NSCA CPT Study approach

[jackson]

Hi everyone.

Im new here. I am currently studying for the NSCA CPT exam and was wondering what approach did others take when preparing for the exam. I have no background in the field and therefore am learning it all for the first time.

Im feeling like with the approach Im taking it will be a year before Im prepared. I know there has to be another way and would love some ideas from those who've been where I am.

The mode I was using was to go through the entire chapter and write out the content then study it from my notebook. That just seems silly. Please help. Im a very intelligent person and grasp info pretty quickly but Ive never taken an independant study course or anything so how to approach this stumps me. All help is appreciated.

All the best,

Jackson

[John Izzo]

Question for ya Jackson....

If you are absolutely new to the field, why did you choose the NSCA-CPT? Why not an entry level cert like ACE, NESTA, WITS, or NFPT?

If your answer is going to be the NSCA "is the best"...passing the cert will not deem you "best caliber trainer". But why not get an ACE or something equivelant, gain some experience, and then seek out a more advanced certification down the rode? Just curious to know your thoght process.

[jackson]

Hi John,

Thanks for responding. I chose NSCA for various reasons. After doing some research on each certifying body and then looking into my area and the types of certs that facilities are looking for when hiring a CPT, NSCA ruled out. Also, I figure why not just get the better of them all from the start. I guess what you said is to me sorta like going to Community (nothing wrong with Community Colleges) College verses a 4 year University when I have the ability to go straight to a 4 year University. Im not completely unlearned in fitness just no formal background. I don't think I can't grasp the NSCA info simply because I have no formal educational background, so why not go for it? So there's my logic.

I understand that because a certification has a high caliber status doesn't make me a high caliber trainer. I am very aware that being a high caliber trainer will totally depend on how I grasp the information not just from NSCA but all the information on the fitness field in general and how I then can incorporate that into RESULTS.

Now that Ive answered your questions, do you have any suggestions on a study approach?

[John Izzo]

Jackson: To study for the cert, I suggest getting the study materials available through the NSCA. I am not certified through them, however, I'm sure you will get some forum members to help you out with more strategies for passing.

As far as comparing the certs to a community college vs. 4-year: I don't agree with that statement. You can attend a community college and transfer to a 4 year school once you have adapted to college life, workload, and culture. Same as the fitness industry...everyone that "works out" has a 'fitness background'. But its applying principles to others that differs a trainer from an enthusiast.

Entry level gets your foot in the door. Advanced means your proven. (this is in my eyes, at least-but I hire trainers for a living so what do I know?) the trouble with this unregulated industry is the fact that people "memorize" for tests...end up passing...get ...NSCA-CPT after their name, but they lack application experence. At least with a "softer" cert, expectations are lower and allows you to meet or EXCEED them. That would be my strategy to longevity and success in this field.

Actually, it was.

Good luck.

[Matthew]

Interesting points John, thanks. I've been thinking of writing the NSCA-CPT exam after writing the Can-Fit-Pro PTS (I guess this would be considered the Canadian "entry level" cert), but you've given me something to think about.

I don't have any suggestions for you jackson as I've never written the NSCA-CPT, but one thing I will say is that taking physiology, exercise physiology, anatomy and applied anatomy in college was the best thing I could have done to develop a general base of knowledge. They were pretty basic courses, but it's still a huge step above trying to teach yourself.
That's just my opinion, it might not be shared by everyone.

[jackson]

John,

Thanks for your input thus far. However, I think instead of you responding to my specific question if you indeed have a reply you're trying to get at another point of which Ive already on my own considered and made my decisions about. I understand you speaking as a Manager yadah, yadah but I think its a bit unfair to take this thread in a direction that I didnt ask about. I mean Im one who is open for enlightenment but I feel like I took myself through a thorough process to come to the decision that I have. Im not just a fitness enthusiast as you put it but I'll leave that as is. And as for my comparision to community college to 4 year university I think you went outside of the scope of my example. When I receive my certification it will be well known to whoever hires me what my "experience" is. I also think a responsible manager should look beyond just a certification and also at experience level which would also help keep expectations in perspective.

I don't think becoming acclimated to the industry should happen by choosing a "lesser" certification but rather about how you pursue becoming educated in and entering the industry. A person who seeks to be a Psychologist doesn't opt to attend a less "reputable" school to learn about the field. They actually seek out getting the knowledge through the best school in the field. Then get an entry level position upon graduation. And this is my approach to this process.

I have no intentions on jumping in with both feet even having NSCA CPT behind my name. That would be irresponsible of me and would do more damage to my reputation and the welfare of my clients than good. Trust me Im not in it just for a name behind my name so I take it seriously.

Im already pursuing working PT in a gym NOW to gain some insight learning from others who are where Im trying to go. I do have a plan, this is not just some fly by night decision. In addition, Im looking into working with a veteran trainer in an intern role to further my experience and education.

One of my reasons for not going with some of the organizations that you named was not only about them not being the ones my area ask for but also because there is conflict in the information that each organization teaches. There is a reason why some are considered more reputable than others. I dont want to have learn something to later unlearn it.

Again, thanks for what youve had to say. Now that youve made your point Im wondering do you have any insight on the actual question that this thread speaks to? I noticed that youre not NSCA certified so perhaps you cant help me with the specificity of my question.

Please dont take my reply as harsh or anything, I just dont want this thread to become about something its not. I know there are people out there who pursue the certs for various reasons, some of which are not fair, but dont categorize me without knowing me.

I already own the NSCA material, just was asking if others had another approach to learning the material than the one Im currently employing to study for the exam. I am not just studying to take a test, Im studying to learn a profession and about how to be the best at what Im seeking to do. I seek to help people not hinder them so for me this is beyond an exam.

You say expectations are lower with a "softer" certification. Whose expectations? Perhaps the management but I believe the clients expectations are the same regardless of softer or not. With that in mind, this concept that you introduce here seems to unfair to the one who is supposed to be helped.

You mentioned getting an entry level certification. When did delineation between entry level and advanced become determined by the certifying body?


Matthew: thanks for your reply as well. I do have some anatomy history in my arsenal from HS and college :-)

Best,

Jackson

[John Izzo]

Jackson: Good luck and study hard. Hope you stick around JP's forum for awhile so we can hear how it goes for you.

[rem1956]

Hey jackson.....hang in there....I'm in the same boat, sitting just behind you and a little to the left.

I have made the same decisionas you, after struggling between the CSCS and CPT. I decided on the NSCA CPT and have been working this for some time. It's become a slow process, but slow and steady wins the race.

My advice...well, what's working for me....I listen to the audio Cd's whenever I can, I copy each chapter so I can carry it around with me (that book is just too damn heavy) and study from it while waiting in lines, at the mall, etc. Whenever I have a free moment I whip out my dog-eared xerox copy of the current chapter and read, highlight, etc. After I feel I have mastered a chapter, I go on. Then in a few weeks, I pull out a previous chapter, review it again, and see if I still remember/know the stuff.

I'm not in a great hurry...since I don't have a lot of free time, I know it's going to take a while. But hey....anything good in life takes a while to achieve.

Good luck! PM me from time to time; we can maybe help/encourage each other!

Ray

[jackson]

Hi Ray,

Its nice hearing from you and hearing from someone who's so much like me . I will definitely keep up with you to see who we can be of assistance to one another and just give that bit of boost in the encouragement arena that you might need.

Im glad to hear that my approach isn't a far fetched one at all. I agree the book is just too much to carry around ALLLLL the time, my notebook, well thats manageable

Im going to go look at what materials I purchased. I think I got the multimedia cd's so I need to figure out how to incorporate those in my studies...I have to see which mode of media will play them back for me . According to the NSCA study material I should look at them later on, but I will start to view them right along with the study of each chapter.

Im glad its become a computer-based test which gives more flexibility on when to write for it.

I believe we'll both do well. And youre ready slow and steady does win the race....

Thanks Ray!

[Lost Dog]

Very often around here, people offer suggestions where they think it might help the poster, even if the question wasn't specifically asked.

I don't see why John's post was annoying to you. I believe he's even had the cert you're shooting for, so a hidden agenda seems unlikely.

Also, John's not sneaky. He just posts to help around here.

[jackson]

Hello Lost Dog,

Thanks for checking out the thread. This is the only time I will speak to what John had to say and then Im not going here again. My point was I asked a specific question and I wanted (and still do want) the thread to remain specificially about that question. You're right you wouldn't understand what would or wouldn't annoy me because ummm youre not me I actually was not annoyed, go figure

Anyway, this thread is to get help on "study" & "learning" approaches to specifically the "nsca-cpt exam". I hope everyone can respect that and stick to the topic. I didnt inquire about which organization should I choose for becoming a certified personal trainer and why I should choose it. If that had been my question then John's comments would have been just what Jackson ordered

I didnt suggest or infere that John was being sneaky or had a hidden agenda. I don't know him to even get to that point. So ummm, Im not sure what that was all about.

Please respect the specificity of my choices and the title of the thread and lets move on to getting me some further insight into what Im seeking help for .

Im not a rude person, just pretty straight forward. So if you read it as annoyance you were wrong. Have a great day!!!!!

[Steve-O-68]

I studied for over 2 years before sitting for my test (NESTA, not NSCA). I read through the study material several times before I started taking any notes. I wouldn't have known where to start had I not gone through it a time or two.

I also used study material from NSCA (Essentials of Personal Training and Essentials of Strength and Conditioning).

Places like JP's, T-Nation, EliteFTS, etc have also been of great benefit. I also read everything I could find by Eric Cressey, Mike Robertson, Mike Boyle, Dave Tate, Dave Barr, Dan John, Bill Hartman, etc. I've got videos by Hartman, Boyle, and John that I watch frequently too.

I didn't have a real study 'plan'. Just kept plugging along until it 'clicked'. This post was probably no help at all, but my point is study, study, study, and when you're ready, study a little more, then nail the exam.

[Lisa~]

NSCA-CPT

[jackson]

Thanks Steve!

It was helpful to read what you had to say. I believe the clincher for me in what you shared was about it "clicking". I will look into those names you mentioned, some I know already, and see what theyre about. Thanks.

Also, Thanks Lisa. Ive checked out that link.

[tonymcclellan]

I would look up techniques for improving memory and how you can promote long term storage.

Association, chunking, etc. Whats the point of reading it if you cant retain it. This may sound stupid but one of the best parts of my Learning Teaching class this semester was about how memory can be enhanced.

Im reading Essentials right now for example, and using my previous knowledge of the NASM material to help retain new info. May sound stupid or easy, but I guarentee it will help.