The NASM test can be scary, especially if you have no idea what to expect. The test is challenging and you will have to read the textbook and questions carefully to score well, but lets discuss what you should expect on test day.
Scheduling NASM Exam
When you are ready to take the NASM exam you will do so by utilizing you NASM student account [My Account > Courses > NASM CPT Exam > Schedule Exam With PSI Testing Center]. To schedule with PSI you will need your PSI CPT Enrollment code, this code will be in the upper left of your Exam Course Module (see picture below). You can schedule your exam on any day or time with a PSI testing center. If for any reason you can not make your testing time, you need to provide 24hrs notice or you could loose your exam eligibility.
Important: You will have to provide a current CPR/AED certification and your drivers license.
NASM Test Layout
The NASM exam will be a 120 questions test, in which 20 are research questions and do not count toward or against the final score. There is a 2-hour time limit and you must pass with a 70% or better. The amount that each subject matter will appear on the test is represented below.
Domain 1: Basic and Applied Sciences and Nutritional Concepts 17%
Domain 2: Assessment 18%
Domain 3: Program Design 21%
Domain 4: Exercise Technique and Training Instruction 22%
Domain 5: Client Relations and Behavioral Coaching 12%
Domain 6: Professional Development and Responsibility 10%
Results will be given to CPT candidate immediately following submission of the test. If you pass, your certification will be appear in your NASM account and physical copies will be sent to the address specified when you registered for your NASM account. The passing rate for this exam is about 61%, so do not fret if you do not pass on your first attempt. In the event that you do not pass the exam your first attempt a re-test will cost $199.
NASM Test Prep
Hopefully you have attended a hands-on course such as The Fitness Trainer Academy, but if you haven’t, you should be able to apply every concept in a practical real life situation. Memorizing definitions and facts can only get you so far. The NASM exam has many reasoning questions that will require you to combine concepts and find the best course of action. When it comes down to it, passing a test is great, but if you study so hard for the exam and do not ever test the concepts in your workout or when you are mock training others, you are setting yourself up for failure.
Other than Hands-on courses, apps like Pocket Prep for NASM CPT are helpful. The Pocket Prep app helps you understand what content domains you are weak and strong in. So, it may help you be more effective when studying. Quizlet can be helpful, but content is user populated, so likely is much different than what the actual exam wording will be and may have errors.