CPT v HFS Questions, help! - Personal Trainer Community - Forum

[Neil]

Hi everyone,

I'm currently finishing up my last semester as a kinisiology major at Umass Amherst and looking to become certified before the summer if over.

My conundrum is that I'm not sure which test to take. My professor suggested I take the HFS test because it looks better. But how much harder is it? With a degree in kinisiology should I be able to pass with relative ease? I need to be certified by June and can't afford to retake the test a couple of times at the moment.

And on the other hand, there is the CPT test which I'm sure I could pass, but how much would that affect my pay? Do gym managers know the difference between these, and does someone with a HFS generally get paid more than someone with a CPT?

Thanks in advance!

p.s. I see people suggesting to look over all the KSA's and make sure you know them one by one, but I don't see a list of those anywhere. Could someone point me to where I can find that for the HFS and CPT?

[Christina]

Hi Neil,

I cannot answer many of your questions, but I did do a search and I cannot find the KSA's online. There is probably a reason for that. ACSM most likely wants you to buy their study materials instead of just walking in and taking the test. I am staring at the KSA's now, but they are in a book in front of me. Sorry I cannot help you. Maybe someone else can. Welcome to our community by the way.

Christina

[Neil]

Thanks Christina (for the response and setting up this forum for information exchange),

What book is it that you're reading from? I do have one large textbook (Health and Fitness Professional's Handbook) but I don't see the KSA's in there. Hopefully its one of the cheaper ones.

[Christina]

Hi Neil,

I am looking at it in ACSM's Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription. You're at Amherst, right? Go over to the library. I bet they have a copy of it. It'll save you a few bucks.

Christina

[Neil]

Awesome, thanks!!!

[Christina]

Neil, did you have a chance to see if they had the book in the library?

Christina

[Neil]

They did end up having the book at the library, and its a HUGE help to know all the KSA's and be able to study more specifically for this test. For anyone on the fence, I think this book is a 100% must for these tests.

Thanks again for the suggestion Christina!

p.s. Did you used to go to Umass?

[Christina]

Glad you were able to find out what the KSA's are. Now you can figure out what you want to do.

p.s. Did you used to go to Umass?

Nope. Just had a friend who did. He was supposed to go to Stanford medical school after graduating from Amherst but instead ended up as an agent in Hollywood.

Christina