Personal Trainer Certification Exam Policies & Procedures Sections

 

Eligibilty Requirements Examination Fees Examination Content Disqualification Refund Policy Special Exam Accommodations Exam Score Information Marketing you Certification NCSF Professional Practice and Disciplinary Procedures

Appeals for Denied Eligibilty Paying for the Examination Taking the Certification Exam Rescheduling Retake Policy General Policies and Procedures Awarding of NCSF-CPT Certification Code of Ethics

Eligibility Requirements

• NCSF Certified Personal Trainer examination candidates must be at least 18 years of age, and possess a high school diploma or equivalent.
• Although not required, it is beneficial if you have a minimum level of practical experience working in the health and fitness field.
• Certification candidates are not required to participate in an NCSF education program to qualify to sit for the Board examination. Although the organization offers education courses and preparation materials for the exam, candidates may choose to engage in primary education offered by other organizations, colleges or universities. In addition, the Board exam is based on universally accepted exercise theory, principles and guidelines, which allow candidates the option to choose to utilize study materials not offered by the NCSF. Some additionally recommended text can be found in the Portfolio Review Handbook for the Certified Personal Trainer Examination.

Appeals for Denied Eligibility

NCSF reserves the right to reject any application that in the organization’s view does not meet eligibility requirements. If your application for the NCSF exam is not accepted, you can request that your application be reviewed again. You must send a written appeal to:

NCSF Exam Registration
13501 SW 136ST Suite #102
Miami, FL 33186

Your written appeal must include a detailed explanation of why you think you should be eligible, and provide all supporting and helpful documentation. All matters will be reviewed within 10 working days upon receipt of correspondence. Candidates will be notified immediately in writing of approval or denial of their appeal.

Examination Fees

U.S. and Canada

• First-time candidates $199.00
• Re-take candidates $135.00

Paying for the Examination

• The NCSF will only register candidates that submit a COMPLETED application and payment in FULL.
• The NCSF will return all incomplete applications and/or applications with a declined credit card or returned check.
• Exam fees are subject to changewithout notice.
• The NCSF accept checks, money orders and credit cards (VISA, MasterCard, Discover or American Express).
• The NCSF does not accept cash, purchase orders, or invoices.
• Check or money order should be in U.S. funds, drawn on a U.S. bank, and payable to the NCSF.
• NCSF Certification Exams Approved for VA benefits: Active military, veterans and eligible spouses and dependents can receive reimbursement for their NCSF exam fees. This benefit applies to NCSF Certified Personal Trainer exams taken on or after Jan 1, 2004, and includes both first time and retake fees. If you are entitled to military benefits and have been considering taking the NCSF Certified Personal Trainer certification exam to broaden your scope of practice, now is the perfect time. To learn more about your VA benefits, visit http://www.gibill.va.gov/GI_Bill_Info/benefits.htm.
• If you pay by check, your canceled check will serve as your receipt. If you pay by money order or bank draft, you may request a receipt for income tax documentation by writing to the NCSF when you register.
• In the United States, an income tax deduction may be allowed for expenses related to education necessary to maintain or improve professional skills. See your tax advisor for details. International registration fees must be payable in U.S. funds by U.S. bank draft. You may also pay by VISA, MasterCard, or American Express.

Examination Content

The NCSF Personal Trainer Certification is designed for trainers providing any form of one-on-one fitness training instruction. Personal training is the fastest growing segment of the fitness industry. According to market research Personal Trainers are confident in the future of the industry and the growth of their businesses. The majority of trainers (68%) plan to continue working as fitness trainers for 10 or more years. Plus, 65% feel their revenue will increase compared to last year.

Once you successfully pass the NCSF Personal Trainer certification exam you will have demonstrated your knowledge of basic anatomy, exercise physiology, health screening and evaluation, nutrition and weight management, exercise prescription, and special populations.

Exam content

The Personal Trainer Certification Exam is broken down as follows:
Functional Anatomy	12.9%
Exercise Physiology	8.9%
Health and Physical Fitness	10.5%
Screening and Evaluation	12.1%
Nutrition	10.5%
Weight Management	8.1%
Exercise Prescription and Programming Considerations	14.5%
Training Instruction	17.7%
Considerations for Special Populations	4.8%

 

 

Taking the Certification Exam

After the candidate registers for an exam with the NCSF they will be sent an exam confirmation notice containing their eligibility number and all related documentation required to sit for the NCSF Certified Personal Trainer exam. Once a candidate has registered with the National Council on Strength & Fitness and has received their exam confirmation notice they can then schedule an appointment to take the NCSF Certified Personal Trainer examination. Scheduling as well as rescheduling if necessary is handled directly through Prometrics.

Your exam confirmation number will be valid for one year. If you have not scheduled and tested with Prometric you must re-register with the NCSF. Your re-registration is subject to the same policies as the exam retake.

If you cannot make your exam appointment and fail to contact your exam center within 48 hours of your scheduled appointment time you must re-register under the exam retake policies.

The first room you will visit when entering a Prometric Testing Center is usually the waiting area. Upon entering, you will be asked to sign-in. The test proctor will call you when it's time to test.

You will then begin the check-in process. First, the proctor will check your ID, either a license or another government issued picture ID.

The Test Center Administrator will provide you with all appropriate items prior to the beginning of the exam.

The Test Center Administrator will then lead you to a test workstation. Each workstation has a computer, monitor, mouse and an adjustable chair so that test takers can be as comfortable as possible. The computer format is as easy to use as the traditional paper-and-pencil exam. You will be given a short tutorial at the outset of the exam telling when to press a key or when to click a mouse. Think of it this way, with the traditional exam you fill in the blanks with a pencil, while with a computer-based exam you click on the appropriate key or click the mouse.

You will have Three hours to complete the 150 question multiple choice exam.

Technical assistance will also be provided during the examination itself if any problems should arise.

Once you have completed the exam, the proctor will escort you out of the room, where the check out process will begin. This process includes signing out and the collection of any exhibits and scratch paper. At this time, you will be provided with a score report. In the event you do not meet the minimum passing score you must contact the NCSF to register for another examination. Retake fees are $135.00 (see Retake Policy).

Your exam confirmation number will be valid for one year. If you have not contacted Prometric for an exam appointment using your assigned confirmation number you must re-register with the NCSF.  Your re-registration is subject to the same policies as the exam retake.

If you cannot make your exam appointment and fail to contact your exam center within 48 hours of your scheduled appointment time you must re-register under the exam retake policies.

Disqualification

You may be disqualified from taking or continuing in the examination process, or from receiving exam results, if NCSF and/or Prometric (the organization administering the exams on behalf of the NCSF) have determined through either examiner observation or statistical analysis that you were engaged in collaborative, disruptive or other unacceptable behavior before, during or following the administration of the NCSF exam.

Rescheduling

If for any reason you are unable to take the exam on the date and time for which you registered, you must reschedule to avoid forfeiting your entire exam fee. You have up to 48 hours before your exam appointment to reschedule through your Prometric exam location. Note: You must take your exam within one year of your original registration. If you do not you must re-apply to take the examination.

Rescheduling can be done online, over the phone or by visiting your local Thomson Prometrics testing center. In order to reschedule you will need your confirmation number. This number was provided to you upon your initial appointment scheduling.

If you cannot make your exam appointment and fail to contact your Prometric exam center within 48 hours of your scheduled appointment time you must re-register under the exam retake policies.

Refund Policy

If you decide for any reason you cannot or do not wish to take the exam after registering, you may request a refund in lieu of rescheduling. To request a refund you must contact the NCSF in writing within 30 days (electronically date-stamped or postmarked) of original exam registration. If the request is received within the 30 days of original registration, refunds will be 50% of your exam registration fee. There are no refunds after thirty days of original exam registration.

Exceptions to the refund deadline will be considered on a case-by-case basis for documented cases of medical, bereavement or other emergencies. In these instances, candidates must electronically date-stamp or postmark their refund request no later than 60 days after the exam date and provide any and all supporting documentation.

No refunds will be given for rescheduled examinations. You can expect to receive your refund or notice of denial within six weeks of your request.

All examination registrations are non-transferable.

Retake Policy

If you do not meet the minimum passing score on the exam you may re-apply take the exam again. Retake Exam fees are $135.00.

To re-apply to take the exam contact the NCSF directly at 1-800-772-NCSF(6273). A $135 Retake Exam fee will be payable to the NCSF. After your request has been processed, you will receive another confirmation number in the mail. No refunds are given for re-take exam applications.

You are eligible for the Retake Exam fee for a period of one year after you have taken your first exam. After this one-year period, you must submit the first-time candidate exam fee

There is no limit as to the amount of time you may take the exam.

Special Exam Accommodations

Special arrangements can be made if you have a visual, sensory, physical or other disability that prevents you from taking the exam under standard conditions. According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), documentation of the disability must be made by a professional qualified to diagnose the disability at the time of registration.

Written requests and completed registration information from disabled candidates must include a description of the accommodation requested. The NCSF reserves the right to determine the reasonableness of the accommodation requested. Requests for special accommodations must be made at the time of registration.

General Policies and Procedures

Confidentiality: No information submitted to the NCSF and Prometric will be released to a third party without authorization from the candidate.

Disclosure: To maintain the integrity and security of the NCSF exams, exam questions, answer sheets, answers or other source materials will not be released to candidates under any circumstances.

Fair and Equal Treatment of NCSF Candidates: NCSF does not discriminate against any individual on the basis of religion, gender, ethnic background, age, national origin or physical disability.

Exam Score Information

Exam Scores: Thomson Prometric uses state-of-the-art testing and scoring to administer and evaluate your responses. During the exam check out process the test taker will be provided with the score report. Your exam results will automatically be sent to the NCSF.

Awarding of NCSF Certified Personal Trainer Certification

Only candidates who achieve the minimum passing score will be awarded the NCSF-CPT certification. Should you meet the minimum passing requirements your certificate and ID card will be sent to you within 4 weeks of passing the examination. Should you fail to meet the minimum passing requirements you may retake the exam (see retake policy).

Marketing Your Certification Status

You may only market yourself as NCSF certified during the two years that your certification is current. If you do not renew your certification by earning the necessary continuing education credits and paying the appropriate renewal fees, or by retaking and passing the NCSF certification exam, you may not claim to be NCSF certified. False certification claims may prohibit your ability to renew your certification or retake an NCSF certification exam.

Code of Ethics

As an NCSF-certified Professional, you are expected to adhere to the professional standards embodied by the NCSF Code of Ethics. You should print out a copy of this for reference.

NCSF Professional Practices and Disciplinary Procedures

The professional practices and disciplinary procedures of the National Council on Strength and Fitness (NCSF) are intended to assist and inform certificants, candidates for certification and the public of the NCSF Application and Certification Standards relative to professional conduct and disciplinary procedures. The NCSF may revoke or otherwise take action with regard to the application or certification of an individual in the case of:

• Ineligibility for certification
• Irregularity in connection with any certification examination
• Unauthorized possession, use, access or distribution of certification examinations, score reports, trademarks, logos, answer sheets, certificates, certificant or applicant files, or other confidential or proprietary NCSF documents or materials (copyrighted or otherwise)
• Material misrepresentation or fraud in any statement to the NCSF or to the public, including but not limited to statements made to assist the applicant, certificant, or another to apply for, obtain, or retain certification
• Any physical, mental or emotional condition of either temporary or permanent nature, including, but not limited to substance abuse, which impairs or has the potential to impair competent and objective professional performance
• Negligent and/or intentional misconduct in professional work, including, but not limited to, physical or emotional abuse, disregard for safety, or the unauthorized release of confidential information
• The timely conviction, plea of guilty, or plea of nolo contrende in connection with a felony or misdemeanor, which is directly related to public health and/or fitness instruction or education, which impairs competent and objective professional performance. These include, but are not limited to, rape, sexual abuse of a client, actual or threatened use of a weapon of violence, the prohibited sale, distribution, or possession with intent to distribute, of a controlled substance
• Failure to meet the requirements for certification or recertification