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Preparing for the ACSM Personal Trainer Certification

ACSM offers a variety of ways to prepare for the Personal Trainer Certification exam, including recommended study materials, workshops, and an online learning portal. While we recommend you use our study materials and attend an exam preparation workshop, how you choose to prepare is up to you. If you have any questions about preparing for the ACSM Personal Trainer Certification exam after reviewing this information and our Certification Resource Guide, feel free to contact us at 1-800-486-5643.

Recommended Study Materials

The following three textbooks are recommended to help you prepare for the ACSM Personal Trainer^SM certification.

New Textbooks!  For Certification Exam Transition Information and FAQ's, Click Here.

• ACSM’s Resources for the Personal Trainer, 3rd edition 
  
• ACSM’s Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription, 8th edition
  
• ACSM’s Certification Review, 3rd. edition 
  
• We also offer a Study Packet of all 3 Core Study Materials 

You may purchase these study materials online through our publishing partner Lippincott Williams & Wilkins at www.lww.com or by calling 1-800-486-5643. 

Or, for a complete listing of all ACSM Study Materials, Click Here

Exam Preparation Workshops

ACSM has teamed up with Fitness Resource Associates (FRA) to offer both one-day and three-day workshops to help you prepare for the ACSM Personal Trainer Certification exam.  The information below can help you determine which workshop is right for you.

One-Day Workshops

The one-day workshops are designed for currently and previously certified personal trainers who feel confident in their basic knowledge of Exercise Physiology, Anatomy and Kinesiology. This workshop will update you on ACSM and other pertinent industry guidelines as well as provide you with the opportunity to identify Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA's) required for the ACSM Certified Personal Trainer^SM exam. The one-day workshop is worth 7.5 ACSM CECs and is offered on Sundays from 9am – 4pm.   Information to purchase exam vouchers for $30 off are available at the workshop through FRA.   Please click here to see workshop dates, locations and to register.

Three-Day Workshops

The ACSM Certified Personal Trainer workshop is ideal for those who would like a comprehensive review of the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) of the ACSM Personal Trainer.  Participation in the workshop is an excellent way to prepare for the ACSM Personal Trainer exam, or to earn CECs and refresh and enhance your knowledge after becoming certified.  If you do not have a health-related degree or prefer alternative or additional methods to self-study, the workshop is a great choice.  Material is presented in a classroom setting with a hands-on component to to help you learn fundamental fitness assessments.  The workshop is delivered by ACSM’s partner Fitness Resource Associates (FRA).  The three-day workshop is worth 20.75 ACSM CECs and is offered Friday 1pm–9:30pm; Saturday 8am-5:30pm; and Sunday 9am–4pm. Information to purchase exam vouchers for $30 off are available at the workshop through FRA.  Please click here to see workshop dates, locations and to register. 

View the ACSM Certified Personal Trainer^SM Three-Day Workshop Agenda.

Free Practice Tests and More!

We also invite you to visit the ACSM Learning Portal at  www.acsmlearning.org for additional exam preparation assistance.   In the learning portal you will find practice exams and interactive, on-demand courses designed to provide focused learning opportunities that cover each content area of the ACSM Certified Personal Trainer^SM exam.

• FREE diagnostic assessment exam including 15 exam-specific questions. Test results are provided and can be printed to assist you with further exam preparation.
  
• Full version practice exams that follow the same exam blueprint as the actual ACSM certification exam. These exams also include questions that specifically address the ACSM Certified Personal Trainer^SM KSA's (Knowledge, Skills and Abilities), and are similar to questions that appear on the actual certification exam.  Test results and explanations for each question are provided.
  
• Additional courses to help you prepare for the exam.