really necessary to join NCSA?

[Keith Scott]

Originally Posted by Lou Schuler

I passed the exam for one reason only: I studied my ass off.

I'd been lifting (mostly as a certified ignoramus) since I was 13, had been a journalist writing about training for 9 1/2 years, and had been a fitness editor supervising photo shoots for maybe 6 years at the time I took the test. I also had a previous cert (ACE). And even with all that, if I hadn't studied so hard, I wouldn't have passed.

I guess you could argue that a lot of the stuff on the test doesn't reflect real-world knowledge. But it is a measure of real-world discipline that someone passing the test was willing to learn things that aren't immediately relevant to his job or his life.

Hell, that applies to just about everything in life, doesn't it? When I was in journalism school, we had take courses in economics and foreign language. I'm sure that tripped up some people, just as I assume that some people who'd be passable lawyers or doctors get weeded out by the academic requirements for those fields.

Every field worth entering, every club worth joining, has barriers to entry. Life would be a little scary if the reverse were true.

Well said Lou and I agree. I guess I thought it strange that these guys, while being very good at what they do, lacked the discpline to "finish the job", for lack of a better term. I mean, how much better could they be if they would get serious and study, or even learn to read and understand the stuff?

[dos]

Discipline is a good word when taking the CSCS. I believe someone @ the NSCA actually used this word when explaining why they decided to make a BA/BS in any discipline a requirement to sit for the exam....that they wanted the type of people who had the discipline to complete a 4-year degree. The difficulty of the exam assures that you know the content.

[Lou Schuler]

Not to digress too far off the topic here, but I can remember my father (who had a GED and no college) scoffing at the general-ed requirements for my older brother's business degree.

We tried to explain to him that a college degree implies a well-rounded education, and that even taking a class in something goofy like ballroom dancing (to fulfill a PE requirement) is a sign that you had to attempt to master some area of knowledge that was new to you.

But my dad had cheated to enter two careers (he lied about his age to get into the marines, and then somehow got a job in insurance sales that required a bachelor's degree, which of course he didn't have), and he couldn't understand why my brother insisted on playing by the stupid rules.

But both of my father's careers were compromised by lack of discipline. I'm still not sure why he had to leave the marines (he and my mom gave different versions of the story), but it was plain to everyone at his insurance company that he could've been a lot more successful in sales than he was.

I'm not saying he would've been a better salesman with a college degree, but based on his career, it was pretty clear why companies like his wanted their salespeople to have cleared that hurdle before they hired them. It may not mean you can sell, but it sure means you've followed the established rules at least once in your life.

[dos]

Well said Lou.

[Keith Scott]

My opinion on this, is that it is more essential in this day and time to have those certs and degrees to a point, because the field is becoming saturated by so-called experts. Not saying that the certs and degrees will be the only thing to look at, but it does at least tell me that you read and were able to be discipline enough to go over some hurdles. With that said, the CSCS exam is still one of the bigger hurdles out there.

[malkore]

Just to ask one more question: since i'm going for CSCS, there's no reason at all to look at the CPT certification right? CPT would be less information/less knowledge...and would all be covered by CSCS correct?

[dos]

correct..the CSCS will do just fine. If you can pass the CSCS, you can pass the CPT (but not vice versa...)

[Lost Dog]

A few months back, I read the prereqs for CSCS.

I thought they used to say something to the effect that the BS/BA had to be in a health, fitness, nutrition related field. Now, it just says BS/BA. Is it my imagination? I might have been looking at something else.

[RedLefty]

Nope, it can be in any field.

[malkore]

Lost Dog,

I know somewhere on an NSCA website, I found something mentioned that was above the CSCS, and it did require a degree in a sports medicine/training type field, not just any BA/BS.

I should note, my BA is in English, with a minor in Philosophy

maybe in a few years, I'll be able to author something to help others. writing was my focus.

[Cynic]

The degrees I'm working on is also English and philosophy.

I'm curious, seriously curious. My job has a lot of stress involved and I'm looking for a change.

Lou, if you read this, from the time you started studying for your certification, to the time you passed the test, how long did it take you?

Anyone else who is CSCS certified, feel free to respond.

[Keith Scott]

Me personally, I studied on and off for about 3 weeks.
I also had a background in exercise science prior, so take that into consideration.

My advice.........how long will it take you to read the book and understand most of it?

You might want to do a chapter or two a week and space it like that

[kuri]

I've been studying a couple months now, with 4 more to go. I did about 2 chapters a week on average and am now on my second time through.

I don't have a kinesiology/science background so going through the whole book at least 2 times and repeatedly going back to the harder sections in the first half is my strategy.

[Cynic]

One other question...

You have to have a degree for it, which I don't have yet, but at what point must you have the degree? At test time or to start course work?

O/T: kuri, from what novel did you get your sigline? I've not read any Bukowski yet, but I like that line.

[jvernacchio]

Wait a minute let me get this straight,,, I have a BA in Social Science and Political Science I also have my Masters Degree in Education. So by the criteria I can take the exam for CSCS if I study the material?

This is something that I would love to try considering the years I have spent learning all of this material.

[dos]

yup....you can sit for the exam if you have a degree.

For the other question, I believe that you can sit for the exam in your last semester of school....they won't release your results until your degree is posted on your transcripts though.

[Lou Schuler]

You also have to have a current CPR cert. For me, that's the biggest pain in the ass. I never realize mine has expired until it's time to renew my CSCS, and by then it's been expired for so long I have to take the entire class again.

That said, the classes I take are taught by professional paramedics, so I always learn new things ... which, thank goodness, I've never had to use in real life.

[RedLefty]

Hey, Lou, at least you get CEUs for your publications.

I can never remember how current my CPR cert is, either. Think it's been about a year since last time.