The National Council for Certified Personal Trainers (NCCPT) is a subsidiary of the International Sports Sciences Association and functions autonomously regarding decisions governing its certification program, including but not limited to credentialing criteria, policies and procedures, administration, and the election of officers and board members.

The NCCPT Board of Directors has authority over the examination development cycle, including job analysis and role delineation, exam content outline, item writing and review, development of exam forms, standard setting, exam administration, exam scoring, candidate score reporting, data analysis, and exam technical reports.

Policies and procedures that govern the board may be found here, while member biographies are listed here.

The NCCPT is committed to the highest industry standards and professionalism through this Code of Conduct for its certificant holders.

Code of Conduct

• Prioritize client welfare over financial gain.
• Strive to maintain and improve the well-being of all clients.
• Do not misrepresent qualifications, skills, or services offered.
• Never knowingly endanger clients or expose them to undue risk.
• Do not distribute NCCPT confidential certification exam materials.
• Do not provide medical diagnoses or medication recommendations.
• Comply with NCCPT policies and procedures and all applicable laws.
• Respect the client-trainer relationship as professional and advisory in nature.
• Neither condone nor engage in any form of behavior perceived or regarded as unethical.
• Never falsify records or assist others in obtaining certification through fraudulent means.
• Pursue professional development through continuing education to remain current with industry knowledge and best practices.
• Document training sessions, evaluations, fitness programs, and supplemental fitness/nutrition recommendations as much as possible.
• Refer clients to qualified fitness, medical, health, or nutrition professionals when appropriate or when issues fall outside the certificant’s scope of practice.

Reports of alleged professional misconduct must be submitted in writing to support@nccpt.com. Anyone may file an allegation, but anonymous complaints will not be accepted. However, the identity of the reporting party will remain private and undisclosed unless legal procedures require such disclosure.

Additional information may be found here.

The mission of the National Council for Certified Personal Trainers (NCCPT) is to define entry-level competence of the certified personal trainer, helping ensure that safe and effective exercise programming is delivered to the public.

The NCCPT is committed to providing quality certification programs for practice in the health, sports, and fitness specialties, advancing the fitness industry and developing career opportunities for those who share the vision of creating a stronger, healthier world.

The NCCPT strives to be recognized as a leader in inspiring healthier living through professional level fitness certification, in providing an accessible and reputable fitness and personal training certification, and in service, by prioritizing and meeting the needs of candidates, certificants, alumni, and clients.