Compare › Certifications
Personal trainer certifications compared
10 personal trainer and strength certifications side by side: whether the exam is NCCA-accredited, what it costs to get certified, exam and retake fees, format, published pass rates, prerequisites and what it takes to keep the credential. Every figure comes from the certifying organization's own pages or documents, with source links on each row. Where an organization doesn't publish a figure, the table says Not listed.
Free for every trainer and coach. No sign-up, no paywall, ever.
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
| Certification | NCCA status | Cheapest price | Typical price | Exam fee | Retake fee | Format | Pass rate | Prerequisites | Recertification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NASM-CPTNational Academy of Sports MedicinePrices checked Nov 2, 2026 · source ↗ · all sources | Yes | $999CPT Self-Study (includes NCCA exam) | $1,399CPT Premium Self-Study (includes 1 retest + job guarantee) | Included in all packages; exam-only purchase available (price not captured) | $199Retest included in Premium Self-Study and All-Inclusive; waits: 1 week, then 30 days, then 1 year. | 120 multiple-choice questions (100 scored + 20 pretest), 2 hours, closed-book, scaled score 70 to pass, must test within 180 days of purchaseProctored; in person or online | 84% (2025)22,767 candidates, 19,338 passed (NASM-published data sheet) | High school diploma or equivalent + current CPR/AED (NASM FAQ) | Every 2 years2.0 CEUs (20 hrs) incl. 0.1 for CPR/AEDFee: $99 · Fee waived with NASM One membership |
| ACE CPTAmerican Council on ExercisePrices checked Nov 2, 2026 · source ↗ · all sources | Yes | $593.40Basic (list $989) + $99 NCCA exam add-on = $692.40 for an accredited cert | $701.40Plus (list $1,169) + $99 exam | $99$99 add-on with a study program; $499 exam-only | $249Discounted retake valid 1 year from first attempt; reschedule fee $149 | 150 multiple-choice, 3 hours, closed-book, scaled score 500 to passLive proctor, in person or online (remote) | 73% (2025)7,105 candidates (ACE Candidate Handbook, Appendix D) | Current CPR and AED (U.S./Canada) per ACE handbook; other eligibility not captured | Every 2 years2.0 CECs (20 hrs) incl. ≥1 hr Professional Conduct & EthicsFee: $129 · Late: $169 (≤3 mo), $199 (≤6 mo) |
| ISSA CPT (NCCPT)International Sports Sciences Association / NCCPTPrices checked Nov 2, 2026 · source ↗ · all sources | Yes | $868Certified Personal Trainer, paid in full (+$79 Prometric proctor fee for the NCCA exam = $947) | $1,300Elite Trainer (4 certs) paid in full | $79Prometric delivery fee on top of course price | $99NCCPT: max 3 attempts in 12 months | 2 hours, closed-book, timedProctored; online or Prometric test center | 72.65% (2022)NCCPT-published 2022 statistical report; no newer report found | CPR/AED required for the job guarantee ($49 add-on with CPT alone); other exam eligibility not captured | Every 2 years2.0 CEUs (20 hrs) + current CPR/AEDFee: $99 · ISSA $99, waived if all CEUs via ISSA; NCCPT renewal $75 (one cert) |
| NSCA-CPTNational Strength and Conditioning AssociationPrices checked Nov 2, 2026 · source ↗ · all sources | Yes | $300Exam registration, NSCA member (membership cost extra) | $435Exam registration, non-member | $435$300 member / $435 non-member | $435Retakes = full exam fee, not discounted; 30-day wait; 1-year wait after 3 consecutive fails | 155 multiple-choice (140 scored + 15 non-scored), 3 hours, includes video/image items; scaled 70 to pass; test within 120 daysPearson VUE test center (remote proctoring offered only for TSAC-F) | 77% (2025)5,607 candidates (NSCA annual exam report) | Current CPR/AED required; other eligibility not captured this run | Every 3 years6.0 CEUs per cycle (2024–2026 cycle ends Dec 31, 2026)Fee: $90 · $65 member / $90 non-member per credential |
| CSCSNational Strength and Conditioning AssociationPrices checked Nov 2, 2026 · source ↗ · all sources | Yes | $340Exam registration, NSCA member | $475Exam registration, non-member | $475$340 member / $475 non-member | $385One section: $250 member / $385 non-member; both sections $340/$475; failed section must be retaken within 1 year | Two sections: Scientific Foundations (95 Qs, 1.5 hrs) + Practical/Applied (125 Qs, 2.5 hrs); scaled 70 to passPearson VUE test center | 50% (2025)9,650 candidates; both sections 50%, Sci Foundations 71%, Practical/Applied 55% | Bachelor's degree (any field through 2029; from Jan 1, 2030 U.S. candidates need a CASCE-accredited degree) + current CPR/AED | Every 3 years6.0 CEUs per cycleFee: $90 · $65 member / $90 non-member per credential |
| ACSM-EPAmerican College of Sports MedicinePrices checked Nov 2, 2026 · source ↗ · all sources | Yes | $350Exam only, ACSM member ($460 non-member) | $649Prep Bundle (exam + online prep course), non-member; $459 member | $460$350 member / $460 non-member, includes $50 non-refundable application fee | Not listedRetake price not captured; 15-day wait; max 4 attempts in 12 months | 140 items (125 scored + 15 unscored), 210 minutesPearson VUE test center or remote proctored | 70% (2025)First attempt, Jul 10–Dec 31 2025 (repeat 53%); ACSM pass-rate page | Bachelor's in exercise science/physiology/kinesiology (or final semester), adult CPR/AED with live skills check; First Aid from 2027 | Every 3 years60 CECs + current CPR/AEDFee: $70 · Grace period 6 months with $80 late fee |
| NCSF CPTNational Council on Strength and FitnessPrices checked Nov 2, 2026 · source ↗ · all sources | Yes | $399Exam only | Not listedCertified Personal Trainer PackagePage shows List $899, 'Saving $450' — net price implied $449 but not displayed explicitly | $399 | $99$99 within 6 months of first attempt, 30-day wait; after that $399 | 150 multiple-choice (125 scored), 3 hoursPrometric test center or remote | 84.5% (2024)Two forms: 85% and 84% of ~1,230 candidates each (NCSF 2024 annual exam report) | Current CPR/AED (other eligibility not captured) | Every 2 years10 CEUs incl. 2 for CPR and 1 ethicsFee: $85 · $100 for two or more credentials |
| NFPT CPTNational Federation of Professional TrainersPrices checked Nov 2, 2026 · source ↗ · all sources | Yes | $299Exam only | $449CPT Core (study materials, practice tests, live sessions, coach access) | $299 | $119 | Closed-book, 2 hours, 750/1000 to pass, instant results; question count shown as '800' on NFPT page (looks like a typo — not confirmed)Test center or remote | Not listedMarketing claim '>80%'; no published report found | Not listedNot captured | Every year2.0 CECs per year from year two; from Jan 1, 2027 moves to 2-year cycle with 4.0 CECsFee: $85 · $85/year; NFPT says its CECs are free |
| AFAA PFTAthletics and Fitness Association of America (NASM-owned)Prices checked Nov 2, 2026 · source ↗ · all sources | No | $499PFT course + online exam (textbook not included) | $578$499 + $79 textbook | Included | Not listedRetest purchasable, up to 3 attempts within 365 days; price not published | 120 multiple-choiceOnline, independently monitored (webcam) | Not listedNot published | Valid photo ID + current CPR/AED at exam | Every 2 years15 CEUs (1.5) incl. 2 hrs AFAA education + CPR/AEDFee: $99 · $50 late fee; 'Recertify for Life' $299 one-time |
| NESTA PFTNational Exercise & Sports Trainers AssociationPrices checked Nov 2, 2026 · source ↗ · all sources | Yes | $349PFT exam only (one attempt) | $697PFT Course + Exam ($69 today + 5 x $129) | $349 | $199Per search summary of NESTA pages; not seen directly on fetched page | 120 multiple-choice (100 graded), 2 hours; test within 90 days of eligibility IDProctored at PSI test center (private proctor option listed) | Not listedPass rate not published; NESTA publishes average first-time score 75.8% (Jan 1–Oct 1, 2026) | 18+, high school diploma or equivalent, current CPR (or BLS) card | Every 4 years4.0 CEUs (40 hrs)Fee: $149 · Only 4-year NCCA PT cert per NESTA; $25 per 30 days late; retest after 90 days late |
Prices checked Nov 2, 2026 on each organization's pages. Several organizations show list prices struck through with ongoing discounts, so the price you see may differ; the cheapest and typical columns name the package each price belongs to. Pass rates come from different years and different exams with different candidate pools, so they don't measure the quality of a certification. "Not listed" means the figure wasn't published, or wasn't captured, on the official pages.
Side-by-side guides
Compare certifications · NASM vs ACE · NASM vs ISSA · NSCA-CPT vs CSCS · Free and low-cost CEUs · NSCA deadline Dec 31, 2026
FAQ
Which of these certifications are NCCA-accredited?
The organizations' own pages list NASM-CPT, ACE CPT, ISSA CPT (NCCPT), NSCA-CPT, CSCS, ACSM-EP, NCSF CPT, NFPT CPT, NESTA PFT as NCCA-accredited. AFAA PFT is listed as not accredited because its own pages conflict. For ACE and ISSA, only the separate proctored exam is accredited, not the open-book exam in the default study package.
Does the cheapest package include the accredited exam?
Not always. ACE's cheapest listed package is $593.40, and the accredited exam is a $99 add-on. ISSA's is $868 plus a $79 Prometric fee for the NCCPT exam. NASM's cheapest listed package, $999, includes the accredited exam. NSCA-CPT, CSCS, ACSM-EP, NCSF CPT, NFPT CPT, NESTA PFT list an exam-only price.
Which certifications require a degree?
CSCS: Bachelor's degree (any field through 2029; from Jan 1, 2030 U.S. candidates need a CASCE-accredited degree) + current CPR/AED. ACSM-EP: Bachelor's in exercise science/physiology/kinesiology (or final semester), adult CPR/AED with live skills check; First Aid from 2027. The others list CPR/AED and, for some, a high school diploma; see the Prerequisites column.
How often do you have to recertify?
Every year: NFPT CPT. Every 2 years: NASM-CPT, ACE CPT, ISSA CPT (NCCPT), NCSF CPT, AFAA PFT. Every 3 years: NSCA-CPT, CSCS, ACSM-EP. Every 4 years: NESTA PFT. NFPT notes: 2.0 CECs per year from year two; from Jan 1, 2027 moves to 2-year cycle with 4.0 CECs. CEU counts and fees are in the Recertification column.
Sources
- NASM Certified Personal Trainer (NASM-CPT)
- https://www.nasm.org/resource-center/blog/certification/nasm-vs-ace-cost
- https://www.nasm.org/products/cpt-all-inclusive-program
- https://www.nasm.org/nasm-faqs
- https://www.nasm.org/certified-personal-trainer-exam-info
- https://support.nasm.org/nasm-administrative-fees
- https://2494739.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/2494739/NASM-CPT%20Exam%20Data%20Statistics%202020-2025.pdf
- https://www.nasm.org/certified-personal-trainer-renewal
- ACE Certified Personal Trainer
- https://www.acefitness.org/get-certified/personal-trainer/
- https://www.acefitness.org/fitness-certifications/exam-options/
- https://www.acefitness.org/fitness-certifications/schedule-your-exam/
- https://www.acefitness.org/faqs/
- https://contentcdn.eacefitness.com/assets/certification/pdfs/Certification-Exam-Candidate-Handbook.pdf
- https://www.acefitness.org/fitness-certifications/recertification/
- ISSA Certified Personal Trainer (accredited path: NCCPT-CPT)
- NSCA-Certified Personal Trainer (NSCA-CPT)
- https://www.nsca.com/certification/nsca-cpt/
- https://www.nsca.com/certification/how-to-register-for-an-nsca-exam/
- https://www.nsca.com/utility-navigation/FAQ/
- https://www.nsca.com/certification/nsca-cpt/nsca-cpt-exam-description/
- https://www.nsca.com/certification/certification-resources/nsca-exam-report/
- https://www.nsca.com/certification/fees/
- Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS)
- ACSM Certified Exercise Physiologist (ACSM-EP, formerly EP-C)
- https://acsm.org/certification/get-certified/exercise-physiologist/exam-reg-selection-ep/
- https://acsm.org/certification/get-certified/exercise-physiologist/
- https://acsm.org/certification/get-certified/faqs/
- https://acsm.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ACSM-Candidate-Handbook-July-2025.pdf
- https://acsm.org/certification/professional-resources/about/
- https://acsm.org/certification/recertification/
- NCSF Certified Personal Trainer
- NFPT Certified Personal Trainer
- AFAA Personal Fitness Trainer (PFT)
- NESTA Personal Fitness Trainer (PFT)
Plain HTTP fetch of each organization's pages + PDFs (pdftotext); web search where pages blocked (NSCA returned 403 to plain fetch, so NSCA facts come from search extracts of nsca.com pages).