Author : Robert McKenzie

If you have recently graduated from a college or vocational program in fitness and personal training and are looking for a way to jump-start your new career, you should seriously consider becoming a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) The CSCS program is a certification program that provides a means of demonstrating competency in the creation and implementation of safe, effective conditioning and fitness programs for athletes

The CSCS was created more than 20 years ago to address the growing demand for fitness professionals The more than 21,000 individuals who currently hold this credential come from varied backgrounds and include strength coaches, athletic trainers, physical therapists and PT assistants, personal trainers, physicians, chiropractors, and more The CSCS is nationally accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) and is the only nationally recognized certification for individuals who specialize in strength training and conditioning

The CSCS certification is given upon successful completion of the CSCS certification examination, a paper-based exam designed to test your knowledge of scientific foundations and practical applications for conditioning and strength training programs

Applicants must possess, at a minimum, a BA or BS degree from an accredited university or college, or a doctor of chiropractic degree College seniors may take the exam upon proof of enrollment in an eligible program, but the testing agency will not release exam scores until they receive proof of graduation You must also have a current CPR and AED (defibrillator) certification to qualify for certification Although you can register for and take the exam without these trainings, you will not receive your certification credential until this requirement is met

This is a content-based examination, meaning that you will be tested only on your knowledge of the specific subject There are no core academic questions in areas such as reading comprehension or math The exam is made up of two sections: Scientific Foundations and Practical/ Applied knowledge

The Scientific Foundations portion of the test consists of 80 multiple choice questions which will assess your knowledge in the areas of anatomy, exercise physiology, bioenergetics, biomechanics, nutrition and acute/chronic responses to exercise (injuries and conditions) The time limit for the Scientific Foundations section is 1 and a half hours

The Practical/Applied section is comprised of 120 multiple-choice questions (only 110 of which are scored) in the areas of fitness program design, exercise techniques, testing and performance evaluation and organization/administration Forty of the questions in this test section will be answered in reference to a video and concern exercise technique, functional anatomy and evaluation/testing

Although the exam is considered quite challenging, there is no reason to believe that you will not be able to pass with the proper preparation If you have a degree in a fitness related area, you already have most of the knowledge that you need to do well on this exam If your degree is in another field, the NCCA (certifying agency) recommends that you begin by reading its basic strength training and conditioning textbook There are numerous resources online and in print that can assist you in preparing for this examination The number on thing that you can do to prepare for any standardized test is to practice- take as many practice tests as you can, as this will help you identify the areas that need work

Robert McKenzie is an former teacher and expert on tests and testing. Visit his site for more information on the CSCS and Fitness Certifications.

Syndication Source: Thought Search Articles

Tagged with:

Filed under: Careers • Self Improvement

Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!