The NASM Certified Personal Trainer (NASM-CPT) certification exam is accredited by The National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). NASM is the world’s leading resource in the health and fitness industry.
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NASM-CPT Exam Eligibility
Requirements to apply for the NASM-CPT exam include being at least 18 years old with a high school diploma or being within 90 days of successful completion of it. An equivalent diploma or certification, such as a General Education Development (GED), is also accepted as well as other diplomas evaluated as equivalent education by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers for secondary education.
In addition, you must have a current certification card in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and an automated external defibrillator (AED) from an approved provider. CPR/AED certification must include hands-on training from approved providers including the American Red Cross, the American Heart Association, and the American Safety and Health Institute.
NASM-CPT Exam Outline
The NASM exam contains 120 multiple-choice questions, 20 of which are unscored “pretest” questions, and the time limit is two hours. The pretest questions are used to evaluate questions for future versions of the test.
The test is split into six performance domains:
1. Basic and Applied Sciences and Nutritional Concepts (15%)
The questions in this domain assess your knowledge of human anatomy, the role of exercise physiology in relation to bioenergetics, exercise metabolism, and the various body systems (nervous, muscular, skeletal, endocrine, cardiorespiratory, and digestive systems). This domain also covers the following:
- Biomechanics
- The science of human movement
- Motor development principles
- Macronutrients
- Micronutrients
- Hydration
- Caloric intake and expenditure guidelines
- Energy measurement units
- Dietary recommendations
- Various diets
- Label reading
- Factors that may affect weight management physiology
- The uses, effects, benefits, and risks of popular nutritional supplements
2. Client Relations and Behavioral Coaching (15%)
The questions in this domain cover topics such as client-CPT professional relationships, client communication, educating clients on lifestyle changes, active listening, SMART goal development, obstacles to behavior change, and psychological responses to exercise.
3. Assessment (16%)
The questions in this domain evaluate your ability to select and perform the appropriate assessments and then document and interpret these results to develop an appropriate fitness program. The questions cover the following topics:
- Static postural assessments
- Movement assessments
- Strength assessments
- Speed and agility assessments
- Cardiorespiratory assessments
- Physiological assessments
- Body composition assessments
- PAR-Q assessments
- Essential elements of medical histories
- Medical risk factors
- Lifestyle questionnaires
- Assessments of special populations
- Reassessment criteria
- Signs that indicate a client needs a referral due to the condition being out of scope
4. Program Design (20%)
The questions in this domain evaluate your ability to use assessment results to create appropriate exercise programs for individual clients, which include flexibility training, core training, resistance training, balance training, cardiorespiratory training, plyometric training, and speed agility quickness training. This domain also covers the following:
- Proprioceptive manipulation
- Exercise progression
- Exercise regression
- General adaption syndrome
- Periodization concepts
- Acute variables
- Risk vs. reward of different exercises and modalities
- Rest and recovery
- Identification of current trends
- The uses and benefits of fitness technology
- Exercise program designs for different populations
- Principles of specificity, overload, and variation
5. Exercise Technique and Training Instruction (24%)
The questions in this domain measure your knowledge of the following:
- Safe and effective exercise techniques
- Proper spotting techniques
- Correct set-up and technique of various exercises and training methods
- Warm-up and cool-down protocols
- Cueing techniques
- Safe training practices
- Kinetic chain checkpoints
- Signs indicating that training modifications are needed
6. Professional Development and Responsibility (10%)
The questions in this domain evaluate your knowledge of the following:
- Business basics
- Marketing practices
- Sales methods
- Business development
- Equipment maintenance
- Professional limitations of the CPT
- Proper emergency situation procedures
- CPT occupational limitations
- Retaining professional credentials
- Use of credible health and fitness educational resources
- Professional growth opportunities
- Ethical standards
- Professional codes of conduct
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NASM-CPT Exam Registration
To register for the exam, you will need to create NASM account and schedule an exam date. You will be given two test-taking options: in-person or remote. Once your exam is scheduled, you will receive a confirmation via email.
Test Day
In-person Testing
You should arrive at the testing center 15-30 minutes before the scheduled exam time. If you arrive late, you will not be allowed to take the exam. Once you arrive, you will be asked to provide a valid photo ID to verify your identity.
Before you enter the testing room, you will be asked to leave all personal items outside. This includes items such as your cell phone, pens, paper, bags, hats, and food.
Once you begin the exam, you are allowed to take a break, but the timer will not stop during this break. You are not allowed to stop the exam and pick it back up at another time; the entire exam must be completed in one sitting.
Remote Testing
You should log in to your account 15-30 minutes before the scheduled exam time. If you are not logged in by the time your exam is scheduled to begin, you will not be allowed to take the exam. During the check-in process, you will be asked to provide a valid photo ID to verify your identity, and you will be asked to use your webcam to scan your surroundings.
You are not allowed to have any personal items on your desk, such as your phone, food, bags, etc. You must also ensure that no one enters the room at any point during the exam.
Once you begin the exam, you are allowed to take a break, but the timer will not stop during this break. You are not allowed to stop the exam and pick it back up at another time; the entire exam must be completed in one sitting.
How the NASM-CPT Exam is Scored
The NASM-CPT exam is scored using a scaled scoring method, ranging on a scale of 0-100. You must achieve a scaled score of 70 to pass the exam.
You will be provided with your pass/fail status before you leave the testing center if you tested in-person, or before you log out of the testing session if you tested remotely.
If you pass the exam, you will not be shown your exact score on your score report. You are only shown your exact score if you fail, along with a breakdown of your performance on each section to help prepare you for a retake of the exam.
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How to Pass the NASM-CPT Exam
How to Study Effectively
Your success on NASM-CPT test day depends not only on how many hours you put into preparing but also on whether you prepared the right way. It’s good to check along the way to see whether your studying is paying off. One of the most effective ways to do this is by taking NASM-CPT practice tests to evaluate your progress. Practice tests are useful because they show exactly where you need to improve. Every time you take a free NASM exam practice test, pay special attention to these three groups of questions:
- The questions you got wrong
- The ones you had to guess on, even if you guessed right
- The ones you found difficult or slow to work through
This will show you exactly what your weak areas are and where you need to devote more study time. Ask yourself why each of these questions gave you trouble. Was it because you didn’t understand the material? Was it because you didn’t remember the vocabulary? Do you need more repetitions on this type of question to build speed and confidence? Dig into those questions and figure out how you can strengthen your weak areas as you go back to review the material.
Answer Explanations
Additionally, many NASM practice tests have a section explaining the answer choices. It can be tempting to read the explanation and think that you now have a good understanding of the concept. However, an explanation likely only covers part of the question’s broader context. Even if the explanation makes sense, go back and investigate every concept related to the question until you’re positive you have a thorough understanding.
Comprehend Each Topic
As you go along, keep in mind that the NASM-CPT practice test is just that: practice. Memorizing these questions and answers will not be very helpful on the actual test because it is unlikely to have any of the same exact questions. If you only know the right answers to the sample questions, you won’t be prepared for the real thing. Study the concepts until you understand them fully, and then you’ll be able to answer any question that shows up on the test.
Strategy for NASM Practice
When you’re ready to start taking practice tests, follow this strategy:
- Remove Limitations. Take the first test with no time constraints and with your notes and NASM study guide handy. Take your time and focus on applying the strategies you’ve learned.
- Time Yourself. Take the second practice test “open book” as well, but set a timer and practice pacing yourself to finish in time.
- Simulate Test Day. Take any other practice tests as if it were test day. Set a timer and put away your study materials. Sit at a table or desk in a quiet room, imagine yourself at the testing center, and answer questions as quickly and accurately as possible.
- Keep Practicing. Keep taking practice tests on a regular basis until you run out of practice tests or it’s time for the actual test. Your mind will be ready for the schedule and stress of test day, and you’ll be able to focus on recalling the material you’ve learned.
FAQs
Q
How many questions are on the NASM-CPT exam?
A
There are 120 multiple-choice questions on the exam, 20 of which are unscored “pretest” questions.
Q
How long is the NASM-CPT exam?
A
The time limit for the exam is 2 hours.
Q
What is the passing score for the NASM-CPT exam?
A
To pass the exam, you will need a scaled score of 70.
Q
How much does the NASM-CPT exam cost?
A
The fee for the exam is $599.
