Each chapter also includes lesson recaps and quizzes to aid in your learning process. These materials enable you to make sure you’re retaining the key information you’ll need to pass the final exam and begin working as a personal trainer. 

This certification is well-respected in the fitness industry and opens the door to working as a personal trainer with the general public, focusing on improving overall health and wellness. Through this course, you’ll learn how to be a personal trainer from every angle, with lessons on client intakes, ethics, record-keeping, sales, marketing, and entrepreneurship.

You’ll accomplish this through the use of a combination of supplemental learning materials throughout the guided learning journey NASM provides for the course (from video lectures to a final exam). If you want to make a career out of fitness or start your own personal training business, then the NASM-CPT is likely a great certification program for you.

Main Takeaways

NASM Personal Trainer Certification

NASM Personal Trainer Certification

If you want to move from an exercise enthusiast to a bonafide fitness professional, then you can develop your skills in client assessment, program writing, self-marketing, sales, physiology, psychology, and more with the Personal Trainer Certification from NASM.

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NASM Personal Trainer Certification Highlights

This comprehensive certification can put you on the road to fitness entrepreneurship or a career change into the health and wellness industry in as little as 15 weeks if you follow the course study guide. You don’t need an exercise science degree either to get started — just a high school diploma or GED and an approved CPR/AED certification. 

The guide offers week-by-week directions in relation to which chapters to complete and review for a refresher up until the 15th week, which is when you can either choose to take the final exam or brush up a bit more on certain areas. All of your hard work over those weeks will culminate in a 120-question, proctored final exam, which you can take at a proctoring facility or remotely (if you have the correct hardware, like a microphone and camera).

It can be a bit stressful that you only have 180 days to complete the final exam, as not everyone learns at the same rate and some folks may take longer to work through the study materials. If you’re in that group, you may want to start off with purchasing the textbook and studying that until you’re sure you have the time and knowledge necessary to jump into the course head-first. Starting off with the textbook is also a good way to ensure that this is the right certification for you and the path you want to follow. 

The NASM-CPT certification can be quite pricey, depending on the bundle you select. It may be a good idea to be sure this cert is right for you before you commit to spending the money on it. If you like a challenge and want to learn the many aspects of personal training at a big-box gym, an upscale health club, or even your own business, then this certification has your name written all over it. 

Who Should Get the NASM Personal Trainer Certification

• Those who want to gain knowledge on how to turn their enthusiasm for exercise and health into a career. This is a great place to start and learn how. 
• Anyone who likes to have a variety of learning approaches to choose from. Utilize the videos, audio lessons, textbook, written lessons, and practice exam here to engage in a comprehensive learning journey. 
• People who want to become entrepreneurs in the fitness industry. This certification course not only teaches you about muscles and exercise but also marketing, sales, and how to run a business, as well. 

Who Shouldn’t Get the NASM Personal Trainer Certification

• Those who want to work with high-level athletic populations, such as collegiate or professional athletes, will want to look at other more specialized certifications.
• People who aren’t looking to make a career change and simply want to learn more about exercise and the human body. There are other, more cost-effective ways of doing so.
• Anyone who plans to take a long time to learn this information. You only have 180 days from the day you purchase your course enrollment to sit for the credentialing exam. If you plan to take longer than that, you may want to start off by purchasing the textbook by itself and learning from that until you’re ready to make the dive. 

How Much Does The NASM Personal Trainer Certification Cost?

The price for taking the NASM-CPT varies based on the package you choose, from around $999 for the Self-Study Bundle to around $2,699 for the All-Inclusive Bundle. These are the regular prices, though, and there are generally coupon codes or promotions that will allow you to score a cheaper price. You also have the option to spread the payment out over three, 11, or 17 installments with a downpayment. We’d recommend looking over each bundle option to see which one best fits your needs, learning style, and budget before making an informed decision.

Who is the National Academy of Sports Medicine?

Founded in 1987, the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) had a mission to combine the therapeutic and corrective world of kinesiology with the applied and prescriptive world of fitness. Their mission has evolved to provide world-class fitness professionals with the knowledge and tools to transform lives. Over the past three and a half decades, they’ve managed to educate nearly 1.5 million fitness professionals in over 100 countries and make partnerships with over 10,000 health clubs and gyms. Suffice it to say, they’re well-connected and rooted in the industry.

NASM Certified Personal Trainer Study Materials

There are a ton of exam preparation and study materials available for prospective test-takers to utilize. Depending on the bundle or package you purchase, you may be able to fortify your knowledge with reading materials, videos, audio summaries, knowledge checks, quizzes, practice exams, and comprehensive study guides. We break down the study materials more in-depth below.

Study Guide

The study guide for the NASM-CPT is designed in a linear format and builds upon each previous lesson in a chapter for an intuitive learning progression. The course overall does well to mix in videos, call out especially important information, and include visual elements. There are knowledge checks and quizzes along the way to help you gauge what you’ve locked down and what you may need to study some more. You can download a comprehensive PDF version of the study guide that provides key information and terms for each section to keep you on track, ensuring you’re learning the major concepts. 

The main course and the lessons are well-presented and interactive, with clearly defined learning objectives for each chapter and lesson, making them quite thorough from a pedagogical perspective. There are visually stimulating figures and text boxes with important information throughout. Key terms are defined alongside the information for a broader depth of understanding. The lessons focus on a variety of topics that are pertinent to personal training, like professional development, client relations, exercise technique, program design, client assessment, physiology, and nutrition. Each of these broad sections is broken down into manageable subsections for a total of 23 chapters. 

Practice Exam

NASM highly recommends making use of the practice exam at least two or three times. Each attempt serves up a different batch of questions from the pool of potential final exam queries. The practice exam is as close as you can come to the real deal, providing you with a two-hour time limit to answer 100 multiple-choice questions with the same ratio from the various domains that the final exam will have. 

Quizzes

There are periodic knowledge checks throughout the lessons to help keep you abreast of what information you’re dialed in on and what could use more attention in your studies. The study course also includes quizzes at the end of each chapter, which are very closely related to the questions on the final exam — even word-for-word in some cases. It’s best to ensure you’re taking note of questions that you may struggle with, so you can improve your knowledge in that area before you take the final exam.

Study Material Medium 

All of the study materials (including the textbook, quizzes, and course guide) are online, though you can purchase a hardcover textbook. If you go the paper route for the book, it is probably best used as a supplement to the online course prep materials as they are chock full of information that’s presented in a much more easy-to-follow and digest manner than the text. The final exam is proctored either remotely or in person and is completed on a computer, regardless. There are no paper options except in the case of special accommodations for medical necessity.

Guarantees

NASM guarantees you a job if you pass the CPT exam. That said, they aren’t going to simply place you in a job the next day after passing. You’ll have to complete their Gymternship program (which is included with the All-Inclusive Package). The Gymternship consists of them placing you in a facility and completing 80 hours of hands-on personal training with clients. They guarantee that you’ll find a job within 90 days of completing the Gymternship, or they will refund you the price of the Gymternship — which is $599 if purchased by itself and not as part of a bundle. Since the NASM-CPT credential is generally highly regarded, it’s unlikely you’ll have to resort to requesting a refund, though.

Final Exam for the NASM Personal Trainer Certification

The final exam for the NASM-CPT can be daunting at first glance. Still, with the aid of the helpful and well-organized study materials as well as proper preparation, it can be manageable. Sitting for the exam, you’ll be given a proctored exam of 120 multiple-choice questions based on the six domains of competency required by the NASM, which we’ll cover below. You’ll only be scored on 100 of the questions, though, as 20 of them are research questions that are being trialed for potential inclusion in future editions of the exam. 

The exam is difficult on purpose and is getting more difficult over time — with a pass rate that’s declined from around 74 percent to about 65 percent in recent years. This is done in order to raise the standard for knowledge the personal trainers they credential to have. In order to pass the final exam, you’ll have to score 70 percent or higher, but you can retest if you don’t successfully pass on your first attempt — you may have to pay to do so, however.

Exam Sections

The NASM-CPT exam is broken down into six domains, all necessary if you want to be a well-rounded and effective personal trainer. They each make up a specific percentage of the exam.

• Basic and Applied Sciences and Nutritional Concepts — 15 percent
• Client Relations and Behavioral Coaching — 15 percent
• Assessment — 16 percent
• Program Design — 20 percent
• Exercise Technique and Training Instruction — 24 percent
• Professional Development and Responsibility — 10 percent

Each of the domains has a considerable subset of information that you’ll be required to know to pass the exam, and it’s all provided within the study guide. Following the study guide and courses closely will help you be as prepared as possible when the time comes to sit for credentialing.

Expected Study Time

You have 180 days from when you purchase the course to attempt your NASM-CPT credentialing exam. The study planner that is provided breaks down a week-by-week study plan to keep you on track with time to spare at the end for extra studying, too. If you follow the study plan, you can expect to take the credentialing exam on week 15.

Pass Rate

NASM reported a total of 31,385 CPT exam attempts in 2020, with 23,324 of these receiving passing scores (70 percent or higher) for a pass rate of 74 percent. This number seems to be on the decline, though, and the exam may have been made more difficult in the past few years, with an average pass rate now hovering around 65 percent. You’ll want to go into this as prepared as possible by utilizing all of the resources available to study since this is not a particularly easy exam.

Retest Cost

In the unfortunate case that you do not pass the exam on the first try, you’ll be granted a retake after a one-week waiting period. Should you be unsuccessful after the second attempt, you’ll have to wait 30 days before taking the exam again. After the third attempt, candidates are required to wait a year before attempting a retake. Depending on the study package you select, a retake voucher may be included, which would mean you don’t have to pay. Otherwise, exam retest fees are $199 for all retakes.

Continuing Education Requirements

As a NASM-CPT, you’ll have to recertify every two years by earning at least 1.9 continuing education units CEUs and maintaining a current CPR/AED certification, which provides the final 0.1 CEU for a total of 2.0 CEUs. Thankfully, there are a variety of course topics available to select from, such as corrective exercise, nutrition, sports performance, behavior change, and more. Each course has a different CEU value depending on the length and approximate time it takes to complete. The CEUs are really about ensuring that you’re continuing to keep your finger on the pulse of current exercise research and always expanding your knowledge. The recertification fee for the NASM-CPT is currently $99.

Possible Career Paths

It may be redundant to mention that a personal trainer certification can lead to a career in personal training, but there are a variety of other doors that this credential can open for you. Some alternatives may include a health coach, virtual fitness instructor, fitness writer, fitness model, workout planner and developer, and fitness center manager, just to name a few. Virtually all career paths in the fitness industry require a basic level of exercise education, and a NASM-CPT is a great credential to let people know that you know your stuff.

Potential Salary

As with many industries, salaries vary widely when it comes to personal training. Some celebrity personal trainers can rake in hundreds of dollars an hour, while others working at small fitness centers may earn a fraction of that. From what we could find on salary information, the national average is around $50,872 per year, though it may take time to build a client base to reach that, and if you become popular with your clients’ referrals, word of mouth could pump that number up significantly. (1) 

The other career options vary quite widely as well (from fitness modeling to fitness writing), and an average salary is difficult to nail down. But any similar career path to personal training will generally have a similar salary range depending on clientele, the number of clients, and how much you choose to charge.

Accreditation

The NASM-CPT is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). The NCCA provides impartial and third-party validation that the certified program meets national and international credentialing standards. They continue to monitor the program to ensure they keep up those standards. 

Popularity

The NASM-CPT is one of the most popular personal trainer certifications in the industry, and is generally one of the most widely respected across big box and commercial gyms. Their respect has only increased over the years as they’ve made the exam more difficult, and thus, the knowledge barrier for entry is higher, resulting in a more prestigious reputation. Over 30,000 people chose to take the NASM-CPT exam in 2020 alone, with over 23,000 of them receiving a passing score. Overall, NASM has certified more than 1.4 million people.

Final Word

No matter if you’ve been exercising for decades or you’re just starting on your own fitness journey, the education you’ll receive from this certification is worthwhile and can improve your ability to deliver results for your clients. If you can get on board with the somewhat fast-paced nature of this course, then you’ll be on your way to becoming an effective and knowledgeable trainer not only when it comes to exercise technique, programming, and the like, but also marketing, sales, ethics, and best business practices. 

The final exam is not a cakewalk by any means (boasting only a 65 to 74 percent pass rate), and it’s meant to be challenging to maintain the high standard for credentialing, so the NASM-CPT certification will continue to hold weight over time. There are people in over 100 countries with this certification, so you know it’s recognized the world over — despite being on the pricey side, we think that makes it worth it.

FAQs

References:

1. What is the average personal trainer salary by state – ziprecruiter. (n.d.). Retrieved November 28, 2022, from https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/What-Is-the-Average-Personal-Trainer-Salary-by-State 

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ISSA was founded in 1988 and has been helping people find their passion for fitness ever since. Their personal training certification is best for people who are “passionate about fitness and want professional and practical programming to get results.” To become certified, you must pass the final open-book test with a 75 percent or higher, though the pass rate overall is 90 percent. This certification covers the basics of personal training for the general population, how to operate a personal training business, and how to help clients reach their fitness goals. This certification is best for those who are new to personal training and, don’t have an academic background in kinesiology or fitness, yet still want to work for a gym or start their own business.

Main Takeaways

ISSA Personal Training Certification

ISSA Personal Training Certification

ISSA has certified over 475,000 students through their various personal trainer certifications since 1988. It has a 90 percent test rate, a free retest, and tons of resources to help you become the best personal trainer you can be.

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ISSA Personal Trainer Certification Highlights

ISSA has certified over 475,000 students across their numerous certifications since 1989. The program offers a textbook, boot camps, videos, supporting material, a fast track to the certification, a self-paced track, and a success coach who can help you prepare for the final exam. There is a 90 percent pass rate for test takers, and 95 percent of those who pass the test are employed within the first six months of obtaining their personal trainer certification, according to the ISSA. 

There are three routes you can take via their website: Certified Personal Trainer (CPT), Fitness Coach, and Elite Trainer (which requires a combination of certifications). The most basic package provides only the Personal Training Certification, Fitness Coach offers a regular training certification, as well as a specialization, such as powerlifting instruction or corrective exercise specialist. The last level is Elite Trainer, which includes CPT, specialization, and a nutrition coach course. 

The personal trainer certification is done through textbook studying (online unless you opt to buy a hard copy of the textbook) or audio lessons online. The basic course covers anatomy and physiology, nutrition, health and physical fitness, program design, and injury and disease. The test consists of 200 multiple-choice questions. They also allow for a free retest within 30 days of the original test-taking date — a huge perk compared to others on the market that may have a steep retest fee of $100 or more. 

Who Should Get the ISSA Personal Trainer Certification

• Future trainers looking to work with the general public. This is a general certification that doesn’t go into specific demographics or populations, such as athletes or people with injuries. 
• Folks who want the option for different personal training packages, such as an addition of a specialization (like glute specialist), or those who want to double down with a nutrition certification, as well.
• Those who want an affordable certification that doesn’t make you pay retest fees. 

Who Shouldn’t Get the ISSA Personal Trainer Certification

• Those who already have an extensive background in kinesiology or fitness. The ISSA Personal Trainer Certification covers more basic information that you would have already covered in a degree. 
• People who prefer a hardcopy textbook, but don’t want to pay extra. You get the online textbook free but will have to pay $40 if you want a physical copy. 
• Folks who want to work with professional and college athletes may want to opt for a degree rather than a certification. 

How Much Does The ISSA CPT Certification Cost?

Depending on which route you want to take with your certification, you’ll have different payment options. For those who want a simple Personal Trainer Certification, you’ll be paying $69 a month for 12 months, equaling about $830.00 in total. For the Fitness Coach level, which provides a CPT and specialization, you’ll pay about $79 a month for a total of around $950. Finally, for the Elite Coach, you’ll pay $99 a month for 12 months totaling around $1,190. 

All three buying options include a flexible study schedule and the option for an open book, National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) accredited test. You’ll also have unlimited study support from their success coaches and guaranteed job placement or you get your money back. As with most other organizations, ISSA requires you to renew your certification every two years. This means you’ll have to earn 20 continuing education credits (CEUs) every two years. If you obtain those CEUs through ISSA, you don’t have to pay a renewal fee, but if you choose to go outside of ISSA for those CEUs, you’ll pay $99 for your renewal fee. 

Who is ISSA?

ISSA is the International Sports Sciences Association that was founded in 1988. It has issued over 475,000 personal training certifications since its inception and is one of the most well-known personal training certifications on the market. The company’s mission statement is to “Bring healthy living to everybody in the world through education and community”. Its core values include prioritizing personal connection, sharing wellness, enjoying the drive, and living grit and resilience. 

Beyond its three main personal trainer certification routes, ISSA offers hundreds of continuing education classes, such as Nutrition & Professional Development, Bodybuilding Specialist, DNA-Based Fitness Coach, and Back Injury Prevention. It was the first personal training program to require continuing education in order to keep your personal training cert, which it announced in 1992. 

ISSA Certified Personal Trainer Study Materials

ISSA offers a plethora of options for studying and learning the information you will need in order to pass the final examination for your CPT. You’ll have access to the textbook online, but if you want a hard copy of the text, you’ll have to pay an extra $40 to purchase one. They also break it down into a 10-week plan that paces your learning. ISSA offers lecture videos with key points from each chapter and audio lectures that are broken down into smaller chunks for easy listening and retention. You must also pass 18 quizzes that will set you up for success on the final exam.

You gain access to some helpful bonus features for free with your account. ISSA produces an education boot camp — a live guide to studying which provides tips for passing your exam. You also receive access to an ISSA CPT “genius”, who can help you with areas where you’re stuck or struggling. A genius is a professional who works for ISSA that can answer any questions and help you problem-solve any issues you’re having within the program. Finally, you’ll have access to five one-hour study sessions with an ISSA genius, which you can opt to do live or on demand.

Study Guides

The study guides for ISSA’s CPT exam are plentiful to set you up for success. You have the online textbook, which is broken up into chapters. There are also audio lectures broken down over 10 weeks. Each week is separated into reading assignments, lecture videos that highlight the important information from each chapter, and quizzes to assess your understanding of the material. If you choose to stick to the 10-week program, you’ll want to set aside between two and four hours of study time a day, depending on your study habits and needs. 

Quizzes

There are 18 quizzes you will need to complete and pass (with unlimited attempts allowed) in order to be granted access to your final exam. They are all multiple-choice quizzes designed to leave you with a knowledge of what to expect on the final exam. The quizzes will let you know which questions you got correct and which ones you may want to study a bit more in order to be fully prepared for the test. 

Online Forum

ISSA has a CPT Educational Bootcamp that you can participate in. They meet once per week for a five-week period to help you with your studies and to introduce you to fellow students. These boot camps set you up with a success coach who can answer any questions you may have, keep you motivated as you are completing your certification, and check in throughout the whole process. Also included are “office hours,” which are one-on-one sessions with an ISSA genius. 

Study Material Medium 

ISSA provides a versatile study platform which has a medium that should work well for most learners. Although most of the material is online — the digital textbook, forums, success coaches, lectures, and genius meetings — you have the option to buy a hard copy of the textbook for $40. This certification is mostly built for online use, though, and the resources available to you throughout your certification course are best utilized online. 

Guarantees

ISSA believes in the quality of its certification, so much so that the certs come with a few guarantees. Their first guarantee is that you’ll find a job within six months of completing and passing your final exam. If you can prove that you applied to three gyms within the first six months and are unable to find a job, they will fully refund you for the price of the certification. 

Final Exam / Certification Practical for the ISSA CPT Program

The final exam is 200 questions, which is pretty long compared to others on the market, such as the 120-question exam from NASM. The format is multiple-choice questions throughout the entirety of the test. It is an open-book test and allows for a free retest if you don’t pass on your first try as long as you retest within 30 days. You’re also able to open and close the exam as often as needed, so the test doesn’t have to be taken in one sitting. 

Exam Sections

There are six sections on the final exam, and they’re divided among the 200 multiple-choice questions. The sections you’ll be tested on are Basic & Applied Science, Client Assessment, Special Populations, Program Design, Nutrition, and Professional Practice, Drawing-In Phase, and Fiscal Fitness.

The quizzes are great indicators of what you will encounter in each of these sections. Many of the exam questions are actually word-for-word from the quizzes, so it’s a good idea to make sure you’re taking notes when you take them.

Expected Study Time

ISSA has broken its study material into a 10-week program. This will require around two to four hours of study time a day, which may fluctuate depending on your study habits, how quick your retention of new information is, how extensive your previous knowledge is, and how much time you want to spend on the material. Ten weeks is what ISSA broke it down into, but you have six months to complete the coursework and take the test, so work at the pace that is best for you. 

Pass Rate

To pass your ISSA exam, you have to score 75 percent or higher. The pass rate is fairly high at 90 percent, especially in comparison to other certifications on the market. This may be due to the open-book testing model that ISSA has, or it could be that the retesting is free, making it easier to pass the test without penalty. 

Retest Cost

Retesting for ISSA is free, which is a major perk compared to some other certifications where you’ll have to pay a hefty retest fee. This is good news for those who have test anxiety as it lowers the pressure and allows you to retake the test within 30 days of the original test date. You’ll also only have to retest the questions you got wrong. 

Continuing Education Requirements

Every two years, you’ll have to earn 20 continuing education units (CEUs) to keep your certification. The CEUs can be obtained from outside sources, but if you opt to do all of your continuing education through ISSA, they will waive your recertification fee. If you obtain your CEUs through outside sources, you’ll pay $99 to hold onto your certification on top of the fees you pay for your continuing education. If you are late to your continuing education and still want to be recertified, ISSA will charge a late fee of $40 if you’re three to six months behind or $50 if you’re six to 12 months late. 

Possible Career Paths

The main career path that most will follow after obtaining a personal training certification is becoming a personal trainer. This could take place in a commercial gym, a private studio, in-home, or anywhere that personal trainers are accepted. Personal training isn’t the only route you can go, though. You also have access to career paths like gym management, fitness modeling, group class instructor, affiliate, or coach.

Depending on your niche knowledge and where your passion lies, you may be able to opt into several different career paths — especially if you choose a specialized course through ISSA to have more specific and niche knowledge. 

Expected Salary

The expected salary is hard to nail down exactly since it depends on what you’re looking to do with your certification and how much time you dedicate to it. If you’re business savvy and want to start your own business, the sky’s the limit to your potential earnings. If you’re more comfortable in a commercial gym setting, you’ll generally be paid an hourly rate, and many gyms don’t provide health plans, 401k or savings plans, or a guarantee of customers. 

Accreditation

ISSA is a well-recognized CPT and is widely accredited by some of the biggest organizations. They are accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCAA), which is nationally recognized and respected. They’re also accredited by the Distance Education and Teaching Council (DETC), which is recognized by the Department of Education. 

Popularity

ISSA is definitely one of the more recognizable and well-respected certifications on the market. Its inception was one of the earliest across the board, especially for the fact that it doesn’t require a background in education in order to be certified. It’s even partnered with gyms such as Life Time Fitness, Anytime Fitness, Equinox, F45, 24 Hour Fitness, and Gold’s Gym. 

Final Word

If you’re interested in pursuing a personal trainer certification, whether it be for your own personal knowledge in the gym or to make it a career path, ISSA may be the certification that’s the best fit for your needs. With a 90 percent pass rate for test takers, the option to retest for free, its well-recognized accreditations, and a clear study schedule, you can’t go wrong by opting for this certification.

It provides you with the tools to successfully complete your course and gain the knowledge to make you a top-tier trainer. This cert also allows you to further your education and career through their seemingly endless continuing education credits. As an internationally recognized certification, we believe ISSA is a great certification course for those without an academic background who want to pursue a career in personal training. 

FAQs

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