How long... - Personal Trainer Community - Forum

[napoatusa]

.. did you guys study for the exam.

or how long did it take you from start (books received/application) to the end (exam date)..... and what was your experience...

I am just trying to get a feeling which time frame I should consider.

Thanks

Adi

[muscletrainerdh-NSCA CPT]

napoatusa,

I'd give yourself at least 3 months of studying.

Order the study materials.
Copy the practice exam.
Take the practice exam
Then study the sections you did poorly on first.
Study the exam content literature and concentrate on the subjects that make the bulk of the exam.

Retest a month before the exam date and then again a week before the exam date to see what you need more study time on.

If you have your degree in an exercise science/physical education field You probably only need 2 months to study.

Good luck,

Dave

[Christina]

Hi Adi and welcome to the forum!

I would agree with Dave. Just make sure that you actually begin studying month 1. (Not just a little here and there. Dedicate several hours a week for 3 straight months.)

Which certification are you going for? ACE?

Christina

[napoatusa]

Thanks for the great information.

I am going for the NSCA-CPT and I am very excited about it.

[Christina]

Duh! (You posted your question in the NSCA forum. I should have figured that one out! )

When are you testing? We have some folks on here who are currently studying for the NSCA-CPT as well.

Christina

[napoatusa]

I am shooting for December 1st.

So far, studying is going well. It's hard to remember all the terms of the biology of the body, however, I do not think there will be a lot (or too specific) questions about that anyways. My emphasis will be the 2 major groups..

[jackson]

Hey napousa,

I was wondering how youre doing with your preparation for your exam on Dec. 1st. Looks like I might have to shoot for December too. Maybe we could talk about the material some time soon to see where we are? Hope all is going well and youre prepared.

Jackson

[napoatusa]

hmmm I mainly watch the symposia this week.

I have no problems with anything but the tons of protocols.

oh and all the muscle involvement

how about u?

[jackson]

If you have the techniques of exercise manual thats what I used to learn all the movements along with looking at exrx.net to learn the differnt articulations (flexion, extension etc of the different joints)

Which protocols are you having issues with?

This would be so much more easier if I knew what exactly to prepare for but oh well...thats never going to happen so we prepare with it all.

Im currently going over all the printouts from the Symposiums, once I finish this then I will go through the book one last time and then sit for the exam which should be in about 2 weeks.

So today I went over the symposium notes on consult/assessment making sure I know all the risk factors, risk stratifications, how to perform BP, what systolic and diastolic means..., the actual exercise test protocols, how to perform Body Fat % and which angle (vertical/diagonal) to hold the calipers...

Maybe we could send each other specific questions... My weak areas are exercise technique and special pops...

What day is your test?

[napoatusa]

sorry for getting so late back to you...

I took the test 2 weeks and go and it went so la la... just waiting for the results now (I took the paper test)

The test was pretty mixed in difficulties...... there were questions I thought were overly easy (common sense).... and others where I had no clue at all

There are 150 questions..... and 10 not counted ....
I think you need to have 70%ish...... which makes it about 98 questions you have to have right... thus 42 you can have wrong.... not that bad