me most. I got a 63% overall for the practical portion. Some questions really are dumb. I remember a couple questions having the option of "Nothing is wrong" referring to the clients technique. After viewing these particular videos, I honestly could not see anything wrong with the exercise technique performed. Looking back however, that was probably not the answer they were looking for.

Know your plyometrics like the back of your hand too! Know which is the best plyo exercise to progress to for a specific client after seeing the one performed in the video. I would suggest purchasing the practice tests. They are helpful for the video portion because some of the videos are very similar to the ones that are used on the actual exam i.e. same individuals, same exercises. Obviously, make sure you are very comfortable with the material in the book (Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning). I honestly cannot even recall a question regarding stretching.

I only studied for 3 weeks for the exam, so that was my fault. I am currently in a physical therapy program and used my winter break to study for it. I read 2 chapters/day and typed up notes and highlighted the book. I feel comfortable now knowing what I have to do. I could have used another month, even just one more week would have been beneficial. The later chapters are most important (Chapter 11 on). Hope this gives you some advice. Good luck!