Directory · grows as exams are added
Every exam on the sheet, one row each
One row per exam, in lane order. Each row links to that exam's free practice test and to its fact page. An exam joins the list only after its facts are checked against the certifier's own documents and its question set has been reviewed.
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Personal trainer certification exams
| Exam | Items on the exam | Time limit | Pass mark | Accreditation | Renewal | Go to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NASM-CPTNational Academy of Sports Medicine | 120100 scored + 20 unscored | 2 h | scaled 70 | NCCA | 2.0 CEU and $99 every 2 years | Practice testExam facts |
| ACE CPTAmerican Council on Exercise | 150125 scored + 25 unscored | 3 h | scaled 500 | NCCA | every 2 years with 2.0 CECs (20 hours) and a $129 on-time fee | Practice testExam facts |
| NSCA-CPTNational Strength and Conditioning Association | 155140 scored + 15 unscored | 3 h | scaled 70 | NCCA | 6.0 CEU / 3 yrs | Practice testExam facts |
| ISSA CPTInternational Sports Sciences Association | up to 200 · 140course exam · NCCPT-CPT, 125 scored + 15 pretest | untimed · 2 h | 70% · scaled | NCCA (NCCPT-CPT only) | 2 yrs · 20 CEUs | Practice testExam facts |
All of these exams lead to a general personal trainer credential. They differ in length, in where you can sit them and in what the blueprint weights most, so the table is a starting point, not a ranking. For a ranking-free comparison see the best personal trainer certification; for fees see what certification costs.
Coming next
Next in the personal trainer group: ACSM CPT and NCSF-CPT. Each appears here once its fact card and practice questions are ready, not before.
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Compare and choose
- CompareEvery head-to-head, plus all four exams on one table
- Best CPT certificationEvery CPT on one table, in lane order, plus who each one suits
- NCCA-accredited CPTsWhich exams carry the accreditation gyms ask for, and the ISSA catch
- Certification costExam fees, packages, retakes and renewal for each exam, dated