CPTN Certified Personal Trainer (CPTN-CPT)

CPTN Certified Personal Trainer candidates must possess the following:

  • Must be an adult age 18 or older
  • Current CPR (Basic Rescuer) and current Emergency First Aid
  • Passing grade on the 120 multiple choice question Theory Exam of 75% or higher
  • Passing grade on the Practical Exam of 75% or higher
  • Documentation of a minimum of 20 supervised hours or a degree/diploma in the physical education/kinesiology field (copies of proof to be submitted to CPTN)
  • Complete a Personal Trainer Log (PDF, 34KB)

Note: The requirements are to be completed within 6 months from exam writing date.

Getting Started

Thinking about becoming a Personal Trainer but not sure where to start? Follow these three simple steps below:

  1. Determine your knowledge status

    1. New to personal training and have no experience or education.
      1. We highly recommend that you register for the The Art and Science of Personal Training Workshop. This Workshop is a preparation course specifically geared to preparing participants to complete the CPTN Personal Trainer Certification process.
    2. New to personal training but have an educational background and experience in the fitness and lifestyle industry.
      1. Individuals possessing a strong knowledge base in the basics and fundamentals of fitness training can purchase a copy of The Art and Science of Personal Training (Second Edition) manual. If you feel you require more in-depth training for the role of a Personal Trainer, we suggest registering for The Art and Science of Personal Training Workshop.
    3. Veteran fitness professional seeking expansion of role in the personal training field.
      1. Veteran Fitness Professionals and those already possessing Certification as a Personal Trainer with another organization are welcomed to register on the Examinations page. We do recommend a review of The Art and Science of Personal Training (Second Edition) manual so that you are familiar with the content upon which you will be evaluated.

  2. Study for the exam

    1. Review the material in The Art and Science of Personal Training (Second Edition) manual. This is the text from which all the theory exam questions originate.

  3. Write the Certification theory exam

    1. When you feel confident of your acquired knowledge you can register on the Examinations page. Once you complete and successfully pass the theory exam, you will receive a letter in the mail informing you of the next steps to take to complete the practical component of the Certification process.

The sections below review the categories included in the theory exam and the requirements for the practical assessment.

Note: All the information required to write the exam is included in The Art and Science of Personal Training (Second Edition) manual. The references listed in the Examination guidelines below are provided for further information about a specific topic.

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Theory Examination Guidelines

The theory exam will cover the following areas related to personal training. The details of each area may be viewed by clicking on the appropriate category. The theory exam format is 120 multiple choice questions. The theory exam is 3 hours in length and the pass mark is 75% or 90/120.

Practical Examination Guidelines

The practical exam is a demonstration of exercise techniques, communication skills, needs assessments and program progression. Practical assessments are a minimum of 40 minutes in length followed by feedback from the Assessor. Information regarding appointment times for assessments will be sent to you after you have completed the theory exam and a pass mark confirmed. Please refer to the categories below for detailed guidelines of each practical exam component.