Frequently Asked Questions
General
Q: What is the relationship between the National Council for Certified Personal Trainers (NCCPT) and the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA)?
The NCCPT, a subsidiary of ISSA, focuses solely on the development, maintenance, and oversight of its nationally accredited NCCPT-CPT personal training certification exam, while ISSA offers a broader range of health and fitness courses and certifications. The NCCPT is managed by an independent board of directors and operates separately from ISSA.
Q: What is the difference between the NCCPT Personal Training Certification Exam and the ISSA Certified Personal Trainer Course?
To provide the most flexibility for students and to accommodate different learning styles and career objectives, ISSA offers both accredited (through its subsidiary the National Council for Certified Personal Trainer-NCCPT) and non-accredited pathways by which students can obtain their personal training certification.
- The NCCPT personal trainer certification exam, accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies assess knowledge of personal training and fitness while also providing third-party affirmation to the credential. There is no associated course, and the proctored test has a two-hour time limit. Using books or notes during the exam is prohibited. It may be taken online or on-site at a Prometric testing center. A $79.00 exam proctoring fee is charged by Prometric for either test delivery method.
- The ISSA Certified Personal Trainer course is a comprehensive program designed to prepare students for success as a certified fitness professional. It features audio and video lessons, a clear and searchable online textbook, practice quizzes, a study workbook, and the option for live classroom learning with instructors. The ISSA certification exam is open note, can be completed without time constraints, is not proctored, does not have to be scheduled, and is found at the end of the course. Please note that all quizzes must be completed before you can gain access to the exam.
Accreditation
Q: Is the NCCPT-CPT personal training certification exam accredited, and if so, by what organization?
Yes. The NCCPT Certified Personal Trainer Certification Exam is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), the leading accreditation body for health and wellness related certifications.
Q: I earned an NCCPT accredited certification that is no longer offered by the NCCPT. Is my certification still valid? Does it still have to be renewed?
NCCPT no longer offers the NCCA-accredited examinations for Certified Group Exercise Instructor, Certified Indoor Cycling Instructor, Certified Yoga Instructor, and Certified Strength Training Specialist. However, these certifications still hold status in the fitness industry and must be renewed every two years.
Q: How does earning an accredited personal trainer certification benefit me?
An accredited personal training certification offers added credibility as it’s been independently reviewed to meet established industry standards. This makes it widely accepted by employers, fitness facilities, and insurers, while also providing stronger protection if professional qualifications are ever questioned. Accredited certifications also tend to be more portable and future-proof.
Preparing for the Exam
Q: Will taking the ISSA Certified Personal Trainer Course help me prepare for the NCCPT Certified Personal Trainer Exam?
The NCCPT Certified Personal Trainer Exam assesses knowledge on industry standards, and as such the foundational ISSA Certified Personal Training Course is one of many ways to help you prepare. However, preparation for the exam is not exclusive to any single study material, study guide, and/or preparatory courses or certification.
Q: What’s the best way to study for the NCCPT Certified Personal Trainer Exam?
Candidates may find it helpful to review the NCCPT-CPT exam content outline and bibliography references listed in the NCCPT Certification Exam Policies and Procedures Manual.
The NCCPT does not endorse, participate in or support any exam study packages as a means of passing the exam and the participation, completion or purchase of any such exam preparatory study packages, courses or materials are not required to sit for an NCCPT exam, nor do any such items guarantee the earning of a passing score on the exam.
Registering for the Exam
Q: What are the Eligibility Criteria/Prerequisites?
Candidates must be at least 18 years old, have a government-issued photo ID, and a valid CPR card or certificate of completion. Additional information can be found here.
Q: Do I have to purchase any exam preparation materials?
No. The enrollment, participation, completion, or purchase of any course, exam preparatory study packages or materials are not required to sit for the NCCPT personal training certification exam, nor do any such items guarantee the earning of a passing score on the exam.
Q: What is the cost of the exam?
The NCCPT-CPT certification exam can be purchased as a stand-alone item but most often it is included for free, or at a reduced cost with the ISSA Certified Personal Trainer Course, or as part of an ISSA course bundle. However, a separate fee is charged by the testing vendor, Prometric.
Fee details are available here.
Q: How do I request a reasonable accommodation?
Please submit the Reasonable Accommodation form to support@nccpt.com.
Scheduling the Exam
Q: How do I schedule the exam?
- Log in to your ISSA Student Portal
- From the Home page, scroll to Optional NCCPT Exams → select NCCPT CPT Exam → Review your personal information. Your first and last name must exactly match your government-issued ID. Update any errors before requesting your code.
- Click Request Exam Eligibility Code.
- You’ll then be redirected to the Scheduling page.
Q: How do I reschedule or cancel an exam?
Rescheduling or canceling a future exam may be done here. A candidate who misses their exam date and still desires to sit for the exam should contact support@nccpt.com.
Rescheduling and cancellation fees may apply. Fee details are available here.
Q: How long do I have to take the exam after I purchase it? What about a scheduling extension?
Candidates have 12 months from the purchase date to take their exam. This eligibility period can be extended once for an additional six months at no cost.
If more time is needed, candidates can pay a fee for a further six-month extension. The exam voucher must be repurchased after two years from the initial purchase. Details on exam fees are available here.
Q: How is the exam administered? What are my testing options?
Candidates can take the NCCPT exam at a Prometric testing facility or online with live remote proctoring. The exam administration fee is the same.
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 live remote proctoring should review Prometric’s ProProctor User Guide for technical and environmental requirements.
Q: Who is Prometric?
Prometric is a global leader in assessment and credentialing and serves as the testing provider for NCCPT.
Taking the Exam
Q: What documentation must I have at the time of my exam?
Candidates 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.
Q: How many questions are on the exam? Is there a time limit?
The exam contains 140 multiple-choice items, 125 are scored as part of the candidate’s overall results and 15 are considered pre-test item and are not scored. Pre-test items are interspersed throughout the exam and used for research and development.
The exam must be completed in two hours.
Q: Can I use notes during the exam?
No. The exam is not open book/open note.
Q: Is the exam proctored?
Yes. All exams are proctored by Prometric staff. A separate fee is charged by Prometric, and candidates cannot provide their own proctor.
After the Exam/Results
Q: When will I receive my results?
Candidates will receive their results immediately from Prometric via the email they used for exam registration.
Q: What if I have to retake the exam?
Candidates have 12 months from the purchase date to take or repeat the exam. Retakes require a waiting period; 14 days after the first attempt, 90 days after the second, and one year after the third.
If the retake waiting period extends beyond the initial 12 months, a free six-month extension is available upon request. An additional six-month extension can be purchased. More information on retake fees is available here.
An extension purchase does not guarantee exam eligibility.
Contact support@nccpt.com if you have questions about exam eligibility.
Q: I passed! How do I get my certificate?
To access your certification:
- Log in to your ISSA Student Portal.
- Navigate to the Certification Courses section.
- Select Optional NCCPT Exams and click on NCCPT CPT Exam.
- You will then see a link to your certificate near the bottom of the page.
Q: How many questions do I need to get right to pass?
Scaled scores are reported on NCCPT's examinations to ensure fairness and consistency across different versions of the tests. Because each exam form may vary slightly in difficulty, raw scores (the number of correct answers) are converted to a common scale so that the passing standard (set through a research-based method involving expert review of exam content) remains the same regardless of which test version a candidate takes. This allows all test-takers to be evaluated by the same level of competence, even if the examination questions differ. A candidate whose scaled score equals or exceeds the passing standard will successfully pass the exam.
Renewing the Certification
Q: How often must I renew my certification?
NCCPT accredited certifications must be renewed every two years.
Q: What are the certification renewal requirements?
Renewing your certification requires:
- The accumulation of 20 continuing education (CEUS) units, which equates to 2.0 CEUs at a rate of one hour per 0.1 CEU.
- Proof of current CPR certification.
- Submission of the renewal form.
- Submission of the CEU petition form (if applicable).
- Payment of any applicable fees.
- Please be aware that all continuing education credits must be completed within the credential’s original two-year renewal period.
Additional renewal information can be found here.
Q: I have a non-accredited ISSA certification. Does renewing my ISSA certification automatically renew my NCCPT accredited certification?
Approved continuing education units used for renewing a non-accredited ISSA certification can be applied toward renewing an NCCPT accredited certification. However, the required renewal form must still be submitted and all requirements met.
Q: My NCCPT certification expired. Can I still renew it?
Certificants are allowed 30 days after the certification expiration date to complete their recertification. A late fee will be applied.
Email the completed renewal form, proof of current CPR certification, and the CEU petition form (if applicable) to support@nccpt.com. Once approved, you will be contacted to pay the renewal fees.