I passed the exam in 2000 and received approval once receiving my Sport Science degree in August of that year after my exiting internship.
Honestly, I thought for as much as I studied the NSCA material I didn’t think I would do as well as I did, but being in school and training athletes along with the courses taken I passed with flying colors.
Many of the questions could actually be argued but a lot of times it’s not what ‘really’ works but what they want you to know.
A great certification that I keep renewing each time it comes up.
ok, stupid question: what’s the difference between a CSCS and a regular personal training certificate? I realize that you need a degree in something related to human performance for a CSCS, but other than that, what else?
I took it 2 years outof college. Thoughtit was pretty easy. I liked the practice tests and feel they really pointed out the weak areas. Although they do give the page and paragraph f where to find the answer, i chose to just record the chapters where I missed the most questions and then only studied those. This way i didnt have to read the whole book
the cscs holds more weight and can open more doors than most training certifications. That’s why you’d want it.
Got it. The test was nothing to write home about. You just need to know the difference between what you know you want to say and what you know they want you to say (especially on the nutrition section).
I’m doing it in the UK towards the end of the year.
Anyone have any views on what materials I need? Baring in mind they will probably have to be delivered from the US to the UK I am looking to get the absolute minimum.
I am already ACSM cert’d and have a postgrad degree, the theory is not a problem - i jut need to know what version of the truth they want! Are there any detailed run downs on syllabus/key skills/knowledge points etc out there that anyone knows of?
[quote]Drewsky wrote:
I’m doing it in the UK towards the end of the year.
Anyone have any views on what materials I need? Baring in mind they will probably have to be delivered from the US to the UK I am looking to get the absolute minimum.
I am already ACSM cert’d and have a postgrad degree, the theory is not a problem - i jut need to know what version of the truth they want! Are there any detailed run downs on syllabus/key skills/knowledge points etc out there that anyone knows of?
Cheers,
Drew[/quote]
Yes, they sell all of the above on their site. And finding “their version of the truth” is really the key. I took it a few years out of college for my coaching… didn’t have a related degree, but did have some practical knowledge as a competitive strength athlete. I had to “forget” a lot of the stuff that I had learned to say what the NSCA wanted me to say – they are (or were) straight OL (minus proper squatting form), linear periodization, unimaginative but basic and fairly effective in their programming, don’t address CNS factors or recovery, have a lot of plyometric drills but little theory on plyo-implementation, etc.
I read the textbook twice, took one of the practice tests, and listened to the tapes, and owned the exam. I had the materials for less than two weeks, so I have to imagine that a lot of the people with more schooling/experience would have an easier go at it.
[quote]Drewsky wrote:
I’m doing it in the UK towards the end of the year.
Anyone have any views on what materials I need? Baring in mind they will probably have to be delivered from the US to the UK I am looking to get the absolute minimum.
I am already ACSM cert’d and have a postgrad degree, the theory is not a problem - i jut need to know what version of the truth they want! Are there any detailed run downs on syllabus/key skills/knowledge points etc out there that anyone knows of?
Cheers,
Drew[/quote]
hey,
I’m planing to take the exams this year too.
What do you think about getting it and splitting some costs.
A few years ago I got already “Essentials of STrength and Conditioning” that’s their recommended reading.
On the top I’ve been thinking about getting:
I did MSc in Sports Science and Physical Education in 1995
2 years specialism in Olympic Lifting & Bodybuilding Coaching.
However, I studied in language other than english… and althoug I feel I have MUCH more than just a basic understanding of all the concepts and have been working in the field since… well + reading this site among the otheres . . .
for some reason I do not feel too confident. tests maybe cruel. No chance to explain anything, no “buts”!
that’s why I want to get all these presentation to hear all they want in english… that I can produce it once again to their liking.
I have the recommended book alredy. So that should do. What do you think?
took it my senior year of college. all you really need is the book. read through it once, highlighting what i thought was important, then read through the highlighted stuff 2x. also take the quizes at the end of each chapter. felt the test was super easy.
[quote]Slyfan wrote:
took it my senior year of college. all you really need is the book. read through it once, highlighting what i thought was important, then read through the highlighted stuff 2x. also take the quizes at the end of each chapter. felt the test was super easy. [/quote]
i agree the test was super easy i only reviewed the Anatomy and Physiology and Principles of Biomechanics
So am I right that you have to get a degree to become NSCA-CSCS certified? I’m a bio major, which doesnt seem to qualify, and I dont go to an acredited school in their minds apparently. The only IL university they recongnized is WIU’s physical education program. If this is right, this is the most ridiculous thing I have heard in a while. The various kinesiology programs over the state are all better than most anything at WIU.
If this isny possible, I may just look into the CPT certification.
Thanks for any response.
You can take the CSCS exam. My undergraduate degree is from the University of Illinois and my Masters is from Northern Illinois University. It is a bit confusing how they use “accredited.” If you don’t have your bachelor’s degree yet though they will not send you your credentials until you graduate.
[/quote]
They use accredited to mean any school that is regionally accredited. All of the major state schools fit that bill, but tech schools like ITT won’t.
