NASM-CPT vs NFPT-CPT

certification

certification

2031-11-30

2027-01-31

Personal trainers

Entry-level personal fitness trainers working with apparently healthy individuals in one-on-one or small group settings (in-person or online/virtual)

18

18

High school diploma or GED

Applicant must have high school education or equivalent (high school diploma or GED); attested via application check box

no

no

None; no prior fitness certification or professional fitness experience required

None required — "It is not a requirement for entry into the certification program that you have a demonstrable level of experience" (personal fitness experience strongly encouraged)

yes

no

Current CPR and AED certification from an approved provider (AHA, American Red Cross, ASHI, St. John Ambulance, ECSI, or EMT; NASM also offers an ASTI-powered online course); may enroll in the self-study course before obtaining CPR/AED but must have them before the exam. Purchase of NASM self-study material is not required to sit for the exam.

Applicant must agree to adhere to the NFPT Codes of Conduct; must sign/attest to eligibility requirements as terms of service

Closed-book, proctored exam administered by PSI; available at 500+ in-person testing centers or online via remote proctor

Closed-book multiple-choice exam; taken at a partnered test center or via secure at-home/remote (computer-based) testing; paper & pencil and international testing sites also referenced; instant results

120

120

120 minutes

120 minutes

Scaled score of 70 or better (120 questions = 100 scored plus 20 unscored pretest items)

750/1000 (scaled)

Retest waiting periods: one week after first failure, 30 days after second failure, one year after third or subsequent failures. Retests purchased by calling NASM Member Services; a retest is included with the CPT Premium Self-Study and CPT All-Inclusive programs.

Retakes permitted; test candidates remain eligible to schedule a retake within the one (1) year eligibility time frame. Retake fees are stated to be lower than competitors but no amount is given.

$50 application fee

yes

yes

2 years

1 years

2

2

NASM-approved CEU (2.0 CEUs ≈ 20 contact hours of approved continuing education)

NFPT CEC (Continuing Education Credit); 1 hour participation = 0.2 CECs, so 2.0 CECs = 10 contact hours

$85 standard

unknown

no

yes

no

Credential must be renewed by its two-year expiration date. If requirements are not met, the credential expires; renewal applications are accepted up to one year after expiration provided all CE courses were completed before or within 90 days of the expiration date. A late fee applies to applications received up to 90 days post-expiration; after 90 days an additional fee applies.

Annual renewal by the certificate expiration date (standardized to the first day of a month: exams taken on the 1st-14th expire the 1st of that anniversary month; 15th-end of month roll forward to the 1st of the following month). Automated renewal notices begin 60 days before expiration. Credential becomes 'Inactive' immediately at expiration, with a two-year grace period to renew (submitting 2.0 CECs and the renewal fee per lapsed year); after two years the credential is 'Expired' and full reapplication/retesting is required. Late payment does not extend the anniversary date. Effective January 1, 2027, the grace period for new renewals drops to 30 days, and legacy two-year grace periods all end December 31, 2028.

active

active

2026-09-03

2026-09-03

NASM Preferred Providers / NASM-approved course providers (accepts ceus from) · Non-preapproved continuing education providers (petition accepted) · CPR/AED providers (e.g., American Heart Association, American Red Cross, American Safety and Health Institute) (accepts ceus from)

CPR/AED and First Aid/Emergency Response certification providers (accepts ceus from) · NFPT CEC Approved Provider program (approved outside providers/courses/events) (accepts ceus from) · Non-approved / outside learning activities (Other category) (petition accepted)

Personal Training

Personal Training, Professional Development