ACSM Personal Trainer

Dates and Duration

ACSM Personal Trainer assessment is available computer based at remote assessment centres or as an ‘at-home’ online format. If you want the at-home format just let us know before you actually schedule your test date with us. Assessments can be booked for any weekday and in some large cities, Saturdays are also available. You can request the location, date and time you would like to sit the exam. This is a ‘self-prep’ course. You can purchase additional ‘assisted learning’ if you wish. The study duration can vary from person to person, but usually between 4 and 8 weeks in addition to your Level 3 PT preparation is required.

ACSM Personal Trainer Entry Requirements

1. 18 years of age or older.
2. High school diploma or the equivalent.
3. Adult First Aid/CPR certification (with hands-on practical skills component) e.g Level 2 Emergency First Aid at Work.

Target Learners:

1. UK Personal Trainers who wish to hold a higher level and broader personal training qualification or those requiring international personal trainer qualification.

Course Format

1. Assisted learning format – Live internet-based home study programme + books + assessment
   • 3 live internet-based individual tutorials.
   • 3 hour assessment centre based computer assessment (available UK and world-wide on most days of the week).
   • Home study course from ACSM CPT study KIT (3 books*) – add fee for books.
   • You will be involved in approximately 250 guided learning hours, so between 10 to 40 hours per week depending on the chosen duration of your course (ie between 6 weeks and 6 months).
2. Self study format – 3 books + assessment
   • 3 hour assessment centre based computer assessment (available UK and world-wide on most days of the week).
   • Home study course from ACSM CPT study KIT (3 books*) – add fee for books.
   • You will be involved in approximately 250 hours of self study learning for between 10 to 40 hours per week depending on the chosen duration of your course (ie between 6 weeks and 6 months).
3. ACSM CPT Assessment only
   • 3 hour assessment centre based computer assessment (available UK and world-wide on most days of the week).
   • You will be involved in approximately 250 hours of self study learning for between 10 to 40 hours per week depending on the chosen duration of your course (ie between 6 weeks and 6 months).

*ACSM CPT study kit books are:

• ACSM Resources for Personal Trainers 6^th Ed.
• ACSM Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription 11^th
• ACSM Certification Review 6^th Ed.

Location (remote assessment centre)

You can request the location, date and time you would like to sit the exam. There are many UK (and world-wide) locations for ACSM testing.

Syllabus and Assessments’ Format

If you review the ACSM CPT job task analysis (JTA) from the link below you will understand what the blueprint of the job of an ACSM Certified Personal Trainer®. As you prepare for the exam, it is important to remember that all exam questions are based on this outline.

Job Definition
The ACSM Certified Personal Trainer® (CPT) possesses a minimum of a high school diploma, and works with apparently healthy individuals and those with health challenges who are able to exercise independently to enhance quality of life, improve health-related physical fitness, performance, manage health risk, and promote lasting health behaviour change. The CPT conducts basic pre-participation health screening assessments, sub-maximal aerobic exercise tests, and muscular strength/endurance, flexibility, and body composition tests. The CPT facilitates motivation and adherence as well as develops and administers programs designed to enhance muscular strength/endurance, flexibility, cardiorespiratory fitness, body composition, and/or any of the motor skill related components of physical fitness (i.e., balance, coordination, power, agility, speed, and reaction time).

Performance Domains and Associated Job Tasks
The Job Task Analysis (JTA) for the CPT certification describes what the professional does on a day-to-day basis. The JTA is divided into domains and associated tasks performed on the job. The percentages listed below indicate the number of questions representing each domain on the 150-question CPT examination.

The performance domains are:

1. Domain I: Initial Client Consultation and Assessment – 26%
2. Domain II: Exercise Programming and Implementation – 27%
3. Domain III: Exercise Leadership and Client Education – 27%
4. Domain IV: Legal, Professional, Business and Marketing – 20%

Aim and Objectives

Aim and Objectives:

The ACSM Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) works with apparently healthy individuals and those with health challenges who are able to exercise independently to enhance quality of life, improve health-related physical fitness and performance, manage health risk, and promote lasting, healthy behaviour changes. The CPT is certified to conduct basic pre-participation health screening assessments, sub-maximal cardiovascular exercise tests, and muscular strength/endurance, flexibility and body composition tests.

Occupational Description and Competence

ACSM Certified Personal Trainer “Job Task Analysis” – Click here to download the JTA (Syllabus)

Progression

ACSM CPT qualified trainers can go on to also qualify as the following ACSM qualifications:

1. ACSM Certified Exercise Physiologist (BSc degree required)
2. Exercise is Medicine Credential
3. ARP/ACSM Certified Ringside Physician
4. ACSM/NCHPAD Certified Inclusive Fitness Trainer
5. ACSM/ACS Certified Cancer Exercise Trainer
6. Physical Activity in Public Health Specialist

Still Have Questions?

Contact Alison at HFI on 07799 621 456 or email