The Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) program was created in 1985 to identify individuals who possess the knowledge and skills to design and implement safe and effective strength and conditioning programs for athletes in a team setting. The credentialing program encourages a higher level of competence among practitioners that raises the quality of strength training and conditioning programs provided by those who are CSCS certified.

Registrants must submit an original, official transcript of their academic work, showing attainment of at least a bachelor’s degree (BS/BA) or chiropractic medicine degree granted by an accredited institution.* College seniors can also take the Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist exam; however, they must be currently enrolled in an accredited intuition.* For college seniors, the NSCA Certification Commission will not release your exam scores until we have received your transcript verifying graduation and noting the degree earned.**

*The accrediting institutions are Middle State Association, New England Association, North Central Association, Northwest Association, Southern Association, and Western Association.

**Individuals enrolled as seniors at colleges or universities are eligible to sit for the CSCS examination. College seniors will receive a pass/fail notification approximately six to eight weeks after the exam administration. However, college seniors who pass the CSCS exam do not become CSCS certified until: (1) they have graduated from college and (2) the NSCA Certification Commission receives their original, official transcript verifying graduation and the degree earned. Once the NSCA Certification Commission receives the required documentation (original, official transcript verifying graduation and the degree earned), the Commission will release the actual score reports and certificates (if passed).

Current CPR certification is also a requirement. If you do not have current CPR certification, you can still register for and take the CSCS examination. The NSCA Certification Commission will not release your exam scores until we have received documentation of your valid CPR certification.

"I was told during the interview process that my CSCS certification was a great addition to my skills in athletic training and that it would definitely figure into the decision of whom to hire." Kevin Carroll, ATC, CSCS Commenting on his selection as Head of Athletic Training Services St. Joseph's University Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Today, nearly 11,000 professionals from a variety of academic and professional backgrounds hold this prestigious credential. This diverse group includes strength coaches, athletic trainers, physical therapists, personal trainers, physicians, chiropractors, researchers and educators.

To earn the CSCS credential, candidates must pass a rigorous exam comprised of two sections. The Scientific Foundations section, which is 1.5 hours in length, consists of 80 multiple-choice questions designed to assess a candidate's knowledge in the areas of exercise sciences (anatomy, exercise physiology, biomechanics, etc.) and nutrition.

The Practical/Applied section, which is 2.5 hours in length, consists of 110 multiple-choice questions pertaining to program design, exercise techniques, testing and evaluation and organization/administration. Forty of these are in conjunction with a videotape, which mainly assesses competencies in exercise techniques, functional anatomy and testing procedures.

Please note: A strength and conditioning professional must write effective and well-defined training programs for a wide variety of sports, including those that he/she did not actually participate in or play. The examination questions evaluate the person's knowledge in the areas of anaerobic and aerobic training programs based upon an athlete's sport, strength and conditioning levels and training goals as well as proper performance test selection, administration and evaluation of results based on the athlete's sport.

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