Took the NSCA-CPT today.

Christina · Joined: 14 Apr 2006 Posts: 851

OK, so I took the NSCA-CPT exam today and passed. I thought it was much more difficult than the ACSM-CPT exam. ACSM seems to focus more on exercise physiology (which I love) so that may be one of the reasons why I found their exam less difficult. Oh well. At least that's out of the way! Laughing

iamkt · Joined: 07 Aug 2007 Posts: 4 Location: San Jose, CA

Just curious...how many certs do people usually get? Are you going to get more than the ACSM and NCSA you just got? It seems like getting more than one is a good idea, but I doesn't that get expensive?

Cheers,
KT

Christina · Joined: 14 Apr 2006 Posts: 851

Hi KT,

I am probably only going to get one more certification and that will be the CSCS. I have a lot of studying to do so I will not be testing for that one for months.

Some people only get one certification, some people get several. The reason why I chose ACSM and NSCA is because I felt that ACSM is more aerobically focused and NSCA is more anaerobically focused. Also, ACSM seems to focus more on physiology and NSCA seems to focus more on anatomy. (At least that's my opinion.)

Yes, unfortunately certifications do get very expensive.

Christina

FitNut77 · Joined: 27 Jun 2007 Posts: 8 Location: Illinois

Congrats, Christina! That's awesome! I can't wait to get started myself Smile

. Unfortunately, I'm only ust starting out professionally and haven't the money to register or get study materials for even one cert Sad

. All I have right now is the current ACE personal trainer manual, which I received free after completing Penn Foster's fitness & nutrition program.
I feel it's ideal to have more than a couple certifications. Employers love it, they give you more insight and fitness education and can really only add to your knowledge and improve your performance as a fitness professional. Adding certs and continuing education on top of empirical experience makes for one helluva trainer.
I remember how much I looked up to my first teacher at NPTI. She was only 30-my age Wink

-and had multiple certs from nsca, acsm, nasm, yoga, pilates, group fitness, etc...the reason she actually had to leave as our teacher was because she was spending the remaining months of the course in India, training for yet another type of advanced yoga cert!
Again, Christina, congratulations. I'm happy for you....and a little green with envy Envious

Christina · Joined: 14 Apr 2006 Posts: 851

Thanks, FitNut.

If you live in a big enough city you will most likely be able to find study materials at the library. Do you have a college or university in your city? Try their library as well. Try ebay too! It's a shame that the cost of the materials is holding you up. Which cert did you decide on?

Christina

Sandy · Joined: 01 Oct 2006 Posts: 62 Location: MD

Congrats Christina,

I am so very happy for you. I'm thinking about switching over from my AAAI/ISMA PTCert to ACE PT Cert. I have to wait till my kids get back to school, which will be at the end of August, so I can study and concentrate without any interuptions.
It will take me a good 4 months or so to study with the few clients I have plus classes I instruct. I don't study well. My mind starts wondering, it's tough for me.

Take care
Sandy

Christina · Joined: 14 Apr 2006 Posts: 851

Thanks, Sandy. I am the same way when it comes to studying. I always do so much better in a classroom setting rather than studying on my own. I get distracted so easily! I am so envious of people who can methodically go through a text one chapter at a time, write a study guide, create note cards, etc.

Christina

mguest · Joined: 07 Apr 2008 Posts: 10 Location: Georgia

Hi Christina - -

I am currently studying for the NSCA-CPT exam. Since you have recently taken the exam, are there any tips or suggestions that may be helpful in taking the exam?

thanks

Maureen