Certified Personal Trainer
Are you ready to change lives?
A personal trainer certification from ACSM means that you’ll have the practical and scientific knowledge to work in a variety of fitness facilities, including health clubs, gyms, university, corporate, and community or public fitness centers. ACSM Certified Personal Trainers® (ACSM-CPT®) are employed in positions ranging from freelance personal training to full-time and beyond.
Become an ACSM Certified Personal Trainer® in Three Steps
1. Do you meet the qualifications?
- 18 Years of Age or Older
- High School Diploma or the Equivalent
- Adult CPR/AED Certification
*Starting in 2027, all ACSM certifications will require first aid training.
2. Prepare to take the exam
You can create your own preparation plan, or let us guide you through the process! Whichever option you chose, ACSM has the tools to support you. Just scroll down!
3. Register to take the exam
The ACSM Certification exam can be taken in-person at a Pearson VUE testing center, or take it online from the comfort of your own home, office or workplace!
Prepare for Your ACSM-CPT® Exam | A Guided Approach
While these resources are not required preparation materials and should not be interpreted as constituting the sole source of all ACSM exam questions, candidates may find them useful when preparing for the exam. Each candidate should develop his or her own personal reading list and study-plan based on individual needs and knowledge.
Step One: Download the Exam Content Outline
The exam content outline is the blueprint for your certification examination. Every question on the exam is associated with one of the knowledge or skill statements that are found in the exam content outline.
Step Two: Join the Official Facebook Study Group
Join hundreds of candidates in preparing for the ACSM-CPT® on Facebook. Learn from what others have done to pass their exams, ask your questions in a welcoming community and help support others during the study process.
Step Three: Create Your Study Plan
There are a number of study materials and options. You can utilize any or all of these based on your individual preparation needs. You can pick one of the below options, or combine to optimize your preparation!
Resource Books
ACSM’s Resources for the Personal Trainer, sixth edition is the official preparation book for the exam.
Also Recommended:
Online Prep Course
The ACSM Certified Personal Trainer exam preparation course was developed from the ground up, focused on a cutting-edge online learning experience. This engaging 20-hour course is designed to support most learning styles and includes 19 modules, 453 lessons, and more than 200 interactive knowledge checks.
Online Practice Questions with prepU
A personalized and unique approach to studying – prepU is a quiz platform that adapts your study plan based on current proficiency.
Practice Exam and Flash Cards
ACSM’s practice exam is the only resource that simulates the actual look and feel of the ACSM-Certified Personal Trainer certification exam.
Digital flash cards are also available!
Have questions? Consult the ACSM Candidate Handbook:
Exam Pricing
ACSM member Candidate
Exam Re-Test Fee
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