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Taking the NSCA Exam

You are going to need all the help you can get to pass the CPT and CSCS exams. Check out what our readers are saying about the NSCA exam.

It doesn't matter if you are preparing for the NSCA CPT exam or the CSCS exam, you are going to need to put in a lot of study time. And then NSCA helps motivate you to get it right the first time by implementing a huge $185-220 retake fee ($305-340 for non-members) for Pencil/paper exam or $235 ($355 for non-members) for computer-based exam. Of course, you don't want to have to retake a three hour test regardless of the fee.

Passing the NSCA Exam?

The NSCA exam is now available in a computer based testing format in addition to the traditional paper based exam. The main benefit of the new format is that you get your results immediately upon completion. The exam can be taken at more than 150 H&R Block locations in the United States and in major cities worldwide.

You have three hours to answer 150 questions. But only 140 of them will be scored. NSCA includes 10 unscored questions to test out potential new exam questions. Of course, they don't tell you which questions count and which ones don't so you need to budget your time to answer all of the questions.

There is a video portion of the exam where you watch a video and then answer 35 questions. Be sure to pay careful attention to how the personal trainer interacts with the client. Obviously, safety should be a prime factor and there are some easy giveaway questions on this topic. The four major exam topics include:

Client Consultation/Assessment (28 questions): initial interview, health appraisal/medical history review, fitness evaluation, basic nutrition and weight management

Program Planning (49 questions): goal setting, program design, training adaptations and special populations

Exercise Techniques (49 questions): resistance machines, free weights, cardiovascular machines and non-machine exercise techniques

Safety, Emergency Procedures and Legal Issues (14 questions)

Preparing for the NSCA Exam

The NSCA will recommend that you use all of their courseware in order to prep for the exam. That's good advice, although a pricey option. But you can buy used materials on ebay and save some money. You should definitely take our exam prep course. At only $24.95 it is a cheap insurance policy against having to pay up to $340 and spend three hours of your life to take the NSCA exam again (not to mention all the additional exam prep time).

Budget at least 50 hours of study time if you do not have a degree in exercise science.

The section below gives our readers the chance to talk about their experience with the NSCA exam. After you take your exam, remember to come back and tell us how you did and what worked for you!

Next Page: NASM Certification Review

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