Compare
CSCCa SCCC vs NCSF-CSC
Strength and Conditioning Coach Certified from Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association and NCSF Certified Strength Coach from National Council on Strength & Fitness, side by side: accreditation, eligibility, exam, cost and renewal, each fact from its cited source.
Key differences
- SCCC requires a bachelor's degree while NCSF-CSC does not.
- SCCC renews on a 3-year cycle; NCSF-CSC on a 2-year cycle.
- SCCC requires 45 continuing-education units per cycle versus 10 for NCSF-CSC — note the providers use different CEU unit systems, so these figures are not directly comparable.
Differences are stated only where both credentials have a known value on record — never inferred against an unknown. No winner is declared; which credential fits depends on your goals. Methodology
Provider
Credential type
certification
certification
Verification
verified
verified
Accreditation
accreditedNCCA(directory-confirmed)
accreditedNCCA(directory-confirmed)
Accredited through
2029-07-31
2030-03-31
Target professional
Full-time collegiate and professional strength and conditioning coaches
Strength coaches
Minimum age
unknown
unknown
Education requirement
Completion of a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution (sealed official transcript required). All first-time candidates must have academic credit for 4 courses: Anatomy & Physiology, Exercise Physiology, Biomechanics or Kinesiology, and Nutrition (each 3+ credit hours). Alternatively, a bachelor's degree in Exercise Science or Kinesiology from a CAAHEP- or CASCE-accredited program meets the education eligibility requirement.
Candidates must meet at least one of: a current NCSF-CPT certification; a current NCCA-accredited fitness professional certification; an associate's degree or higher from an accredited college or university in an exercise profession or related field; or enrollment in the CPT/CSC dual credentialing program or the Master Trainer program
Degree required
yes — Bachelor's degree
no
Experience requirement
Must be a currently practicing, full-time strength and conditioning coach on the collegiate or professional level, or a student preparing to become one. Completion of a 640-hour CSCCa-approved practicum/internship under a CSCCa-Approved Mentor (must be completed within 3 years of the candidate's initial exam date); undergraduates must be at least a senior (90+ semester hours). Candidates with 6 or more years of full-time collegiate/professional S&C coaching experience submit employment verification letter(s) instead of the practicum.
unknown
CPR/AED to enroll
yes
unknown
Other prerequisites
Signed CSCCa Code of Conduct within the exam application; Practicum Waiver & Information Form and Internship Completion Verification Form; submission of a program design; CPR, First Aid and AED certification card from American Red Cross or American Heart Association valid on the exam date (CPR/AED cannot be obtained solely online). CSCCa membership is not required but members receive discounted rates.
Alternative pathways: current NCSF-CPT certification, current NCCA-accredited fitness professional certification, or enrollment in the CPT/CSC dual credentialing program or Master Trainer program. Candidates are not required to participate in an NCSF educational program to sit for the exam.
Exam format
Three-pronged program: 640-hour practicum/internship, a comprehensive science-based written exam, and a practical exam before a panel of Master Strength & Conditioning Coaches. Written exam scheduled with PSI online at a location near you; practical exam either virtual with remote proctoring or in person at the CSCCa National Conference.
Computer-based multiple choice, third-party proctored by Prometric; available at Prometric testing centers or via remote online proctoring (ProProctor)
Question count
unknown
150
Time limit
unknown
180 minutes
Passing score
unknown
Scaled score of 70 or greater (scale 0-100)
Retake policy
Candidates may retake one or both portions of the SCCC Certification Exam by submitting a retake exam application and paying the retake certification fee (one portion: $225 member / $355 non-member; both portions: $340 member / $470 non-member); retaking the practical exam also requires a program design submission.
Retake fee $99.00; must wait 30 days between attempts; retake fee rate valid for 6 months after first exam, after which first-time candidate fee applies; no limit on number of attempts
Exam / application fees
$340 exam fee member · $470 exam fee nonmember · $230 application fee
$399 exam fee
Renewal required
yes
yes
Renewal cycle
3 years
2 years
CEUs per cycle
45
10
CEU unit system
CSCCa CEU (15 CEUs recommended per year; non-CSCCa approved events credited at 0.5 CEU per contact hour, max 8 CEUs per event)
NCSF CEU (1 CEU = 2 hours of educational learning; 1 contact hour = 0.5 NCSF CEU)
Renewal fees
$75 member · $120 nonmember
$85 standard
Ethics requirement
yes
yes
CPR/AED at renewal
yes
yes
Renewal deadline rule
All requirements must be completed on or before the last day of the 3-year CEU cycle; cycles run August 1 - July 31 (current cycle August 1, 2025 - July 31, 2028, deadline July 31, 2028). CPR/AED and First Aid must be valid on/after July 31, 2028.
Two-year certification period begins the day the NCSF exam is passed and ends on the last day of the month in which certification began, 2 years later; Recertification Applications postmarked after the expiration date are not accepted (mail postmark date governs).
Reinstatement
unknown
unknown
Credential status
active
active
Last verified
2026-09-03
2026-09-03
CEU recognition
Non-CSCCa conferences and meetings (approved non-CSCCa events) (petition accepted)
NATA Board of Certification (BOC) (approved ceu provider) · Outside continuing education providers (seminars, home study, conferences, college/university courses) (accepts ceus from) · CPR certification providers (accepts ceus from)
Categories
Strength & Conditioning, Sports Performance
Strength & Conditioning, Sports Performance
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Full records: Strength and Conditioning Coach Certified · NCSF Certified Strength Coach
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