I took the test this morning. I feel good about the Scientific Foundations section, less good about the Applied section. Some of the questions were out of left field, (a few addressed topics I still can't find reference to in the Essentials text) and some seemed to have more than one correct answer. So, I think I did all right, but I'm really not sure.
For the CSCSs out there, how did you feel coming out of the exam -- were you pretty confident of your performance, or did you come out second-guessing? Did any of you have to re-take one section or the other?
From my "CSCS Blog" (Link is in my signature...it's hard to believe that it was 2 years ago already!):
August 6---The Big Day
Wow. Ok, so here's what happened:
I was SUPPOSED to wake up at 6:30 for my 8am test, but of course I was awake at around 5:45...I got up, ate breakfast, and got dressed. My best friend, whose apartment I crashed at (she lives uptown) made me a mix of the 'Garden State Soundtrack' and put it onto her MP3 player for me: VERY relaxing songs, and it really helped me to stay calm while taking the subway downtown! With coffee in hand, I got off of the subway at about 7:15, and sat in the park and read my notes for about 20 minutes, then moved to the Starbucks across the street. I ran into someone else preparing for the test (turns out that he was taking the CPT, not CSCS), and he had been studying since JANUARY...!!! I don't know how hard this stuff is, but I couldn't imagine preparing for that long!
I walked into the building promptly at 8am, only to discover that I probably should have read the instructions a bit more carefully: the test was scheduled to start at 8:30, not 8. I'm a dumb@$$!
Of course, it didn't actually start at 8:30 either: By the time we cracked open the test booklets, it was 9:30. At this point, the morning coffee has gone through my bladder like a bullet train, and considering the fact that I already have the bladder size of a walnut and the control of a pregnant dog, it was amazing that I didn't explode in the test room!
First half: 80 questions, primarily exercise science. MUCH harder than any of the practice questions that I had been drilling with! I would say, on average, they were roughly twice as hard as the online questions that I posted the link to last month! Most of them were fair, however: you just had to really understand your physiology so that you could construct the situation described in your head and deduce the answer. There were very few straightforward questions. Of course, there were some completely off-the-wall, couldn't even recall seeing it in the book-type questions which I had to reach deep into my experience to even come close to answering, but all-in-all, I felt pretty good. I was reading a little during the one hour break, and came across the answers to a few of the questions that I had been unsure of, and I was right on all counts, so I felt decent.
Part two started with the video practical: that was a joke! Very easy questions, mostly form and technique, and I felt very confident with my answers, for the most part. In fact, I felt pretty good about the second half of the test (110 questions) all-together!
Did I 'ace' it? Probably not: I'm sure that I made a number of mistakes that I'm unaware of. But I would be very dissapointed if I have not passed. But you never know. I spoke with a number of individuals that were taking the test for the 2nd time, so I don't want to be too confident. Hopefully, that won't be me, but if it is, then I'll just have to go back and study some more!
Advice for those who plan on taking the CSCS: KNOW YOUR PHYSIOLOGY AND ENDOCRINE AND ADAPTIVE RESPONSE TO EXERCISE!!! Lot's of questions based on that material. And you really need to understand it, not just have definitions memorized. There were a fair number of detail questions as well, but nothing too random. If I passed it, I definitely earned it!!!
Thanks to all of the guys who posted warm wishes! I really appreciate it, and I hope that everyone has enjoyed this account of my test experience. I will be getting results in about 6-8 weeks, according to the testing service...now, it's just sit back and wait...
But tonight, I'm going out and having a drink!!!
BTW: I passed Best of luck, but I'm sure that you did well: No worries! That six weeks will seem like forever, though If you're lucky, it will be more like 4
My experience was more like bip's. I'd already been working as a trainer for a few years, so the applied section seemed easy to me. The first part, the scientific foundations, was tougher for me, but I felt like I did just fine. I was pretty sure I'd passed even though you have to wait what feels like forever to find out for sure!
I still debate the possible value to my martial arts instruction of getting a fitness certification. It's obvious to people I meet and train in martial arts that I know fitness, physiology and physical therapy type stuff much better than the average person. Perhaps that's good enough.
But, if I step up to getting certified, I still do wonder about the NSCA's CSCS versus PT certs and exams.
I am degreed, but not in this area. So I can sit for the CSCS, but would have to prep accordingly. It appears that from what some folks have written in this forum, that the PT exam would be noticeably easier, particularly in the exercise physiology area. According to bip's blog posts, that part of the CSCS exam is the tough one.
I was lucky in that I had just finished the academic portion of chiro school, so I knew the science like the back of my hand. As I don't (or didn't) do Oly lifts too much, I had to learn the phases of those. After that it was smooth sailing. To answer your question, I came out knowing I passed. I bet you did better than you think, though.
That feeling you get after the exam is a combination of starvation and the effects of bad air in those rooms so don't worry
I came out of there not too sure but did a bit better than I thought, and this from someone with no academic background in the field and all I did was study Essentials.
Chris C - just take the CSCS. You might as well because you ARE training athletes for a living.
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Working "hard," or the perception of working hard, doesn't really mean anything. Sweating, vomiting, and breathing hard could be a good workout or a tropical disease kicking in.-Dan John
I came out of there not too sure but did a bit better than I thought, and this from someone with no academic background in the field and all I did was study Essentials.
Chris C - just take the CSCS. You might as well because you ARE training athletes for a living.
You did great then, Chris.
And you are right. I do. As a group, and a diverse group at that. Plus, the title sounds a lot cooler.
I took it, was the first one done in both sections, and never even questioned whether I passed it.
The only prep I did, if you want to call it that, was spending a grand total of 5-10 minutes checking out the NSCA position statements.
If you've got a background in this stuff it's not a hard test.
I agree. If you have the background, as I did, then it wasn't bad. I do feel awful for the people who try to just study and learn it all from the NSCA book.
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Isaac Wilkins, M.Ed, CSCS, NSCA-CPT, and who cares what other letters?
I did better than I thought. On the the Scientific Foundations section I needed 70 percent to pass, and I scored 96 percent. On the Practical/Applied section, I needed 70 percent and scored 84.
I definitely think the exam was worth it. I had a fair amount of practical training knowledge already, but preparing for the CSCS filled in some major gaps in both my practical knowledge and my understanding of the scientific principles underpinning training.
Now I just need to coach a USAW lifter in a meet to finish my USAW Club Coach cert.
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Walk on
With hope in your heart
And You'll Never Walk Alone
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There's no free lunch, especially when it's served with special sauce (lostdog)
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I am studying right now for the CSCS exam, I am going to be taking it in december, since that is the only one in Canada this year lol. I am studying from the essentials book. I have a degree in Kinesiology as well. Does anyone have any feelings toward what chapters get prioritized over others.
Sorry for the hijack, congrats on passing the exam.
Advice for those who plan on taking the CSCS: KNOW YOUR PHYSIOLOGY AND ENDOCRINE AND ADAPTIVE RESPONSE TO EXERCISE!!! Lot's of questions based on that material.
I am having a ery difficult time passing the CSCS exam the practical/applied section. I am a PTA with exercise science BS so the first section on the physiology based information was no problem. However I failed the practical applied section the first time by 5 points and by 1 point the second time. I have no desire to re-read the book for a 3rd time or shell out the money to take it again if I fail it again. I guess I am just looking for any pointers or just a push to take it one more time i am just a little fusterated
just took the CSCS exam
Best of luck, but I'm sure that you did well: No worries! That six weeks will seem like forever, though 
If you're lucky, it will be more like 4
i am just a little fusterated
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