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NCSF-CPT vs W.I.T.S. CPT
NCSF Certified Personal Trainer from National Council on Strength & Fitness 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
- CPT requires current CPR/AED certification to enroll; NCSF-CPT does not.
- The exam fee differs: $349 for NCSF-CPT versus $450 for 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
Credential type
certification
certification
Verification
verified
verified
Accreditation
accreditedNCCA(directory-confirmed)
accreditedNCCA(directory-confirmed)
Accredited through
2030-03-31
2027-09-30
Target professional
Personal trainers
Entry-level personal trainers
Minimum age
18
18
Education requirement
Must possess a high school diploma or equivalent
Minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent (e.g., GED)
Degree required
no
unknown
Experience requirement
None required; "Although not required, it is beneficial if you have a minimum level of practical experience working in the health and fitness field."
unknown
CPR/AED to enroll
no
yes
Other prerequisites
No NCSF educational program required to sit for the Board Examination; candidates may prepare with materials from other organizations, colleges or universities. Government-issued photo ID required at testing.
unknown
Exam format
Computer-based multiple choice, proctored at Prometric testing centers or online via Prometric ProProctor remote testing
Two-part: 100 multiple-choice written exam plus a performance-based (practical) exam
Question count
150
unknown
Time limit
180 minutes
120 minutes
Passing score
Scaled score of 70 or greater (scale 0-100)
unknown
Retake policy
May re-apply after failing; $99 retake fee; must wait 30 days between attempts; retake fee rate available for six months after first exam, after which first-time candidate fee applies; no limit on number of attempts.
May retake a failed exam (written or practical) a maximum of two times in a 12-month period.
Exam / application fees
$349 exam fee
$450 exam fee
Renewal required
yes
yes
Renewal cycle
2 years
2 years
CEUs per cycle
10
10
CEU unit system
NCSF CEU (1 CEU = 2 hours of educational learning; 1 contact hour = 0.5 NCSF CEUs)
CEC
Renewal fees
$85 standard
unknown
Ethics requirement
yes
unknown
CPR/AED at renewal
yes
unknown
Renewal deadline rule
Two-year certification period begins the day you pass the NCSF exam and ends on the last day of the month in which the certification began, 2 years later. All 10 CEUs must be earned during the most recent two-year period of active status; applications postmarked after the expiration date are not accepted.
unknown
Reinstatement
unknown
unknown
Credential status
active
active
Last verified
2026-09-03
2026-09-12
CEU recognition
Any reputable CPR certification organization (accepts ceus from) · External education providers (seminars, workshops, conferences, home study, college/university courses, employer-based training) (accepts ceus from) · NCSF (verification for unlisted subject categories) (petition accepted)
unknown
Categories
Personal Training
Personal Training, Exercise Physiology, Movement Assessment
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Full records: NCSF Certified Personal Trainer · Certified Personal Trainer Level I
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