[Christina]

ACSM-CPT: What is a computer-based exam like?

If you are planning on taking the ACSM personal trainer certification you are probably wondering what a computer-based exam is like. I became an ACSM certified personal trainer last spring so I will share with you my experience.

Choose your date and time.

When you reach the point where you cringe each time you hear the words "sarcoplasm", "tibial tuberosity", or "non-linear periodization" then you know it is time to visit the Pearson VUE website, create an account, and select a time and date to take your ACSM personal trainer certification exam. Pearson VUE testing centers are located throughout the U.S. (The one that I tested at was 8 miles from my home at a community college.) Once you are done selecting the location, date, and time, PearsonVue will send you an email confirming your choices.

Exam Day.

On exam day you will show up at the testing center at the scheduled time and present the staff with 2 pieces of identification (one will need to be a photo id). The staff member will escort you into the testing room and seat you at a computer. You will be given a dry erase board (or some equivalent) so that you can make notes and do calculations. The ACSM-CPT exam software is very intuitive. The very first thing it will do is walk you through a tutorial. Once you have gotten the hang of it, you will click a button and the ACSM personal trainer certification exam will officially begin. A timer is available to let you know how many minutes is remaining in the exam so no need to panic if you forget your watch. One thing that I found surprising is that the ACSM-CPT exam software includes a calculator. (My ability to do math is always the first thing to go when I am under stress so I was especially relieved when I discovered this.) The computer-based exam is very similar to a paper/pencil format in that it allows you to skip questions and come back to the ones you were unsure of.

The Results.

After you have checked and rechecked your answers you will hit the submit button and your results will be calculated. After a few moments your score will appear on the monitor. (This is the point where you will either burst into tears vowing to burn your textbooks or you will fall to your knees and begin shouting, 'Thank you God!') Once you have composed yourself, return to the individual who checked you in and s/he will print your results. If you pass the ACSM personal trainer exam you will receive your official certificate in a few weeks. If you do not pass the exam I suggest you go home, pour yourself a stiff drink, and log onto the Fitness Think Tank personal trainer forum and look for my article entitled I failed my personal trainer certification exam. Now what?

Article written by Christina Todd, ACSM-CPT, NSCA-CPT
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