The NSCA has migrated to a new database management system, and all passwords created before May 9, 2023 need to be reset and established on the new platform. For security and privacy reasons, we were unable to bring prior passwords on to the new system.

Please check the following:

1. Allow up to 15 minutes for the password reset email to deliver, and check both your inbox and spam/junk folder. Most emails arrive within a few minutes, but some have experienced a short delay.
2. Ensure you used the primary email address for the request. The password reset will only be sent to the primary (or "preferred") email address on your NSCA account. 
3. Please contact us by phone or email if you receive a “500 Error” message on any other unexpected errors.

You may request your username to be sent to your email address we have on file. Either click the button in this FAQ, or on the login page, click on the "retrieve username” link below the login button. Enter the primary email address on your NSCA account, and an email will be sent with your username.

An NSCA account lets you connect with the NSCA to stay up-to-date on all things strength and conditioning. Create an account by following the prompts on our account creation page.

Log in to your account on NSCA.com and then click on your username in the navigation. Your NSCA ID displays in the dropdown below your name.

If you are looking for the NSCA ID for exam scheduling, you must first register for the exam at NSCA.com. If you have questions regarding scheduling or registering for an exam, email Exams@nsca.com.

To update your account, log in at NSCA.com. Click your username (found in the the top right of the navigation) and choose "My Account". From this page, you can also access all items that can be updated and also view your certification and membership status.

When adding or updating an international address, select your country in the drop-down menu before entering any other information and then click the button that says "Select Country”.  This should repopulate the field options and allow you to update your address successfully.

If you are still unsuccessful, please email membership@nsca.com with your complete address and we will update it for you.

Visit the Reset password page to change or recover your password. You must have access to the primary email address in order to receive the reset password email.

Retrieve your username today.

Please do not create a new account.  Call the membership team at 800.815.6826 or 719.632.6722 or send an email to membership@nsca.com.  Don't forget to include your NSCA ID to assist us with your request.  If you do not know your NSCA ID, include as much previous contact information as possible (i.e. address, phone, email) so we can verify your account.

Send your name change request to Certification@nsca.com.  Include a copy of your ID or documentation of the name change and reference your NSCA ID.  Allow up to 3 business days for processing.  If you are scheduled for an exam, we will notify Pearson VUE of the name change.  Be aware that it can take up to 3 business days for your Pearson VUE account to reflect the change.  If you have a more urgent need, call 800-815-6826 or 719-632-6722 and select “certification and exam registration” to discuss your name change.

Receipts can be printed or printed to pdf and saved from your account.  Log in at NSCA.com.  Click on your username and then MY ACCOUNT.  Select the Activity tab and then Purchase history.  Click on each order to generate a checkout receipt that includes the payment method as well as the last 4 of the credit card if applicable. 

We have created a dedicated page to help you understand how to maintain your certification and navigate the recertification process.

The preferred method of submission for CPR/AED is email, but it can also be faxed or mailed.  Be sure to include your NSCA ID to expedite processing.  Official transcripts can be submitted to the mailing address below.  If your university has an electronic delivery service (e.g., dDocs, e-scripts, etc.), they can be sent to exams@nsca.com.

NSCA Certification Department
1885 Bob Johnson Drive
Colorado Springs, CO 80906
FAX: 719-632-6367 (copies of CPR/AED only)
Email: exams@nsca.com (copies of CPR/AED only)

It can take up to 10 business days for your scores to be processed. As long as you have completed all other requirements, you will receive access via email to your digital certificate and the 2021-2023 Recertification Policies & Procedures within 6 weeks of certification completion.

Yes.  If your digital certificate is available, it can be accessed at NSCA Certificates.  Find out more about digital badging and certificates here.  If you are unable to retrieve your certificate, it may not be available yet or the email you entered may not match what we have on file.  Please update your profile and then send an email to  Certification@nsca.com so we can update your account.  Be sure to include your NSCA ID to expedite processing.

All NSCA credentials run on the same 3-year cycle regardless of when they are obtained.  The current recertification cycle ends on December 31, 2026. You must complete the recertification requirements on or before that date.

The NSCA certifications are geared towards working with different audience types, so it will depend on who you want to work with and/or where you want to work. View the section on choosing the right certification on the exam preparation page.

To qualify for an NSCA certification, candidates must meet all of the eligibility requirements for the certification program and pass the exam(s). Our certification exams are self-study, however we recommend attending an Exam Prep Live Clinic but it is not a requirement to sit for the exam. Visit the How to prepare page for each certification to get more information. /certification/exam-preparation/

CSCS - Having the minimum of a Bachelor’s degree demonstrates that candidates have obtained the basic knowledge and skills required of someone in the strength & conditioning field.  Earning the CSCS credential says that the individual has (1) earned an undergraduate degree and (2) demonstrated an acceptable level of knowledge in strength training and conditioning by passing the CSCS certification exam.  The NSCA has never granted an exception to the BS/BA requirement regardless of the individual’s level of experience and/or expertise for the CSCS exam.

CSPS – If candidates do not have a Bachelor’s degree or higher in Exercise Science (or a related field, e.g. physical therapy, chiropractic medicine), then the candidate must have either a current NSCA certification (e.g., CSCS, NSCA-CPT, etc.) or NCCA-accredited personal trainer certification or a current license as a physical therapist, physical therapist assistant, athletic trainer, or registered dietician

CSCS – No, candidates must hold at least a Bachelor’s degree but there is not a field requirement.

CSPS – Yes, NSCA recognizes the following fields of study as relating to exercise science for the purpose of fulfilling the degree requirement for CSPS: Athletic Training, Biology, Biomechanics, Chiropractic, Community Health, Exercise Physiology, Exercise Science, Health Science, Human Movement Science, Kinesiology, Medicine (e.g., MD, DO), Nursing, Nutrition, Physical Education, Physical Therapy, and Sport Science.

The CEU requirement is based on your certification date. Please refer to the chart on the Recertification and Continuing Education page for the amount required.

You can find a list of CEU activities and values in the different Category sections Recertification & Continuing Education area of the website. 

Please reach out to Exams@nsca.com.  Be sure to include your NSCA ID to assist us with your inquiry.

Send your name change request to Certification@nsca.com.  Include your NSCA ID as well as a copy of your ID or name change documentation.  It can take up to 3 business days to process your request.  If you have a more urgent need, call the NSCA Certification Department at 800-815-6826 or 719-632-6722.  

Within one (1) business day (24 hrs) you must contact the NSCA at Exams@nsca.com to avoid being recorded as a no-show. Candidates may be asked to provide documentation to show that their failure to arrive on time was due to a bona fide emergency.  The NSCA is closed on weekends and major holidays, but we will reply as soon as possible when we return on the following business day.

Exams are administered on computers year-round at Pearson VUE test centers worldwide. Please note that certain test centers, such as those located on military bases, may not be accessible to the general public. You can view exam locations at www.pearsonvue.com/nsca.

The Exam is offered in 7 Languages - Learn More. 

The study materials are not included in the exam registration fee. Study materials can be purchased from the NSCA Store.

NSCA offers several optional resources to help candidates prepare. These resources can be combined into a preparation plan that is tailored to the specific needs of a candidate based on their academic background and practical experience. 

Exams are administered year-round at Pearson VUE computer based test centers worldwide. After successfully registering with NSCA, candidates will receive an exam authorization email from Pearson VUE within 2-3 business days. This authorization notice will contain instructions on how to schedule your exam. Candidates have 120 days from the registration date to sit for their exam. Candidates who are unable to take the exam within the 120-day period must withdraw or extend their registration to avoid forfeiting their registration fees.

Candidates have 120 days from the registration date to sit for their exam. Candidates who are unable to take the exam within the 120-day period must withdraw or extend their registration to avoid forfeiting their registration fees.

You must fulfill all eligibility requirements within one (1) year to become certified. Exam scores are valid one year from the date the exam was taken, the NSCA must receive all supporting documentation BEFORE the one year mark has passed. After that date, exam scores are considered NULL and VOID and the exam must be retaken.

Unfortunately, the questions are not available for review.  The NSCA does not permit access to the exams other than during the time of the actual exam.  Our policy is consistent with other nationally recognized certifying and licensing bodies.  The NSCA Exam Development Committees have devoted a significant effort to develop valid and reliable examinations. Allowing candidates to review examinations would compromise the security of the examinations and likely compromise their reliability.

The reason for scaled scores is that different forms (or versions) of the test may vary in difficulty. As new forms of the test are introduced, a certain number of questions in each content area are replaced by new questions. These changes may cause one form of the test to be slightly easier or harder than another form. To adjust for these differences in difficulty, a procedure called “equating” is used. The goal of equating is to ensure fairness to all candidates. 

The scaled score is statistically derived from your raw score. The passing score reflects the amount of knowledge that a committee of experts has determined to be appropriate for credentialing. A criterion-referenced standard setting procedure and expert judgment were used to evaluate each item on the entire examination in order to identify the passing point. Therefore, your score is not based on a curve; it is determined independently of all other exam candidates. 

The equating system used and the manner in which the passing point is established follows psychometric protocols and nationally-recognized standards. 

Please visit the specific event page for details regarding cancellation.

All cancellation requests MUST be submitted in writing and should state the reason for cancellation. Email: conferences@nsca.com

NO REFUNDS WILL BE ACCEPTED VIA PHONE

The NSCA has many options to help you in obtaining the necessary CEUs to recertify. View All NSCA CEUs page for the most up to date opportunities.

Please email exhibitors@nsca.com for all exhibiting inquiries. Find information about exhibitor opportunities at our four national conferences: NSCA National Conference, Coaches Conference, Tactical Annual Training, and Personal Training Virtual Conference.

Yes. You will receive access to the recorded sessions approximately 3-4 weeks after the event so you can review anything you may have missed. You will have access for one year.

To ensure you will receive the access information, check that you have supplied your correct email address in your NSCA account.

No. You will receive a recording after the event to review anything you may have missed, therefore receiving the full Category A CEUs. 

Yes. A certificate will be emailed to you approximately 2 weeks after the event.

Yes. Anyone who is interested in an NSCA Event can register. 

No. You only need an NSCA Account to register. If you do not have one, you can create one for free.

You can find information on abstract submissions as well as abstract archives online.

Online quizzes are located under Certification / Continuing Education. 

If eligible, select the Certified Professional with Liability Insurance (CPI) Membership when choosing the membership option at Membership Overview.  If you need assistance, contact the membership department at 800-815-6826 ext. 202, or email insurance@nsca.com. 

Information is available online.

The policy runs from February 1 through January 31. 

Your certificate of Certified Professional with Insurance is for your purposes only and is issued by the NSCA. A replacement can be issued at any time. Certificates for Additional Insured’s will be issued and emailed. Replacements can be issued at any time by contacting the membership department at 800-815-6826 ext 202, or email insurance@nsca.com.

An Additional Insured, such as a gym, school or other facility, provides insurance coverage for that gym, school or other facility for your activities as an NSCA-certified professional. If the gym, school or other facility is named as a defendant in an action involving your training activities, the insurance will provide defense and/or indemnification.

Yes. You must have a current CPI membership or be signing up for a CPI membership.

No, coverage is not extended to employees. Coverage only applies to your activities. Employees need to carry their own general liability insurance.

No, coverage is for you as an individual only.

If you require insurance coverage for your personally owned studio please contact NSCA's insurance partner, EPIC Entertainment & Sports for an application and quote.  EPIC may be reached at (678) 324-3313, (678) 324-3310 or at their website.

If at any time your NSCA certification lapses, your liability insurance is null and void. You must hold at least one active NSCA certification for NSCA’s CPI to be valid.

NSCA certification is required to be insured through the NSCA. You may contact the Certification Department for further details at 800-815-6826.

Yes, we can name your LLC as the insured as well as you individually providing that you do not have any employees and that you don’t operate a studio.

If Yoga, Pilates and Spinning are a part of your personal training, and consistent with your CSCS or NSCA-CPT training, and considered complementary to personal training, then they would be contemplated. If you are only doing Yoga or Pilates training, then you should consider another program. MAT training is not included.

The policy covers instructors for their direct/personal instruction or supervision of the training activities taking place at training camps. Coverage however is not afforded when instructors conduct, organize or operate the camps. In this event, separate “camp” insurance must be placed which would provide more comprehensive coverage.

This activity is contemplated as long as the training is consistent with your certification
curriculum.

There are some notable exclusions including the sale of dietary supplements, herbs, energy supplements or weight loss/gain substances. Additionally, coverage is excluded if you own/lease/rent a facility; if you have a facility, please consider “Studio Insurance”. We suggest you review a copy of the policy for any other additional exclusions.

If you are a current Member of the NSCA, follow the steps below for full online access to the professional publications: 

1. On NSCA.com Login with your NSCA username and password.
2.  Visit the journal page of your choice and follow the instructions on the page.

All of the information you will need on preparing for and passing the exam can be found on the NSCA-CPT Certification page. 

The NSCA offers several options for preparing for the NSCA-CPT exam. Check out our study materials in the NSCA shop and look for an Exam Preparation Live Clinic in your area. 

The NSCA offers the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research (JSCR) and Strength and Conditioning Journal (SCJ), and several quarterly, peer-reviewed publications, including the Personal Training Quarterly (PTQ). We also suggest you check out our articles and videos. 

Visit the NSCA Job Board for the latest job postings.

NSCA-Certified Personal Trainers (NSCA-CPT®) are health/fitness professionals who, using an individualized approach, assess, motivate, educate and train clients regarding their personal health and fitness needs. Certified personal trainers design safe and effective exercise programs, provide the guidance to help clients achieve their personal health/fitness goals, and respond appropriately in emergency situations. Recognizing their own area of expertise, a personal trainer will refer clients to other health care professionals when appropriate.

Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialists® (CSCS®) are professionals who apply scientific knowledge to train athletes for the primary goal of improving athletic performance. They conduct sport-specific testing sessions, design and implement safe and effective strength training and conditioning programs and provide guidance regarding nutrition and injury prevention. Recognizing that their area of expertise is separate and distinct, CSCS® consult with and refer athletes to other professionals when appropriate.

The NSCA offers a number of tools and resources for personal trainers, including standard forms and templates, position statements, client handouts (Trainer Tips), and other educational materials 

To submit an article to the Personal Training Quarterly, please refer to Personal Trainer Quarterly Author's Guidelines which are found on the Personal Training Quarterly page or email the NSCA Publications Department at publications@nsca.com.

The program is geared towards those who are actively administrating exercise programming to those in the military, law enforcement, fire and rescue, protective services, first responders, and other emergency personnel. The TSAC Program conducts education and certification activities in all countries except those listed on the U.S. Department of State's trade embargo list. A current list of these countries can be found here.  

The TSAC program currently offers the Tactical Strength and Conditioning Facilitator (TSAC-F) certification, exam prep materials including TSAC-F Exam Prep Online, the peer-reviewed publication the TSAC Report, and a national Job Board. Visit the TSAC Professionals Page for more details. 

Access to our Job Board can be found on the Professional Development Page.

The TSAC Report is available to all members of the NSCA and can be found on the NSCA Journals.

To submit an article to the TSAC Report, please refer to TSAC Report Author's Guidelines which can be found on the TSAC Report page or email the NSCA Publications Department at publications@nsca.com.

The Tactical Strength & Conditioning Course is designed to introduce the tactical practitioner to the basics of strength and conditioning through hands-on repetitions and scientific principles of strength and conditioning. The course aims to educate on how to help decrease injuries and workman compensation claims and increase performance, readiness, and longevity of the tactical operator’s career. Attendees will spend time in lecture settings learning about strength and conditioning concepts before receiving hands-on training in execution and correction of movement and exercise. 

The course will be hosted at regional facilities across the U.S. with some  occasional international locations. 

Tactical Annual Training is intended to present new research and training concepts to those in the tactical field (both facilitators and operators), whereas the Tactical Strength & Conditioning Course is designed to educate an individual on the basics of tactical strength and conditioning in a "train the trainer" format.

Attendees receive 2.0 CEUs for attending the Tactical Annual Training and 2.0 CEUs for attending the Tactical Strength & Conditioning Course. This is consistent with the current NSCA CEU structure of 0.1 CEU per hour of attendance, or 1.0 CEU per presentation hour if you are a presenter who holds an NSCA certification. Additionally, in the registration for the Tactical Course you will receive TSAC-F Online Exam Prep worth 1.5 CEUs and you will have your TSAC-F Certification registration fee covered. If you pass the TSAC-F Certification exam, you will receive 3.0 CEUs. 

Yes. NSCA CEUs can be used towards NATA/BOC. You will need to request a certificate of attendance through our conference department to use with your petition for continuing education credit toward other certifications.

Yes, after attending, you will receive a certificate of completion for the Tactical Strength & Conditioning Course. 

We have a page dedicated to providing support for military and dependents.

We currently do not grant permission nor grant access to NSCA members for the purposes of conducting research or participating in surveys.

The Student and Professional Memberships have the same benefits, the only difference is the cost to make membership affordable for students.  

Member Benefits:

• Electronic bimonthly subscription to the Strength and Conditioning Journal
• Electronic monthly subscription to the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
• Electronic access to the NSCA Coach, Personal Training Quarterly, and TSAC Report
• An online library of member-only educational content including articles, videos, interviews, etc.
• Eligibility for grants and scholarships
• Free CEU opportunities
• Member-only access to NSCA.TV
• Discounted registration to NSCA events, the NSCA store and certification exams.
• NSCA involvement through volunteer opportunities
• Ability to vote for Board of Directors positions
• Eligibility for awards recognition
• Become a Fellow of the NSCA

Certified Professional with Liability Insurance (CPI) Membership has the same benefits as the Professional membership, plus liability insurance. 

CPI Exclusive Benefits:

• Enjoy substantial savings through an exclusive NSCA arrangement Professional liability coverage – total limit up to $5,000,000
• Add additional insureds (facility – non-owned) at no additional cost
• Complimentary sample waivers

Additional Benefits:

• Electronic bimonthly subscription to the Strength and Conditioning Journal
• Electronic monthly subscription to the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
• Electronic access to the NSCA Coach, Personal Training Quarterly, and TSAC Report
• An online library of member-only educational content including articles, videos, interviews, etc.
• Eligibility for grants and scholarships
• Discounted registration to NSCA events, the NSCA store and certification exams.
• NSCA involvement through volunteer opportunities
• Ability to vote for Board of Directors positions
• Eligibility for awards recognition
• Become a Fellow of the NSCA

No, the NSCA is required to keep membership as a separate option from certification in order to be compliant with The National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).

Please allow up to 24 hours to receive member pricing. If your order is urgent, please call 800-815-6826 and select Option 3 to speak to a Membership Specialist.  You can also email your request to membership@nsca.com.  Include your NSCA ID to expedite processing.

Please allow up to 8 weeks to receive your first printed publication. If you have not received a journal by that time, contact us at membership@nsca.com.  Include your NSCA ID to assist us in verifying your account.

Log in at NSCA.com.   Click on My Account or Your Name and then Courses & Practice Questions.  You will have links for all practice question bundles purchased for 12 months from date of purchase.  Be sure to allow pop-ups on your device.

You will have access for one year from date of purchase.

You have unlimited access to the practice questions for one year from date of purchase. Keep in mind, the CSCS and CSPS questions do not change and you want to ensure you are getting a good gauge of knowledge rather than memorizing the answers.

If your original purchase has been expired less than 6 months, reach out to Products@nsca.com to discuss options.

If they have been expired longer than 6 months, a new purchase needs to be made.

Log in at NSCA.com.  Click on your username and then "My Account".  Under the Digital Content tab you will see any videos or study guides that you have purchased.  If you select the "Courses & Practice Questions" tabs you will find any courses or practice questions you have purchased.  All digital content expires 1 year from date of purchase.

The download process happens very quickly.  As soon as you click on the link, it is downloading.  Please check the download section of your computer or on your browser to locate the file and save it.  You will encounter an error if you attempt to download the pdf to your phone.

You must have an active certification number on file that corresponds with the certified purchase you are requesting.  If you are CSCS certified, you may purchase CSCS merchandise, but not NSCA-CPT and vice versa.  This restriction does not apply to study materials.

Please follow the link below to review our current shipping policy.  If you have questions, send an email to Products@nsca.com.

Our return policy and return instructions can be found by following the link below.

Contact the NSCA for preauthorization at 800-815-6826 or 719-632-6722 ext 149, or send an email to products@nsca.com.   You may also review the return policy on the store home page or on the reverse side of your packing slip.

We accept purchase orders on a case-by-case basis.  The customer(s) (purchaser and/or recipient if different) must be registered on our website and NSCA IDs for each provided.  Purchase orders should be submitted to Products@nsca.com and must include the NSCA ID for both the recipient and the purchaser if different.

Exchanges are processed as a return and new purchase. Call us at 800-815-6826 or 719-632-6722 ext 149 to submit your new order and obtain return authorization.  We will waive the shipping on the new order and match any special pricing that you received on the initial purchase.

Please contact us immediately at 800-815-6826 or 719-632-6722 ext 149, or send an email to products@nsca.com. 

Sealed books are not returnable if they have been unwrapped.

You will receive tracking information via email when your order is fulfilled. You may want to check your junk email to see if it filtered incorrectly.  You may also contact us at products@nsca.com to track the status of your order. 

Please login at NSCA.com to review your order history and confirm that the order is active.  Orders can take up to 3 business days to process and ship.  Allow an additional 3-5 business days for ground delivery, 2 business days for express delivery, and 6-10 business days for international delivery.  After the allowed time, please contact us at products@nsca.com so that we may research the status of your order further. 

Please contact us at 800-815-6826 or 719-632-6722 ext 149, or send an email to products@nsca.com immediately so that we may correct the address before it ships incorrectly.  Include your order number to expedite processing.

No.  Pricing is based on your membership status, but check out some government resources below.

Desk copies can be requested directly from our publisher, Human Kinetics, at https://us.humankinetics.com/.  Click on EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES and then ADOPTING A TEXTBOOK.

Since candidates with diverse backgrounds take the exams, it is difficult to recommend a single approach when preparing to take the exam. An academic background in an exercise science/physiology, strength training and conditioning, physical therapy, or athletic training related curriculum provides the ideal foundation for a candidate to begin to prepare for the exam. However, there are candidates without an exercise science-related degree, but with a significant amount of professional experience who want to take the exam.

For candidates with an academic background, we suggest the textbook, study guide and Practice Questions or Quizzes & Practice Test. For those without an academic background the addition of the Exercise Technique Manual and Online Study Course are great options. Study material should not be considered the only method to prepare for the exam. Ultimately, it will be each candidate’s academic, experiential, and test-taking abilities that dictate how effective the preparation materials are. Also, while understanding the information presented in the preparation materials should certainly increase the likelihood of passing the exam, it does not guarantee a successful performance. 

Find jobs on the NSCA job board. Sign into your account and visit our Job Board to see what’s available in your field.

https://www.cigna.com/legal/compliance/machine-readable-files

This link leads to the machine-readable files that are made available in response to the federal Transparency in Coverage Rule and includes negotiated service rates and out-of-network allowed amounts between health plans and healthcare providers. The machine readable files are formatted to allow researchers, regulators, and application developers to more easily access and analyze data.