To be eligible for this personal training course, you must have a high school diploma or GED. Additionally, you need a Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification and an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) certification. You may enroll in the self-study course before having your CPR and AED certifications; however, you must have them before you take your final exam.

Chapter 1: The Modern State of Health and Fitness

Learn to distinguish your role as a personal trainer, identify common chronic health conditions, differentiate evidence-based practice from fitness fads, and define your scope as a professional.

Chapter 2: The Personal Training Profession

Fitness professionals have the option to work for a variety of employers or to work for themselves. This chapter explores industry growth and the overall career outlook for personal trainers.

• • 7 Infographics

• • 6 Videos

• • 2 Audio Lectures

• • 12 Knowledge Checks

Chapter 3: Psychology of Exercise

The role of psychology in fitness and wellness is extremely important. It can deal with several topics, including the way exercise participation affects someone’s mood in both the short and the long term, the effect of weight loss on self-esteem, the motivations to become physically active, and how social influences affect overall exercise behavior.

Chapter 4: Behavioral Coaching

This chapter covers clients’ expectations, assessing behavior change, structuring optimal sessions, communicating effectively, and implementing exercise adherence techniques using behavior change.

• • 8 Infographics

• • 5 Videos

• • 2 Audio Lectures

• • 10 Knowledge Checks

Chapter 5: The Nervous, Skeletal, and Muscular Systems

Because all fitness professionals need an understanding of anatomy and the Human Movement System, this chapter covers the fundamentals of the Nervous, Skeletal, and Muscular Systems.

Chapter 6: The Cardiorespiratory, Endocrine, and Digestive Systems

You will learn how to identify the structure and function of the cardiorespiratory system, how to categorize the function of the endocrine system, as well as the digestive system.

Chapter 7: Human Movement Science

You will gain an understanding of the basics of biomechanics and motor behavior as they relate to working as a personal trainer.

Chapter 8: Exercise Metabolism and Bioenergetics

This section of the course breaks down the various energy systems within the body, providing essential insight into the ways we use food for fuel.

Chapter 9: Nutrition

Improving health and fitness means more than just exercise; it also requires a commitment to improve the way the body is fueled. Although specific diet prescription is outside a trainer's scope of practice, this chapter will provide the basics needed to support nutritional discussions with clients and make recommendations on how to support their goals through a healthy diet.

Chapter 10: Supplementation

It is important that the personal trainer understands what supplements are and how to educate clients on risks associated with various supplements. Within you will learn the necessary information to discuss supplementation with a client while remaining within your scope of practice.

• • 115 Infographics

• • 19 Videos

• • 6 Audio Lectures

• • 30 Knowledge Checks

Chapter 11: Health, Wellness, and Fitness Assessments

After this chapter, you will be able to explain the importance of assessments, collect and summarize subjective client information, identify steps for conducting body composition assessments, and choose the correct cardiorespiratory assessments on an individual basis.

Chapter 12: Posture, Movement, and Performance Assessments

Posture, movement, and performance assessments are an integral part of the intake process for all clients and will assist the fitness professional in developing customized fitness programs to enhance a client’s well-being.

• • 15 Infographics

• • 14 Videos

• • 2 Audio Lectures

• • 10 Knowledge Checks

Chapter 13: Integrated Training and the OPT™ Model

After complete interpretations of assessment results, a comprehensive training program can be developed through application of specific acute variables defined in the NASM OPT™ Model.

Chapter 14: Flexibility Training Concepts

Learn the scientific rationale for flexibility training, proper stretching exercises, stretches for beginners, and more within this chapter of the course.

Chapter 15: Cardiorespiratory Training Concepts

Cardiorespiratory fitness reflects the ability of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems to supply oxygen-rich blood to skeletal muscles during sustained physical activity. You will learn more within the course.

Chapter 16: Core Training Concepts

A properly designed core training program can be a key component of an overall training plan used to achieve a broad range of goals. The objective of core training is the development of core stability, endurance, strength, and power. Learn more within.

Chapter 17: Balance Training Concepts

The ability to maintain postural control or balance is a fundamental component of performance, injury resistance, and rehabilitation that follows an injury. Learn how to incorporate balance training within your clients’ programming.

Chapter 18: Plyometric (Reactive) Training Concepts

You will learn how to explain plyometric training and its three phases, summarize the benefits of the modality, identify proper progressions, and teach proper cueing techniques.

Chapter 19: Speed, Agility, and Quickness Training Concepts

Speed, agility, and quickness (SAQ) trainingis a useful and effective method of fitness training that stimulates muscular, neurological, connective tissue, and even cardiovascular fitness adaptations.

Chapter 20: Resistance Training Concepts

You will learn how to summarize resistance training principles to clients, categorize exercises for different types of goals and adaptations, and employ safe methods and resistance training variables.

• • 26 Infographics

• • 102 Videos

• • 8 Audio Lectures

• • 42 Knowledge Checks

Chapter 21: The Optimum Performance Training® Model

Creating and modifying exercise programs for clients can be a complicated process because there are many variables to consider, including the client’s goals, their tolerance for exercise, and their unique physical abilities and medical history. The Optimum Performance Training® Model makes it simple.

Chapter 22: Introduction to Exercise Modalities

Within this chapter you will learn how to categorize different exercise modalities, describe their uses depending on different clients, and determine the correct resistance and proprioceptive uses on an individual basis.

Chapter 23: Chronic Health Conditions and Special Populations

This chapter covers important information and recommendations for assessing and designing exercise programs for clients with selected chronic health conditions or functional limitations.

• • 2 Infographics

• • 8 Videos

• • 3 Audio Lectures

• • 19 Knowledge Checks

Successful completion of the final exam is required to become a Certified Personal Trainer. You have 2 exam options:

Option 1. NASM Personal Trainer Certificate (Non-Proctored Exam)

This non-proctored and open-book exam has 100 questions and requires a passing grade of 70%. This exam is administered online only. You will have 3 hours to complete the exam, and you must take the exam within 180 days of your enrollment date.

Option 2. NASM Certified Personal Trainer (NCCA Accredited Certification Exam)

The NCCA is a nationally recognized third-party agency that accredits certification programs which are able to meet and comply with its standards. The NCCA exam is a nationally accredited exam. This closed-book exam has 120 questions. You must pass with a scaled score of 70 or better. This proctored exam can be administered either in-person or online, and you will have 2 hours to complete the test. You must take this exam within 180 days of your enrollment date.

The choice is yours, and selecting which exam to take will depend on your goals.

A fitness credential is recommended but is not required for the Wellness Coach Certification.

Chapter 1: Introduction to Wellness
Explore the meaning of wellness and the relationship between its various components, as well as the role of the wellness coach and their defined scope of practice.

Chapter 2: Scientific Principles
This section introduces the importance of evidence-based practices, the scientific method and basic scientific principles and methodology. Evaluate sources of information for credibility, reliability and validity and connect these to safe and effective strategies for clients.

Chapter 3: Foundational Coaching Concepts
Explore the role of coaching, relevant brain science, the various components of self-efficacy and behavior modification strategies as it relates to coaching and wellness.

Chapter 4: Rapport and Communication
Read about specific techniques to put clients at the center of the conversation and how building rapport is the core of a successful coach client relationship.

• • 4 Infographics

• • 10 Videos

• • 4 Knowledge Checks

Chapter 5: Introduction to Movement for Wellness
Explore ways to assess your client’s past, current and ideal future relationship with movement as it relates to wellness.

Chapter 6: Movement for Physical Health
Review the various physical benefits of movement and exercise and discuss how these benefits align and support client’s goals and needs.

Chapter 7: Physical Recovery and Regeneration
This section introduces the concept of physical recovery, what it is, how it’s facilitated, the tools available to facilitate it and the relationship between physical intensity and appropriate recovery time.

Chapter 8: Movement for Mental and Emotional Wellbeing
Read about the motivations and direct benefits of movement and exercise on mental and emotional wellbeing.

Chapter 9: Coaching Movement for Wellness
This section looks at client’s obstacles and barriers as it relates to movement and explores the most effective strategies and goals in establishing and maintaining a purposeful movement program.

• • 4 Infographics

• • 20 Videos

• • 5 Knowledge Checks

• • 4 Printable Handouts

Chapter 10: Introduction to Brain Health
This section introduces what brain health and psychological wellness are, the role they play in wellness, individual differences in brain health and psychological wellness and when a coach will need to refer a client out to another professional.

Chapter 11: Emotion Processing
Explore how emotions are processed in the brain, the involved brain anatomy, how body signals influence emotion processing and some of the emotion regulation strategies.

Chapter 12: Stress
This section introduces the different types of stress, how stress is processed in the brain and the different pathways of stress and their products. This section will also look at the relationship between stress and brain processes and different factors that can influence stress response.

Chapter 13: Cognitive Processing and Performance
This section looks at how the brain learns and remembers, how learning and memory are influenced by body states and attentional demand and how pain and stress influence cognitive processes.

Chapter 14: Sleep
This section discusses sleep as basic hygiene, sleeps role in recovery and regeneration, sleep stages and architecture and sleep chronotypes. In addition, this section will look at the importance of the different sleep pillars, the differentiating roles of NREM and REM sleep and factors that either impair or promote sleep.

Chapter 15: Psychological Recovery
This section will introduce the concept of psychological recovery within the scope of a wellness coach, look at the relationship between one’s cognitive state and physical state and discuss appropriate methods for facilitating psychological recovery.

Chapter 16: Social Wellness
This section discusses the relationship between social interaction, the brain and wellness including, loneliness, social evaluation, social buffering and social media. This section will also explore how humans process empathy, prejudice, attachment, and trust.

Chapter 17: Coaching the Brain
Explore the concepts of homeostasis and allostasis as it relates to wellness coaching and discuss how concepts such as empathy, trust, effective praise, social buffering, and social evaluation can be applied in coach-client relationships. This section will also discuss stress reduction strategies, methods for improving sleep, the role of exercise in brain health and psychological wellness and coaching techniques for influencing cognition and mindset.

• • 10 Infographics

• • 24 Videos

• • 8 Knowledge Checks

• • 4 Printable Handouts

Chapter 18: Introduction to Nutrition
This section covers the role nutrition plays in wellness, what a healthy dietary pattern is, and the difference between eating for wellness, performance and weight loss all within the scope of practice for wellness coaches.

Chapter 19: Nutrition Basics
This section covers the role of hydration, macronutrients and micronutrients in overall health, how energy balance influences body composition and health, the role exercise plays in nutrient needs and how alcohol consumption influences overall health.

Chapter 20: Healthy Dietary Patterns
This section covers general recommendations for macro and micronutrient consumption, the role culture, dietary restrictions and food preferences has on overall dietary choices and what common characteristics make up a healthy dietary pattern.

Chapter 21: Nutrition Myths and Misconceptions
This section covers fad diets and diet myths and how to identify them, why fad diets, supplementation, and products are ineffective and potentially harmful, and how to effectively address client questions and diet misconceptions.

Chapter 22: Influence of Diet on Long-Term Health
Explore the role of diet in chronic disease risk, how diet may influence the microbiome and chronic inflammation and the benefits of diet beyond its nutritive value.

Chapter 23: Acute Effects of Diet
This section covers digestive responses to different nutrients, the influence of nutrients on satiety and satiation and the effects of different exercise on the body during and post exercise.

Chapter 24: Dietary Strategies for Health
Explore habits and behaviors that influence health, the differences between a flexible and rigid dietary pattern, the rationale for weight-neutral interventions and the effects of meal timing in health including different fasting protocols.

Chapter 25: Dietary Strategies for Weight Loss
This section looks at the influence on weight loss to health, the relationship between energy balance and body mass, healthy dietary strategies to facilitate weight loss and factors that may determine the maintenance of weight loss.

Chapter 26: Supplementation
This section looks at the role of supplementation to a healthy diet, when it’s appropriate and how to determine the efficacy and safety of supplements.

Chapter 27: Nutrition Coaching
This section looks at general dietary and supplementation strategies based off efficacy and safety, how to prioritize strategies within the context of client goals and health, how to implement these strategies through inclusive language around nutrition, body composition, awareness of client limitations and opportunities, and how to monitor clients progress and make necessary adjustments.

• • 12 Infographics

• • 18 Videos

• • 10 Knowledge Checks

• • 3 Printable Handouts

Chapter 28: Becoming a Wellness Coach
This section looks at the benefits of wellness coaching, key characteristics of effective coaching, the mindset of coaches and personal experiences with wellness coaching.

Chapter 29: Wellness Coaching Theory
This section looks at self-efficacy and its factors, self-determination theory and its role in coaching, shame resilience theory and how to address and work with shame, and how these theories intersect.

Chapter 30: Tools in Practice
This section explores motivational interviewing and its role in wellness coaching, the anatomy of a goal and how to effectively set goals, and tools for assessment and application for client goals, desired behaviors or needs.

Chapter 31: Self-Awareness as a Coach
This section looks at coach self-awareness by evaluating personal biases, developing a unique coaching philosophy highlighting coach strengths, skills and experience and how to look for mentorship or additional opportunities for support and guidance.

Chapter 32: Session Readiness
This section looks at the structure of a coaching session, the importance of consistency in coaching, how time management builds trust in a coaching session and ethical standards for coach client engagement.

Chapter 33: New Client Intake and Creating a Wellness Plan
This section looks at intake processes for both new and ongoing sessions and tools and approaches to create a wellness plan aligned to goals or desired behaviors.

Chapter 34: Facilitating Ongoing Sessions
This section looks at the importance of monitoring in coaching sessions, tools to support monitoring, considerations for when a wellness plan needs change and approaches to working with challenging clients and addressing shifts in client needs.

Chapter 35: Closing out the Plan
This section discusses when a goal or phase of coaching is complete and how to close out that phase or end the coaching relationship.

• • 4 Infographics

• • 28 Videos

• • 8 Knowledge Checks

• • 36 Printable Handouts

After the completion of the course, you will take an online final exam from the comfort of your own home, or wherever you prefer to take tests. The test consists of 100 multiple-choice questions. The exam is timed and cannot exceed 120 minutes. To pass, you need a score of 70% or higher. You will have 3 attempts to pass, and additional retests can be purchased by calling Member Services at 1-800-460-6276 option 2.