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IFPA-CPFT vs NCCPT-CPT
IFPA Personal Fitness Trainer Certification from International Fitness Professionals Association and NCCPT Certified Personal Trainer from National Council for Certified Personal Trainers, side by side: accreditation, eligibility, exam, cost and renewal, each fact from its cited source.
Key differences
- The exam fee differs: $349 for IFPA-CPFT versus $79 for NCCPT-CPT.
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
2029-11-30
2031-05-31
Target professional
aspiring and practicing personal trainers
Personal trainers
Minimum age
unknown
18
Education requirement
unknown
unknown
Degree required
unknown
no
Experience requirement
unknown
unknown
CPR/AED to enroll
yes
yes
Other prerequisites
unknown
Valid, unexpired photo ID with signature (driver's license, state/government-issued ID, passport, school ID, or military ID — military ID for in-person testing only); valid CPR card or certificate of completion (digital CPR certificate not accepted); name on ID and CPR proof must exactly match the student account. No prerequisite courses; purchase of exam preparation materials not required.
Exam format
100-question multiple-choice, closed-book, proctored
Proctored multiple-choice exam administered by Prometric; not open book/open note; offered at a Prometric testing center or via remote online proctoring
Question count
unknown
140
Time limit
unknown
120 minutes
Passing score
unknown
Scaled score; candidate whose scaled score equals or exceeds the passing standard passes (125 of 140 items scored; 15 unscored pre-test items)
Retake policy
unknown
Retakes must occur within the 12-month testing window; waiting periods of 14 days after the first attempt, 90 days after the second, and one year after the third. A retake fee must be purchased to retest. Free six-month extension available if waiting period extends beyond the 12-month window; a further six-month extension can be purchased for a fee.
Exam / application fees
$349 exam fee
$79 exam fee
Renewal required
unknown
yes
Renewal cycle
unknown
2 years
CEUs per cycle
unknown
2
CEU unit system
CEU
NCCPT CEU — "20 continuing education units, which equates to 2.0 CEUs at a rate of one hour per 0.1 CEU" (1 contact hour = 0.1 CEU)
Renewal fees
unknown
$75 standard
Ethics requirement
unknown
no
CPR/AED at renewal
unknown
yes
Renewal deadline rule
unknown
Renew every 2 years by the certification expiration date; initial renewal applications accepted starting one year before expiration. CEUs must be earned within the credential's original two-year cycle (no carryover, no repeated courses). A 30-day grace period after expiration is allowed with a late fee; renewal dates remain fixed to the original certification date. After the 30-day grace period the credential expires and reinstatement requires retaking the certification exam.
Reinstatement
unknown
unknown
Credential status
active
active
Last verified
2026-09-12
2026-09-03
CEU recognition
unknown
NCCPT (own courses) (accepts ceus from) · International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) (accepts ceus from) · Third-party / non-NCCPT, non-ISSA CEU providers (petition accepted)
Categories
Personal Training, Professional Development
Personal Training
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Full records: IFPA Personal Fitness Trainer Certification · NCCPT Certified Personal Trainer
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