NASM Review (2024): The Gold Standard of Personal Training Certifications?

Becoming a certified personal trainer opens up a number of opportunities for employment. What I really like about it: You can truly make a difference in other people’s lives. 

There is no shortage of certification options on the market today, and many people in the industry look at the one from the accredited National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) as being the “gold standard.”

While we feel it’s debatable as to which organization offers the best certification, several of us at Garage Gym Reviews can attest to how thorough this course is. In this NASM certified personal trainer course (CPT) review, you’ll find what you can expect to learn, how the information is presented, and what you should know before taking the exam. 

A Team Of Certified Personal Trainers

Our editorial team and expert panel at Garage Gym Reviews comprises people who are certified personal trainers. Six of us have taken either the NASM course, the course from ACE (The American Council on Exercise), or the National Strength and Conditioning Association course.

Three people on our team, including myself, personally went through the full NASM CPT course. We have two writers who have taken and passed the organization’s nutrition certification, and one writer who took and passed the home gym design course. We are extremely well-versed in what it takes to become a personal trainer, as well as the quality of the courses offered from NASM.

NASM CPT Certification

NASM Personal Training Certification Course

GGR Score: 4.14

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Product Highlights

• Various study packages offered
• New digital learning platform
• The foundation of the course is based on NASM’s Optimum Performance Training Model (OPT) which is a systematic approach to personal training for every type of clien
• Prerequisites  – CPR and high school diploma or GED
• Covers behavioral change to assist clients with personal hurdles
• Focus on client assessments to develop plans best suited for each person

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Lots of study materials available: textbook, app, videos, and podcasts
• Built-in opportunities for post-certification internships
• NASM is NCCA-certified
• Discounts often available
• Financing available
• Options for remote or in-person exam
• Other courses available for advanced learning
• Bundle CPT with nutrition and other courses for a discount

Cons

• Higher cost than some other certification programs
• Textbook not included in two most basic packages
• Textbook/online training modules alone may not prepare you well for exam
• Short time frame to take the exam, especially if you work full-time

Bottom Line

NASM’s digital CPT program is a highly reputable and in-depth certification program for anyone looking to become a personal trainer.

A Quick Look at the NASM Certified Personal Trainer Course

NASM has been educating people about fitness for more than 35 years and has certified more than 1.5 million people. Also, the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) has accredited NASM, which may be an important selling point for potential employers. 

The organization offers a number of certifications for fitness professionals, but it’s most known for the personal trainer course. It’s one of the more expensive certifications, but if you can afford it, it’s one of the best known. 

The online module is designed to take about 4 to 6 weeks, but it really depends on how much time you have to devote to learning the information. For many people, especially those who don’t have much of a background in anatomy, kinesiology, and human movement, four to six months of studying may be necessary. (You get 180 days from the time of purchasing the course until you have to take the exam.) 

The course covers applied sciences like the nervous system and bioenergetics, movement assessments, client behaviors, exercise technique, program design, and professional development.

Our Tips

• NASM offers package discounts often for the CPT exam; take advantage of these!
• Being CPR/AED certified is a prerequisite for the course.
• There is a digital learning platform, app, study guide, and textbook: Use every resource available (if you can afford it) to figure out how you learn best.
• The NASM podcasts with Rick Richey are informative and break down the material well if you like to listen and learn.

Is the NASM CPT Worth It?

If your goal is to become a certified personal trainer, you’ve got options. Some courses cost as little as a few hundred dollars and can be done in a weekend. However, if you look at the organizations that are accredited through the National Commission for Certifying Agencies, the price tag goes up. 

NASM is actually one of the more expensive options; it is also one that most gyms accept, and it is arguably the most popular. 

To be fair, it’s a little hard to compare pricing for these courses, because the organizations that offer them discount them literally all the time. Also, many companies offer a variety of package options where you can pay more for more study tools. 

NASM’s basic offering starts around $900 (compared to the ACE program with a price tag of $979). However, as of this writing, the NASM basic package is discounted to $629, and the ACE course is discounted to $587. 

A unique selling point for NASM is the Gymternship program that gives you access to 80 hours of hands-on training following your certification (more on that below). That makes a higher price tag more palatable.

Course Options

To be clear, you don’t have to purchase any materials to take the NASM CPT exam. You can simply sign up for the “Basic” package, which gives you access to online materials and, most importantly, the ability to schedule the exam. 

The textbook does not come with the Basic and Standard packages. You can add it on for an extra $200, which is pretty much the price of just upgrading your package anyway. 

I learn well by reading and taking notes, so the hardcover textbook was great for me. However, there is a plethora of other study tools like video, audio, and podcasts, so you might find the textbook isn’t necessary.

The key features standard with each study package include:

• Online course
• Exam 
• Digital learning platform
• Videos and chapter summaries on audio
• A resource library with handouts
• Practice exams and quizzes

As you upgrade, you get access to other options, such as:

• Free renewals for when you need to get recertified
• A year of NASM Edge Trainer Plus, which is a pretty cool app 
• A retake in case you fail the exam the first time
• Textbook
• CPR/AED certification (which is mandatory to take the exam)

Post-Certification Perks

There are two really interesting features of the more advanced course packages through NASM:

Job guarantee: NASM promises you a job within 90 days of certification or they will refund you the cost of the “job guarantee” upgrade (which I couldn’t find a dollar amount for, but I’m guessing it’s only a small portion of your total cost).

Gymternship: This trademarked offering gives you 80 hours of hands-on practice with clients at a partner health club. Of course, you have to pass your exam first, but this appears to be a great opportunity for people looking to get their feet in the door.

Course Design and Layout 

Many of the sections of the course build on each other, so following the text (or online sections) in order is important. I read every page in the textbook, which is filled with citations to peer-reviewed studies. 

The course is divided into sections, which are further divided into chapters. Here’s what you can expect:

Section 1: Professional Development and Responsibility

There are two chapters here that essentially give you an overview of the state of health and fitness in the world today. It’s a little depressing to read obesity statistics, but it also sets the stage for why personal training is important. You also learn a little about what it means to be a personal trainer. 

Most of this information is likely redundant for people who already live and love fitness. There may have been one or two exam questions from these chapters, though they were questions that had common-sense answers.

Section 2: Client Relations and Behavioral Coaching

These chapters have some pretty good information about how to work with clients and understanding their motivations. It details goal-setting, like SMART goals, and how to set people up for success.

Section 3: Basic and Applied Sciences and Nutritional Concepts

This is where the fun really starts. If you don’t have much of a background in anatomy, kinesiology, and/or nutrition, strap in. 

There are six chapters in this section:

• The Nervous, Muscular, and Skeletal Systems
• The Cardiorespiratory, Endocrine, and Digestive Systems
• Human Movement Science
• Exercise Metabolism and Bioenergetics
• Nutrition
• Supplementation

These chapters build the base for what’s to come in terms of actually training clients. In order to design programs that are appropriate for people of all ages and abilities, it’s important to have a sound working knowledge of the body.

As far as testing on this section goes, NASM doesn’t get too crazy into the details: I think there were only one or two questions about nutrition and supplementation (there are other NASM courses you can take to know more about that). 

I learned (or re-learned, really) a lot from these sections just in terms of anatomy. For me, these were great refresher chapters. 

Section 4: Assessment

As someone who has worked in fitness for more than a decade, I found Section 4 to be my favorite. The two chapters in this section take you through how to assess someone’s posture and movement patterns to identify where potential issues might be in terms of muscle imbalances, injuries, and other issues. 

You learn different assessments you can conduct with clients to get a good baseline for them, both in terms of their movement patterns as well as their current fitness level. There were a number of exam questions that came from this section, especially regarding under- and overactive muscles in different assessments. 

Section 5: Exercise Technique and Training Instruction

The eight (EIGHT!) chapters in this section teach you about Optimum Performance Training (OPT), which is NASM’s proprietary model for developing programs for clients. Even though this is a NASM-specific model, it covers the concepts you’ll find in any well-planned, well-designed program:

• Flexibility training
• Cardiorespiratory training
• Core training
• Balance training
• Plyometric training
• Speed, agility, and quickness training
• Resistance training

Each chapter is devoted to a mode of training, detailing why you do it, how you do it, specific exercises and progressions/regressions for them, and demonstrations of the exercises. 

I love how NASM covers every aspect of training and creates a picture of how you would apply each for certain clients. It’s easy to point to each chapter and say that NASM could have gone into more detail about XYZ, but fitness is a seemingly endless vortex you can get lost in when you get hyper specific about training and modalities. 

For coverage on topics that apply to most clients, NASM does a decent job. The organization really pushes SAQ (speed, agility, quickness) training and places an emphasis on core and balance training as well. 

Section 6: Program Design

Here, you’ll learn how to build a program based on the OPT model for clients. I particularly like the chapter in this section that addresses chronic conditions and special populations, as well as exercises that are contraindicated for people who fall into those groups. Why? Because as a personal trainer, you should be acutely aware of how pre-existing conditions affect whether or not someone can be in a prone position for training. 

I think the program design is where critics of NASM probably point out the most flaws. But the truth is, you can take just about any workout program and rip it apart. 

The OPT model is sound in its progressions: You start with stabilization endurance, move into strength (strength endurance, then strength development, then maximal strength), and finish with power. That’s a pretty universally sound concept because it’s basically the “crawl before you walk, walk before you run” idea. 

Where NASM catches some heat is in the details: For example, they recommend very specific sets and rest periods for hypertrophy, SAQ, maximal strength work, and so on. Fitness industry experts could read this and start throwing out studies to argue that resting just 60 seconds in between sets for hypertrophy isn’t long enough.

Take it or leave it. You have to know the program design in order to pass the CPT exam with NASM. In practice, what you do with the numbers/program model should always come down to your specific client. 

I like OPT as a guideline, but not as a rule. 

Online Module

Garage Gym Reviews staff writer Anthony O’Reilly did a hybrid of the textbook and online modules, and found the latter to be a good fit for those trying to break up their studying into bite-sized chunks. Each chapter is broken into different lessons, with mini quizzes at the end of each and a 10-question chapter quiz at the end. 

Each section also had its own test with 50 questions each.  

“Personally, I found the online modules less overwhelming than the textbook because you could focus on one portion of a topic and get a true understanding of it before going onto the next,” he says. “The lesson, chapter, and section quizzes also helped me get a good idea of what areas I need to work on to feel better prepared for the actual exam.” 

For example, the “Nervous, Skeletal, and Muscular Systems” chapter was broken down into four lessons plus a summary: 

At the end of each lesson, you’d take a no-pressure quiz that gave you unlimited guesses. 

Another advantage of the online module is that there are videos and audio chapter reviews that you can watch or listen to for further explanation on each chapter. You can also save certain graphics and tables to your desktop for easy reference. 

Overall, Anthony says you probably could pass the exam without the textbook. “I personally absorb information better when reading a physical book,” he says, “but the same information that you could find there was also in the online modules, so it just depends on your personal preference.

“I do think the lesson, chapter, and section quizzes are a big part of why I passed,” he added. 

Taking the Final Exam 

Right off the bat, you should know this isn’t an exam you can take lightly. If you don’t have an exercise science background or experience in the fitness field, the information may even seem overwhelming.

Personally, I have been working in the fitness industry for more than 15 years and hold certifications from USA Weightlifting and CrossFit, so going into the NASM course, I felt pretty well-prepared. 

However, GGR staff writer Caroline Lubinsky, who is a former collegiate athlete but hasn’t worked in hands-on training before, warns that if you don’t have a background like mine, you might struggle.

“I studied like no one’s business and even read the entire textbook in preparation for this exam,” she says. “I still failed by five points, which was really disheartening.”

Anthony, a former journalist, also has little exercise science experience, and he also only started working out regularly about five years ago. And while he’s worked in the fitness publishing industry for about the same amount of time, nothing could’ve prepared him for how in-depth NASM’s lessons were. 

“I really felt like I was back in a college-level anatomy and physiology class sometimes,” he says.  

For the NCAA-accredited, proctored exam, you get two hours to take a test that has 120 questions. However, there are 20 questions on the exam that might not even count toward your score – they are research questions NASM uses for their own purposes, and you have no idea which 20 those are, but they won’t count toward your score. To pass, you need a 70% or higher, and you must take the exam within 180 days of the enrollment date.

You can choose to take your course online or in-person.

There also is a personal trainer certificate exam that is non-proctored and open-book. It has 100 questions and requires a passing grade of 70%. This exam is administered online only. You will have 3 hours to complete the exam, and you must take the exam within 180 days of your enrollment date. 

Preparing for the Exam

In addition to reading the entire textbook and taking notes, I also took advantage of a few other tools for exam prep:

• The flashcards available through the NASM Edge app
• The practice questions available through the NASM Edge app
• The practice exam available through the NASM website
• NASM podcasts

The practice exams NASM offers are very little like the actual exam, aside from both being in a multiple-choice-question format. The flashcards were great for memorization, but few really translated to what was on the actual exam. I felt like I learned a lot with the tools, but I wouldn’t say they prepared me as well as they could have for the exam. 

The best test prep for me was a combination of reading the book and my background in fitness. There are a lot of questions about how to cue clients during certain movements, like a squat, a dumbbell scaption (an exercise I had never heard of), and a stability ball lat stretch. I’ve done most of those things with people already, so the responses came easily. However, if you don’t have that kind of experience, this section may be more difficult. 

Taking the NASM Exam Online

I took the exam online. In order to take the online exam, you need:

• A computer with a webcam and audio
• An internet connection
• Patience 

This is a proctored exam, which means someone is watching you the entire time. Like a hawk. 

You can log into the online exam up to 30 minutes before your scheduled time. I highly advise logging in early! 

There are a lot of tasks you have to do in order to even get to the actual test. For example, you need to take multiple videos with your computer: a video scanning the room, another one showing your room from floor to ceiling, another one showing the area behind your ears and of your wrists, another one showing your desk. 

You also need to have your license available. I was told to have a copy of my CPR certificate, but I never ended up having to show it.

The proctor will tell you if there is anything you need to do, like taking excess books off your desk or closing doors.  

One big potential flaw in taking the exam online is that you might get booted from the system, which Caroline and I both did. 

There was a massive thunderstorm that started as I was about 40 questions into the exam. It temporarily knocked out my power. Fortunately, the power came back on quickly, and I was able to connect with the online help. But, I had to completely redo all the videos and again show my proctor my workspace. 

Other than that, the online exam is fine. You start with a five-question practice test so you understand how to respond to questions. During the actual exam, you can bookmark questions you aren’t sure of to return to them later, which was pretty easy to do. 

When you’re finished, you have to take TWO surveys about your experience. This was annoying, because all I wanted to know was if I passed, but I couldn’t find out until I took the surveys. 

After you submit your final survey, you’ll get a screen that tells you if you passed or failed. I passed the exam, but I don’t know what my score was (and still haven’t figured it out). 

Taking the Exam In Person

Anthony opted to take the exam in person after hearing how Caroline and Kate experienced connection issues that lost them some time on the exam. The only difference is you’re taking the exam on a computer at a testing center, and not from your home. 

When scheduling your final exam, you’ll simply choose to take the exam in-person and enter your ZIP code to find a testing center near you. Anthony was able to find one that was only 2 miles from his apartment. 

After showing his ID and CPR/AED certification, he was asked to put his phone and wallet in a locker (he was given a key) and brought into a large room filled with cubicles that had their own computers. A test center employee logged him into his workstation, but after that it’s the same rigamarole as taking it virtually, from the practice test to the post-exam survey. 

To Anthony’s complete shock, he passed. After getting his heart rate back to a normal level, he got up from his station, retrieved his phone and wallet from the locker, and left the testing center. 

Tips for Passing the NASM Exam

 Here are a few tips from our team regarding the NASM test:

• Don’t stress too much about nutrition and supplements; the few questions around these concerned the basics (like which vitamins are fat-soluble and have more concerns for toxicity).
• Know the assessments and what to look for as flaws, and what those flaws could mean in terms of overactive and underactive muscles
• I felt that Sections 4, 5 and 6 were where most of the questions came from.
• To echo every one of my elementary school teachers, take your time. Bookmark questions you’re unsure of and come back to them if needed. 
• Simply understanding a few key terms (broncho, osteo, -ectasis, etc.) can be helpful in deciphering a lot of the questions. 

References and Data

I do feel that NASM really dug into peer-reviewed studies and experts to create this course. You’ll find citations all over the place. 

Now, which studies and experts you cite matters. I’ve done some digging and found review sites where someone cites studies that contradict what’s presented in the NASM text.

While fitness is a science, it’s a science we are still understanding. I strongly feel that NASM is presenting an evidence-based course that gives you a really good foundation as a personal trainer, even if you don’t agree with some of the specifics. 

What Does a Certified Personal Trainer Do? 

In short, a certified personal trainer provides people with a fitness training program that helps them meet their goals. With a CPT, you are able to design a program in-person or via a personal training app, implement it, assess how a client is performing, and make adjustments as necessary.

In my opinion, the more important question is asking what a CPT does NOT do. Having a CPT certification is great, but it’s not all-encompassing for everything related to health and fitness. 

As a CPT without any other specific credentials, you should not:

• Diagnose an injury
• Give specific advice on nutrition
• Give specific advice on supplements
• Diagnose an illness

For any of the above, you should refer a client out to specialists in those areas.

Other NASM Offerings

In addition to the CPT program, NASM does offer several other fitness certifications, including the following:

• A certified nutrition coach course
• A certified sports nutrition coach course
• A certified wellness coach course
• A stretching and flexibility coach course

NASM Personal Trainer Recertification

In order to keep your NASM certificate, you have to acquire 2 NASM-approved CEUs every two years: 1.9 in continuing education credits, and 0.1 in maintaining a current CPR/AED certification. NASM has preferred providers from which they also accept CEUs. 

There are also a number of specialized courses that count toward your required CEUs. Those courses include:

• Corrective exercise (become a CES, corrective exercise specialist)
• Weight loss
• Senior fitness
• Behavior change
• Performance enhancement
• Group fitness
• Virtual coaching
• Home gym design
• Social media influencer
• Women’s fitness

You can bank on each of these courses costing at least a few hundred dollars in addition to the recertification fees you have to pay. Some people knock NASM (and similar organizations) for this kind of structure because it essentially means you have to keep paying them. 

Personally, I believe that a good fitness professional should be in a continual state of learning, and these requirements encourage that. If you’re in a position where you are responsible in some way for someone’s health and wellbeing, you should bring your A-game with knowledge and information. 

Final Verdict of Our NASM Review

In general, I like the NASM course. I definitely learned a lot regarding human movement and a little about things like nutrition and supplementation (I might even take the NASM nutrition course). 

I don’t think that the textbook alone prepares you well for the exam. I think it gives you great information, but the exam was more about implementing that information, which most people without any fitness experience may need more guidance with. 

And, as with most things, I don’t think this course alone will make you a great trainer. You have to just get out and work with people. I do think it’s great that NASM offers the Gymternship program and would advise people new to training to take advantage of it. 

NASM CPT Program Rating

NASM Personal Training Certification

The NASM Personal Training Certification is an in-depth course that provides people significant information to launch a career in the fitness industry and help people succeed.

Product Brand: NASM

Product Currency: USD

Product Price: 899

Product In-Stock: InStock

Editor's Rating:
4.6

NASM Certified Personal Trainer Course FAQs

Kate Meier, NASM-CPT, USAW-L1, CF-L1

Kate has nearly two decades of experience working in both the fitness and content industries. On the fitness side, she has worked in a number of settings: youth athletics, owned a CrossFit affiliate, personal training, weightlifting coach, CrossFit coach, and fitness floor consultant at a YMCA. Personally, Kate enjoys competing in weightlifting and stores her barbell in her bedroom.On the content side, Kate’s background is in newspaper journalism. She branched into public relations for the American Red Cross for about five years and then moving into content marketing.Today, her work at Garage Gym Reviews blends her excitement for fitness and love of writing. If she isn’t reviewing fitness equipment, you can find her working out or spending time with her two children.Certifications:NASM Certified Personal Trainer CrossFit Level 1 Trainer USA Weightlifting Level 1 Trainer

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