Credentials / National Council for Certified Personal Trainers

NCCPT Certified Personal Trainer

NCCPT-CPTcertificationverifiedby National Council for Certified Personal Trainers· Compare
Verified: this record was checked against its official source and the accreditor’s directory. Last verified 2026-09-03. 12 sources on file.

At a glance

Credential type
certification
Status
active
Target professional
Personal trainers
Country
US
Official page
https://nccpt.issaonline.com/pages/exam-information
Recertification page
unknown
Categories
Personal Training

Accreditation

accreditedNCCAaccredited through 2031-05-31· confirmed in the accreditor’s directory 2026-09-03
Confirmed against NCCA Accredited Program Directory (full listing) on 2026-09-03: National Council for Certified Personal Trainers | NCCPT CPT | NCCPT Certified Personal Trainer | NCCA | Accredited through 5/31/2031

Eligibility & examination

Eligibility

Minimum age
18
Education
unknown
Degree required
no
Experience
unknown
CPR/AED
yes
Other prerequisites
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.

Candidates have 12 months from date of purchase to sit for the exam, extendable once by six months at no charge; an extra six-month extension may be purchased; new exam voucher required after two years.

Examination

Format
Proctored multiple-choice exam administered by Prometric; not open book/open note; offered at a Prometric testing center or via remote online proctoring
Online exam
yes
Testing center
yes
Length
120 minutes
Questions
140
Passing score
Scaled score; candidate whose scaled score equals or exceeds the passing standard passes (125 of 140 items scored; 15 unscored pre-test items)
Attempts included
unknown
Retake policy
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.

Initial certification costs

$79
exam fee

Renewal & CEU requirements

2 yr
renewal cycle
2
CEUs per cycle
$75
renewal
Recertification required
yes
CEU unit system
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)
Ethics requirement
no
CPR/AED at renewal
yes
Deadline rule
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.

Requirements: 20 CEUs (2.0 CEUs), current CPR certification (digital CPR certificate not accepted at exam), submission of Renewal Form plus CEU Petition Form for non-NCCPT/ISSA courses, and payment of applicable fees. Forms emailed to support@nccpt.com. Same CEUs may be applied toward renewal of multiple NCCPT certifications if subject matter is relevant. Renewal fees are waived if all CEUs used are ISSA- or NCCPT-offered. Note: the ISSA/site Terms and Conditions page describes a 90-day grace period and restoration within one year for ISSA credentials, which conflicts with the NCCPT 30-day grace policy.

CEU recognition

  • NCCPT (own courses) — accepts ceus from
    NCCPT courses are automatically accepted; no petition needed. Renewal fee waived if all CEUs are NCCPT- or ISSA-offered.
  • International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) — accepts ceus from
    ISSA courses automatically accepted; approved CEUs used to renew a non-accredited ISSA certification can be applied toward NCCPT renewal, but the renewal form must still be submitted. Renewal fee waived if all CEUs are ISSA/NCCPT.
  • Third-party / non-NCCPT, non-ISSA CEU providers — petition accepted
    CEU Petition Form must be submitted for approval of any course not offered by NCCPT or ISSA.

Pathway

What this credential requires

All of:
  • AgeAt least 18 years old
  • CPR/AEDValid CPR certification before taking the certification exam

Open in Pathways →

Sources (12)

Latest verification activity: reverification → confirmed (2026-10-03) · reverification → confirmed (2026-10-03) · initial verification → confirmed (2026-09-07) · reverification → confirmed (2026-09-07) · reverification → confirmed (2026-09-06)

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