Personal Trainer Certification Study Guide

The Personal Trainer Certification Exam offered by the National Council on Strength and Fitness Board for Certification (NCSF) certifies successful test takers as certified personal trainers. The NCSF Board for Certification developed the test to hold candidates to a high standard of personal trainer excellence. Many companies and organizations in the health industry look for the Personal Trainer Certification for validation of an applicant’s ability.

Anyone can take the PTC Exam, but it’s recommended the individual have a background in personal training education or experience. Candidates need to pay a $199 registration fee to sit for the exam. If for any reason the candidate does not pass the exam on the first attempt, a second one can be taken for $99.

After the application has been submitted, they can select a test site from a number of locations inside the US. The tests are administered at Prometric testing centers. The company has over 10,000 test sites worldwide. The exam can be taken at any time of year.

The test must be completed in three hours time. It consists of 150 multiple choice questions derived from nine different subject topics.

The exam topics are:

* Functional Anatomy
* Exercise Physiology
* Health and Physical Fitness
* Screening and Evaluation
* Nutrition
* Weight Management
* Exercise Prescription and Programming Considerations
* Training Instruction
* Considerations for Special Populations

Candidates should review the aforementioned topics alongside any study materials they can find. The test only lasts three hours but covers a wide range of personal trainer information.