Take this free NSCA Certified Personal Trainer practice exam to get an idea of the type of questions that appear on the actual certification exam.

The NSCA Certified Personal Trainer exam is comprised of 155 multiple-choice questions based on four subject areas. These subject areas are as follows:

Client Consultation and Assessment
Program Planning
Techniques of Exercise
Safety, Emergency Procedures and Legal Issues

For complete practice, check out the NSCA-CPT Practice Exam Kit with 400 questions and fully explained answers. It was written by Amanda Chismar and Christy Hamilton, certified personal trainers and health and fitness writers, holding certifications as NSCA Certified Personal Trainers.

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1.	Which of the following is a questionnaire that serves as a non-invasive, minimal health-risk appraisal designed to determine contraindications to exercise?
		a. Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q)
		b. Readiness to Change Questionnaire
		c. Health History Questionnaire
		d. Liability Waiver

2.	In which situation should the trainer refer the client to a dietitian?
		a. Bill wants advice on losing 100 pounds
		b. Shelly would like to learn how to eat healthier
		c. Bob has cardiovascular disease and would like to lose 30 pounds
		d. Gina is interested in cutting calories to lose weight

3.	What information does the Health History Questionnaire collect?
		a. Evidence of disclosure.
		b. Previous exercise history including adherence experience.
		c. Detailed medical and health information.
		d. Fitness measurement data.

4.	What information does the Informed Consent form collect?
		a. Evidence of disclosure.
		b. Previous exercise history.
		c. Detailed medical and health information.
		d. Fitness measurement data.

5.	What blood pressure measurement is considered to be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease?
		a. 130/70 mmHg
		b. 120/80 mmHg
		c. 121/81 mmHg
		d. 140/90 mmHg

6.	What is the correct sequence of connective tissue found within the muscle from largest to smallest?
		a. Endomysium, perimysium, epimysium
		b. Perimysium, endomysium, epimysium
		c. Epimysium, perimysium, endomysium
		d. Epimysium, endomysium, perimysium

7.	What is the fuel source in the sliding filament theory?
		a. Amino acids
		b. Fatty acids
		c. Creatine phosphate
		d. Adenosine triphosphate

8.	What is considered the basic contractile unit of a muscle?
		a. Muscle fiber
		b. Actin
		c. Myosin
		d. Sarcomere

9.	Torque produces ___________________.
		a. Angular velocity
		b. Linear acceleration
		c. Angular acceleration
		d. Force

10.	What is the biomechanical definition of Work?
		a. Mass x acceleration
		b. Distance x time
		c. Force x distance
		d. Force x time

11.	Beth is a 28-year-old woman who is looking to improve her overall fitness. How long should she rest for in between sets on a leg press exercise?
		a. Less than 30 seconds
		b. 30-90 seconds
		c. 2-5 minutes
		d. 30-60 seconds

12.	Abigail has been training with you for a year. She has begun seeing less results lately and is becoming discouraged. What is the best way to increase the results she is getting when she has reached a plateau and is unable to increase resistance or number of repetitions?
		a. Decrease number of repetitions for a short period of time.
		b. Decrease resistance for a short period of time.
		c. Increase training frequency to more days per week.
		d. Change the exercise modality.

13.	What is the general idea behind periodization?
		a. Changing the training exercise.
		b. Increasing resistance by 5%.
		c. Exercising the appropriate muscles.
		d. Varying training intensity and volume.

14.	Which training modality cannot utilize a 5% increase in training intensity as effectively?
		a. Training for muscular strength
		b. Training for hypertrophy
		c. Training for muscular endurance
		d. None of the above

15.	James has been training for and competing in triathlons for 5 years. He wants to increase running speed and cycling power. How many times should you suggest he train per week?
		a. 2-3
		b. 3-4
		c. 4-6
		d. 4-7

16.	Which of the following is an absolute contraindication to stretching?
		a. Presence of osteoporosis
		b. Joint swelling
		c. Prolonged immobilization of muscles
		d. A healing fracture site

17.	When on the treadmill your client becomes dizzy and passes out. She hits her head on the ground. She is unconscious and non-responsive. What is an appropriate action to take?
		a. Go to a phone and call 911.
		b. Gently move her out of the way of bystanders and prop her head with a pillow.
		c. Have a coworker call 911 while you stay with her.
		d. Begin CPR.

18.	Howard is a diabetic client whom you have been training for 3 months. While exercising he begins to show signs of hypoglycemia. What is the best course of action?
		a. Discontinue the exercise and have Howard sit down, give him something sugary to drink and monitor him.
		b. Give Howard a sugary drink and continue the exercise, monitoring him.
		c. Have Howard discontinue the exercise and give him a protein bar and diet drink.
		d. Contact EMS as this is a potential life-threatening situation.

19.	Upon approaching a client who is unconscious and non-responsive, what should you check and in which order?
		a. Circulation, breathing and airway
		b. Breathing, airway and circulation
		c. Airway, breathing and circulation
		d. Airway, circulation and breathing

20.	You are training a client with Epilepsy and he begins having a seizure on the leg press machine. Which of the following is an appropriate action to take?
		a. Restrain him so he does not fall
		b. Put your pen in his mouth to keep him from biting his tongue
		c. Administer the client's medication
		d. Assist him to the ground if necessary

Client Consultation and Assessments

1.	Which of the following is a questionnaire that serves as a non-invasive, minimal health-risk appraisal designed to determine contraindications to exercise?
		a. Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q)
		b. Readiness to Change Questionnaire
		c. Health History Questionnaire
		d. Liability Waiver
The PAR-Q is a simple questionnaire designed to screen for readiness for low to moderate intensity training. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.