• Only candidates achieving a passing score may use the NCCPT-CPT designation.

• The NCCPT Certified Personal Trainer Exam is designed to test knowledge on industry standards and as such is not exclusive to any study material, study guides, and/or preparatory courses or certifications. The NCCPT Board does not endorse, support, nor participate in the preparation of exam study packages and/or materials and the participation, completion or purchase of any such exam preparatory study packages or materials is not required to sit for an NCCPT exam, nor do any such items guarantee the earning of a passing score on the exam. Additional information may be found in the NCCPT Exam Policies and Procedures manual.

• All NCCPT certification exams are administered by Prometric, a leading provider of technology-enabled testing and assessment solutions. Candidates may choose to test on-site at a Prometric testing center or via remote online proctoring. Candidates preferring a controlled environment may find a testing facility more suitable, while remote testing offers flexibility for those who cannot easily access a testing center. Candidates considering remote online proctoring should review Prometric’s ProProctor User Guide for technical and environmental requirements. Information on scheduling the exam may be found here.

• NCCPT Exam Candidates have up to 12 months to sit for their exam from the date of purchase, which can be extended for an additional six months at no charge. A candidate can pay an additional fee to extend exam eligibility for six more months if needed. A new exam voucher must be purchased after two years.

• Candidates must be at least 18 years old and are required to present the following items prior to taking the exam; 1) A valid, unexpired photo ID with a signature. The only acceptable forms of ID are a driver’s license, state or government-issued ID card, passport, school ID, or military ID. Note: Military IDs are accepted for in-person testing only. Due to legal restrictions prohibiting the transmission of military IDs via webcam, they are not permitted for remote testing, 2) A valid CPR card or certificate of completion. A digital CPR certificate will not be accepted. The name on both the ID and proof of CPR exactly match the name as noted in the candidate’s student account. 

• The NCCPT-CPT certification exam contains 140 multiple-choice items, 125 are scored as part of the candidate’s overall results and 15 are considered pre-test items and are not scored. Pre-test items are used for research and development of future test questions and are interspersed throughout the exam. The exam is not open book/open note.

• The exam must be completed in two hours and a pass or fail result will be provided upon completion. There is a mandatory waiting period between attempts and a retake fee must be purchased should a candidate desire to retest if a passing score is not achieved.

• In administering the certification programs, the NCCPT does not discriminate or deny opportunity to anyone based on race, color, creed, age, gender, national origin, religion, disability, marital status, parental status, ancestry, sexual orientation, military discharge status, source of income, or any other status protected by applicable law. All certification candidates and certificants will be judged solely on the published requirements of the program.

Scheduling an Exam

• A student must log into their ISSA Student Portal to access their Eligibility ID

• Once in possession of their Eligibility ID, exam scheduling for both on site and remote testing may be done here.

Rescheduling or Canceling an Exam

• Rescheduling or canceling a future exam may be done here. 

• A candidate who missed their exam date and still desires to sit for the exam should contact support@nccpt.com for scheduling information.

Exam Retake/Extension

• Candidates have twelve months from the date of purchase to sit for the exam or retake it should they fail. Candidates wishing to retake the exam must do so within this twelve-month testing window, with a 14-day waiting period following the first attempt, 90-days after their second, and one year after the third.

• In the event the candidate fails the exam and the waiting period to retest extends beyond the initial 12-month testing window, candidates may request an additional six-month extension for free. If after 18 months additional time is required, a six-month extension can be purchased for a fee. 

• Additional information on retaking an exam may be found here. Purchase of the extension does not guarantee exam eligibility. Candidates should contact support@nccpt.com if unsure about eligibility or exam deadlines.

NCCPT complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and other applicable laws and regulations. The NCCPT will review and accommodate requests from qualified candidates with a diagnosed disability for accommodation to take an exam if the request is reasonable, does not fundamentally alter the examination or jeopardize exam security. Once approved, the NCCPT will then make accommodation arrangements with Prometric. Prometric may charge additional fees based on the candidate's accommodation needs. Special accommodations may need to be properly documented and/or proper evidence provided by a physician, health care professional or government agency. Use this form to request special accommodations.