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NASM-CPT vs W.I.T.S. CPT
NASM Certified Personal Trainer from National Academy of Sports Medicine and Certified Personal Trainer Level I from World Instructor Training Schools, side by side: accreditation, eligibility, exam, cost and renewal, each fact from its cited source.
Key differences
- NASM-CPT requires 2 continuing-education units per cycle versus 10 for CPT — 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
Credential type
certification
certification
Verification
verified
verified
Accreditation
accreditedNCCA(directory-confirmed)
accreditedNCCA(directory-confirmed)
Accredited through
2031-11-30
2027-09-30
Target professional
Personal trainers
Entry-level personal trainers
Minimum age
18
18
Education requirement
High school diploma or GED
Minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent (e.g., GED)
Degree required
no
unknown
Experience requirement
None; no prior fitness certification or professional fitness experience required
unknown
CPR/AED to enroll
yes
yes
Other prerequisites
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.
unknown
Exam format
Closed-book, proctored exam administered by PSI; available at 500+ in-person testing centers or online via remote proctor
Two-part: 100 multiple-choice written exam plus a performance-based (practical) exam
Question count
120
unknown
Time limit
120 minutes
120 minutes
Passing score
Scaled score of 70 or better (120 questions = 100 scored plus 20 unscored pretest items)
unknown
Retake policy
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.
May retake a failed exam (written or practical) a maximum of two times in a 12-month period.
Exam / application fees
unknown
$450 exam fee
Renewal required
yes
yes
Renewal cycle
2 years
2 years
CEUs per cycle
2
10
CEU unit system
NASM-approved CEU (2.0 CEUs ≈ 20 contact hours of approved continuing education)
CEC
Renewal fees
unknown
unknown
Ethics requirement
unknown
unknown
CPR/AED at renewal
yes
unknown
Renewal deadline rule
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.
unknown
Reinstatement
unknown
unknown
Credential status
active
active
Last verified
2026-09-03
2026-09-12
CEU recognition
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)
unknown
Categories
Personal Training
Personal Training, Exercise Physiology, Movement Assessment
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Full records: NASM Certified Personal Trainer · Certified Personal Trainer Level I
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