Continuing Education

The required number of CEUs needed to recertify is based on your certification date and where it falls within the three-year cycle. Refer to the Recertification Planning Tool to help you identify the # of CEUs needed.

The amount of CEUs you earn is most often based on the number of contact hours (or actual clock hours) you spend to complete an activity. There are some exceptions, such as when CEUs are reported for college or university courses, NSCA Volunteer Work, NSCA or NCCA-accredited certifications, and Publications. 

5 Contact Hours = 0.5 CEUs

20 Contact Hours = 2.0 CEUs

You can find a list of CEU activities and values in the different Category sections in the Recertification Policies and Procedures PDF 

If you hold multiple credentials, you do not need to submit 6.0 CEUs separately for each certification. CEUs can be applied toward multiple certifications. For example, if you became CSCS and NSCA-CPT certified before January 1, of the new cycle you are only required to submit a total of 6.0 CEUs for the reporting period. A more complex scenario exists if you became CSCS and NSCA-CPT certified at different times during reporting period. Special attention must be paid to the dates on your certificates to assure that the required CEUs are completed after those dates. Certificants are encouraged to contact the NSCA if there is confusion regarding recertification requirements.

For more information, view the Recertification Planning Tool >>

Only continuing education content that relates to the scope of practice and Detailed Content Outline (DCO) of an NSCA certification exam will be accepted. Below are some examples of acceptable and unacceptable content. If you have questions about the acceptability of a particular activity’s content, contact the NSCA prior to engaging in the activity for credit. Examples of acceptable content:

• Anatomy and Physiology
• Nutrition
• Biomechanics
• Organization and Administration (Refer to the current DCO for allowed content)
• Training Techniques
• Sport Psychology
• Program Design
• Testing and Evaluation
• Exercise Technique
• Return to Play Reconditioning
•  

Examples of Unacceptable Content 

• Surgery 
• Diagnosing
• Kinesio Taping
• Treatment
• Radiology/Imaging
• General Business
• Group Fitness/Holistic Activities
• Unrelated Alternative Health Topics (e.g., hypnosis, acupuncture)
• Allied Health Topics beyond the NSCA credential scope of practice (e.g., athletic training, physical therapy or massage therapy specific techniques)