With ACSM certifications, you have the power to build an exam prep plan that fits your busy schedule and unique needs. This certification exam prep infographic shows all study options:
Build Your Personal Certification Exam Prep Plan
If you’re considering an ACSM certification, you may be asking, “what do I need to do to prepare?” The short of it is that there is no one-size-fits-all study plan. Every person has a different way of learning and level of experience with the material.
One of the best ways to get started is to use the exam content outline. The exam content outline will give you an idea of the breadth and depth of content that will be addressed on an exam. In addition, the exam content outline provides a list of job tasks that are related to each content area.
Review each job task and its related complexity, then create a checklist of areas that are your strengths (i.e., you have deep understanding of the theories/methods, have direct practical experience putting the theory or method into practice) or need to improve (i.e., you are unfamiliar and/or lack experience with the theory, method or concept).
Use the checklist to help you guide your time and effort in preparing. ACSM has study materials that can be used for most study methods. Some folks like reading textbooks and doing practice questions, while others like to attend live workshops to be able to interact with an instructor. Once you select the resources that best fit your needs, you'll be off and running from there.
Another question you may be asking is, “how long should I study?” This answer is similar to that above – everyone is different. Most take between 3 and 9 months to prepare, depending on their relevant experiences. At the end of the day, one of the most important steps that you can take is to commit to an exam date.
Write down when you plan to take the exam and then write out the steps you need to take to get there. For example, how many chapters you need to read per week, when you plan to review practice questions, and how and when you will do a final prep before your exam. Selecting an exam day and writing out your study plan can help you stay focused when you have competing priorities.
Ready to schedule your exam? Register now
Start building your exam prep plan today!
Download from the Resource Library
More Exam Prep Tips and Resources
ACSM Exam Prep