Become a Certified Personal Trainer
(NASM-CPT)

To be eligible for this personal training course, you must have a highschool diploma or GED. Additionally, you need a cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification and an automated external defibrillator (AED) certification. You may enroll in the course before having your CPR and AED certifications; however, you must have them before you take your final exam.

Chapter 1: The Modern State of Health and Fitness
Learn to distinguish your role as a Personal Trainer, identify common chronic health conditions, differentiate evidence-based practice from fitness fads, and define your scope as a professional. Listen to the Chapter 1 audio review here.

Chapter 2: The Personal Training Profession
Fitness professionals have the option to work for a variety of employers or to work for themselves. This chapter explores industry growth and the overall career outlook for personal trainers. Listen to the Chapter 2 audio review here.

7 Infographics

6 Videos

2 Audio Lectures

12 Knowledge Checks

7 Infographics

6 Videos

2 Audio Lectures

12 Knowledge Checks

Chapter 3: Psychology of Exercise
The role of psychology in fitness and wellness is extremely important. It can deal with several topics, including the way exercise participation affects someone’s mood in both the short and the long term, the effect of weight loss on self-esteem, the motivations to become physically active, and how social influences affect overall exercise behavior. Listen to the Chapter 3 audio review here.

Chapter 4: Behavioral Coaching
This chapter covers clients’ expectations, assessing behavior change, structuring optimal sessions, communicating effectively, and implementing exercise adherence techniques using behavior change. Listen to the Chapter 4 audio review here.

8 Infographics

5 Videos

2 Audio Lectures

10 Knowledge Checks

8 Infographics

5 Videos

2 Audio Lectures

10 Knowledge Checks

Chapter 5: The Nervous, Skeletal, and Muscular Systems
Because all fitness professionals need an understanding of anatomy and the Human Movement System, this chapter covers the fundamentals of the Nervous, Skeletal, and Muscular Systems. Listen to the Chapter 5 audio review here.

Chapter 6: The Cardiorespiratory, Endocrine, and Digestive Systems
You will learn how to identify the structure and function of the cardiorespiratory system, how to categorize the function of the endocrine system, as well as the digestive system. Listen to the Chapter 6 audio review here.

Chapter 7: Human Movement Science
You will gain an understanding of the basics of biomechanics and motor behavior as they relate to working as a personal trainer. Listen to the Chapter 7 audio review here.

Chapter 8: Exercise Metabolism and Bioenergetics
This section of the course breaks down the various energy systems within the body, providing essential insight into the ways we use food for fuel. Listen to the Chapter 8 audio review here.

Chapter 9: Nutrition
Improving health and fitness means more than just exercise; it also requires a commitment to improve the way the body is fueled. Although specific diet prescription is outside a trainer's scope of practice, this chapter will provide the basics needed to support nutritional discussions with clients and make recommendations on how to support their goals through a healthy diet. Listen to the Chapter 9 audio review here.

Chapter 10: Supplementation
It is important that the personal trainer understand what supplements are and how to educate clients on risks associated with various supplements. Within you will learn the necessary information to discuss supplementation with a client while remaining within your scope of practice. Listen to the Chapter 10 audio review here.

115 Infographics

19 Videos

6 Audio Lectures

30 Knowledge Checks

115 Infographics

19 Videos

6 Audio Lectures

30 Knowledge Checks

Chapter 11: Health, Wellness, and Fitness Assessments
After this chapter, you will be able to explain the importance of assessments, collect and summarize subjective client information, identify steps for conducting body composition assessments, and choose the correct cardiorespiratory assessments on an individual basis. Listen to the Chapter 11 audio review here.

Chapter 12: Posture, Movement, and Performance Assessments
Posture, movement, and performance assessments are an integral part of the intake process for all clients and will assist the fitness professional in developing customized fitness programs to enhance a client’s well-being. Listen to the Chapter 12 audio review here.

15 Infographics

14 Videos

2 Audio Lectures

10 Knowledge Checks

15 Infographics

14 Videos

2 Audio Lectures

10 Knowledge Checks

Chapter 13: Integrated Training and the OPT™ Model
After complete interpretations of assessment results, a comprehensive training program can be developed through application of specific acute variables defined in the NASM OPT™ Model. Listen to the Chapter 13 audio review here.

Chapter 14: Flexibility Training Concepts
Learn the scientific rationale for flexibility training, proper stretching exercises, and more within this chapter of the course. Listen to the Chapter 14 audio review here.

Chapter 15: Cardiorespiratory Training Concepts
Cardiorespiratory fitness reflects the ability of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems to supply oxygen-rich blood to skeletal muscles during sustained physical activity. You will learn more within the course. Listen to the Chapter 15 audio review here.

Chapter 16: Core Training Concepts
A properly designed core training program can be a key component of an overall training plan used to achieve a broad range of goals. The objective of core training is the development of core stability, endurance, strength, and power. Learn more within. Listen to the Chapter 16 audio review here.

Chapter 17: Balance Training Concepts
The ability to maintain postural control or balance is a fundamental component of performance, injury resistance, and rehabilitation that follows an injury. Learn how to incorporate balance training within your clients’ programming. Listen to the Chapter 17 audio review here.

Chapter 18: Plyometric (Reactive) Training Concepts
You will learn how to explain plyometric training and its three phases, summarize the benefits of the modality, identify proper progressions, and teach proper cueing techniques. Listen to the Chapter 18 audio review here.

Chapter 19: Speed, Agility, and Quickness Training Concepts
Speed, agility, and quickness (SAQ) training is a useful and effective method of fitness training that stimulates muscular, neurological, connective tissue, and even cardiovascular fitness adaptations. Listen to the Chapter 19 audio review here.

Chapter 20: Resistance Training Concepts
You will learn how to summarize resistance training principles to clients, categorize exercises for different types of goals and adaptations, and employ safe methods and resistance training variables. Listen to the Chapter 20 audio review here.

26 Infographics

102 Videos

8 Audio Lectures

42 Knowledge Checks

26 Infographics

102 Videos

8 Audio Lectures

42 Knowledge Checks

Chapter 21: The Optimum Performance Training Model®
Creating and modifying exercise programs for clients can be a complicated process because there are many variables to consider, including the client’s goals, their tolerance for exercise, and their unique physical abilities and medical history. The Optimum Performance Training Model® makes it simple. Listen to the Chapter 21 audio review here.

Chapter 22: Introduction to Exercise Modalities
Within this chapter you will learn how to categorize different exercise modalities, describe their uses depending on different clients, and determine the correct resistance and proprioceptive uses on an individual basis. Listen to the Chapter 22 audio review here.

Chapter 23: Chronic Health Conditions and Special Populations
This chapter covers important information and recommendations for assessing and designing exercise programs for clients with selected chronic health conditions or functional limitations.

2 Infographics

5 Videos

3 Audio Lectures

19 Knowledge Checks

7 Infographics

5 Videos

3 Audio Lectures

19 Knowledge Checks

There are 120 test questions. Of those, 20 are research questions that do not count toward or against your final score. You must pass with a scaled score of 70 or better. You will have 2 hours to complete the exam.

The NASM Certified Personal Trainer certification must be recertified every two years in order to ensure that NASM-CPTs stay up-to-date with current best-practice guidelines and skills. To recertify, you will be required to earn 2.0 NASM-approved CEUs (20 contact hours) every two year certification period. This includes 0.1 CEUs from the mandatory CPR/AED certification.

There are a total of 120 test questions. Of those, 20 are research questions that do not count toward or against your final score. You must pass with a scaled score of 70 or better. You will have 2 hours to complete the exam.

If you do not pass your exam, a retest can be purchased. Please call NASM Member Services at 800-460-6276. A retest is included with the Guided Study and All-Inclusive programs.

If you are currently enrolled in the CPT 6 remote exam, you must complete your exam by 8/31/21. If you do not complete your CPT 6 remote exam by that date, you must call your Program Advisor to upgrade to CPT 7.

If you are enrolled in the CPT 6 PSI in-person exam, you must take the exam by 3/8/21 or you will be auto-enrolled into the remote exam, which must be complete by 8/31/21. You may also call your Program Advisor to upgrade to CPT 7.

You must have a high school degree or GED. You're also required to have a current CPR and AED certification before you take the NASM-CPT exam.

NASM recognizes that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there is very limited availability of hands on skills assessments for CPR/AED certifications. NASM will be temporarily waiving the hands on skills assessment requirement and accepting online only CPR/AED courses. This waiver applies to exam candidates and professionals recertifying their credentials.

This waiver will be in effect until the CDC and government recommendations for social distancing have been lifted in the United States. Once the social distancing orders have been lifted, there will be a 60 day window before the hands on requirement will be reinstated. NASM recommends that anyone who certified or recertified during the Waiver Period obtain the hands-on skills assessment once available to avoid any insurance or liability issues which could arise due to the lack of such training. Please note: The online course must still include Adult CPR and AED.

You will have 180 days from the date of enrollment to take the NASM-CPT exam, and you'll have access to the course content for 5 years. An extension for the exam can be purchased by contacting NASM Member Services.

The exam is taken through a live proctor, which can be online or in person at a proctoring location. For more information about taking the NASM-CPT exam, click here.