Today's marketplace is becoming increasingly competitive, and employers are looking for the most qualified individuals. How can you prove your extraordinary level of education and expertise? Over time, the Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist^® and the NSCA-Certified Personal Trainer^® credentials have gained a reputation among employers, professors and industry experts around the world as the most respected and preferred fitness-related credentials. Earning the CSCS or NSCA-CPT credential gives you the ability to open doors both professionally and financially.

By simply adding the CSCS or NSCA-CPT designation after your name, you acquire credibility in the eyes of potential employers. This fact is demonstrated by industry expert Juan Carlos Santana, MEd, CSCS,*D, "In these times of information and education, the NSCA Certification Commission's credentials assure both -- that is their real power. To be successful in the fitness industry, the CSCS and NSCA-CPT credentials should be the credentials of choice for every fitness professional."

The exams are considered by many to be the most difficult in the industry to pass, which is one of the main reasons that those who do pass them wear their credentials with pride. Employers recognize and appreciate the discerning pass rates of the examinations (63% for the CSCS and 57% for the NSCA-CPT).

The sophistication of the exam development process also contributes to the preferred status of the credentials. Overseen by industry experts and psychometricians who specialize in developing certification and licensure examinations, the CSCS and NSCA-CPT exams are specifically based on "real world" responsibilities of strength and conditioning and personal training professionals.

The exam development and administration procedures are driven by the accreditation guidelines of the renowned National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), based in Washington, D.C. National accreditation from the NCCA is perhaps the most significant factor in the credibility of the credentials. While there are hundreds of fitness-related certifications in the marketplace today, there are only two that have been nationally accredited for more than ten years -- the CSCS and the NSCA-CPT.

Could the credibility and recognition of the CSCS or NSCA-CPT help your career? Chris Lockwood, MS, CSCS, a staff writer at Muscle & Fitness magazine stated, "I can wholeheartedly say that I wouldn't be where I am today without having been a member of, and certified by, the NSCA. The CSCS credential has been instrumental in shaping my career by giving me instant credibility and recognition."

The CSCS and NSCA-CPT credentials are helping people achieve their career goals in an endless variety of ways. For example: the NSCA-CPT credential is valued and often required at health and fitness facilities and corporate wellness centers throughout the country; thousands of certified athletic trainers, physical therapists and chiropractors have earned the CSCS credential to highlight an additional area of expertise; credential holders receive invitations to write articles in professional publications such as Men's Health and Shape; and they are often sought out as speakers at professional conferences such as NATA, AFAA, IDEA, and, of course, NSCA.

Now, isn't it time you accepted the challenge and put the credibility of these renowned certifications to work for you?

Click here if you would like additional information as to why you should seek the CSCS and/or NSCA-CPT certification(s).