NSCA CPT CERTIFICATION TEST LATEST 2025 WITH 300
REAL EXAM PREP QUESTIONS AND CORRECT VERIFIED
ANSWERS/ NSCA CERTIFIED PERSONAL TRAINER EXAM
2025 (NEW!) COVERING MOST TESTED QUESTIONS
THE NSCA-CPT CERTIFICATION EXAM OFFICIAL GUIDE
INCLUDES THE OFFICIALLY MANDATED NSCA CONTENT FOR
CERTIFIED PERSONAL TRAINER CANDIDATES—INCLUDING
EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY, BIOMECHANICS, BEHAVIORAL CHANGE,
AND LEGAL PROFESSIONALISM. UPDATED FOR 2025 STANDARDS
AND THE MOST FREQUENTLY TESTED ITEMS, THIS PREP SET
GUARANTEES A PASS THROUGH DETAILED RATIONALES AND
EXAM-LEVEL SCENARIOS, ENSURING CANDIDATES MEET NSCA-
CPT CERTIFICATION CRITERIA ON THEIR FIRST ATTEMPT.
The client should assume which of the following body positions while performing this exercise?
(Video of Bent over row)
A. Feet and hands shoulder-width apart
B. Feet shoulder-width apart, hands wider than shoulder-width apart
(Technique of exercise) - CORRECT ANSWER-B. Feet shoulder-width apart, hands wider than
shoulder-width apart
The client should assume which of the following body positions while performing this exercise?
(Bent over row)
A. Supinated
B. Pronated
C. Alternated
(technique of exercise) - CORRECT ANSWER-B. Pronated
A personal trainer's client is performing the exercise as shown below. Which of the following
recommendations should be given to the client? (Picture of stability ball push-up with slouching
torso)
A. Lock the knees to prevent the body from collapsing
B. Bring the elbows to the body by positioning the hands closer together
C. Tighten the muscles of the trunk to raise the hips
(technique of exercise) - CORRECT ANSWER-C. Tighten the muscles of the trunk to raise the hips
,Which of the following recommendations should be made to the spotter? (Video of bench press
spotted without alternated grip)
A. Use an alternated grip
B. Widen the stance
C. Increase knee flexion
(technique of exercise) - CORRECT ANSWER-A. Use an alternated grip
Which of the following is the prime mover at the elbow joint during the exercise shown? (Video of
dumbbell bench press)
A. Brachioradialis
B. Triceps brachii
C. Biceps brachii
(technique of exercise) - CORRECT ANSWER-B. Triceps brachii
Which of the following are the prime movers during the exercise shown? (Video of Dumbbell row)
A. Serratus anterior and biceps brachii
B. Latissimus dorsi and brachialis
C. Latissimus dorsi and triceps brachii
(technique of exercise) - CORRECT ANSWER-B. Latissimus dorsi and brachialis
Which of the following cues should the trainer use to improve the performance of this exercise?
(Video of Dumbbell row bringing weight far back)
A. "Do not bounce as the weight is pulled through the motion."
B. "Stabilize the trunk by keeping the shoulders parallel to the floor."
C. "Keep the stance leg straight."
(technique of exercise) - CORRECT ANSWER-B. "Stabilize the trunk by keeping the shoulders parallel
to the floor."
This exercise variation focuses on which of the following muscles? (Video of bicep curl with neutral
angle)
A. Biceps brachii
B. Brachialis
,C. Brachioradialis
(technique of exercise) - CORRECT ANSWER-C. Brachioradialis
While training a client to use a stair stepper, which of the following recommendations is most
appropriate?
A. Position the balls of the feet on the pedals
B. Lean slightly forward while stepping
C. Allow the pedals to move 4 to 8 inches (10 to 20 cm) apart
(technique of exercise) - CORRECT ANSWER-C. Allow the pedals to move 4 to 8 inches (10 to 20 cm)
apart
Which of the following guidelines should a personal trainer use to determine the stability ball size for
a client?
A. The client's hips and knees should be flexed to 90 degrees when sitting on the ball
B. Only the client's toes should touch the floor when sitting on the ball
C. The top of the ball should be level with the client's knees when standing next to it
(technique of exercise) - CORRECT ANSWER-A. The client's hips and knees should be flexed to 90
degrees when sitting on the ball
A personal trainer has been working with a new client on the performance of plyometric drills.
Which of the following is the most important action the trainer and client should focus on?
A. Minimizing the amortization phase
B. Avoiding knee varus
C. Avoiding knee valgus - CORRECT ANSWER-C. Avoiding knee valgus
Which of the following recommendations would be most appropriate for a personal trainer to use to
improve a client's jogging technique?
A. Minimize lateral arm swing
B. Focus the eyes on the ground in front of the feet
C. Contact the ground with the balls of the feet first
(technique of exercise) - CORRECT ANSWER-A. Minimize lateral arm swing
, A client describes a recent training session she had with her running group to her personal trainer.
The group ran in a single file line below race pace and at random points in time, the person at the
end of the line would sprint to the front. The group repeated this activity for 10 miles (16 km). What
type of training is this?
A. Repetition
B. Long slow distance
C. Fartlek
(technique of exercise) - CORRECT ANSWER-C. Fartlek
Which of the following identifies the change in biomechanics from walking to running?
A. foot strike shifts from heel-to-toe while walking to a forefoot strike while running
B. foot strike shifts from being in front of the body while walking to under the hips while running
C. an increase in stride frequency when running by taking shorter steps
(technique of exercise) - CORRECT ANSWER-B. foot strike shifts from being in front of the body while
walking to under the hips while running
Which of the following personal training clients are best prepared for the addition of plyometrics to
their program?
A. a 20-year old female college student who has been resistance training for 1 month
B. a 58-year old female master's-level tennis player returning to play after 1 year who has been
resistance training for 4 months
C. a 45-year old male warehouse worker with knee pain who has been resistance training for 1 year
(technique of exercise) - CORRECT ANSWER-B. a 58-year old female master's-level tennis player
returning to play after 1 year who has been resistance training for 4 months
A cross-country runner is training for a 5k competition. Which of the following describes the best
method for increasing stride length?
A. resisted sprint drills
B. downhill running
C. plyometrics
(technique of exercise) - CORRECT ANSWER-C. plyometrics
The PNF hamstring stretch begins with which of the following?
A. passive pre-stretch
REAL EXAM PREP QUESTIONS AND CORRECT VERIFIED
ANSWERS/ NSCA CERTIFIED PERSONAL TRAINER EXAM
2025 (NEW!) COVERING MOST TESTED QUESTIONS
THE NSCA-CPT CERTIFICATION EXAM OFFICIAL GUIDE
INCLUDES THE OFFICIALLY MANDATED NSCA CONTENT FOR
CERTIFIED PERSONAL TRAINER CANDIDATES—INCLUDING
EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY, BIOMECHANICS, BEHAVIORAL CHANGE,
AND LEGAL PROFESSIONALISM. UPDATED FOR 2025 STANDARDS
AND THE MOST FREQUENTLY TESTED ITEMS, THIS PREP SET
GUARANTEES A PASS THROUGH DETAILED RATIONALES AND
EXAM-LEVEL SCENARIOS, ENSURING CANDIDATES MEET NSCA-
CPT CERTIFICATION CRITERIA ON THEIR FIRST ATTEMPT.
The client should assume which of the following body positions while performing this exercise?
(Video of Bent over row)
A. Feet and hands shoulder-width apart
B. Feet shoulder-width apart, hands wider than shoulder-width apart
(Technique of exercise) - CORRECT ANSWER-B. Feet shoulder-width apart, hands wider than
shoulder-width apart
The client should assume which of the following body positions while performing this exercise?
(Bent over row)
A. Supinated
B. Pronated
C. Alternated
(technique of exercise) - CORRECT ANSWER-B. Pronated
A personal trainer's client is performing the exercise as shown below. Which of the following
recommendations should be given to the client? (Picture of stability ball push-up with slouching
torso)
A. Lock the knees to prevent the body from collapsing
B. Bring the elbows to the body by positioning the hands closer together
C. Tighten the muscles of the trunk to raise the hips
(technique of exercise) - CORRECT ANSWER-C. Tighten the muscles of the trunk to raise the hips
,Which of the following recommendations should be made to the spotter? (Video of bench press
spotted without alternated grip)
A. Use an alternated grip
B. Widen the stance
C. Increase knee flexion
(technique of exercise) - CORRECT ANSWER-A. Use an alternated grip
Which of the following is the prime mover at the elbow joint during the exercise shown? (Video of
dumbbell bench press)
A. Brachioradialis
B. Triceps brachii
C. Biceps brachii
(technique of exercise) - CORRECT ANSWER-B. Triceps brachii
Which of the following are the prime movers during the exercise shown? (Video of Dumbbell row)
A. Serratus anterior and biceps brachii
B. Latissimus dorsi and brachialis
C. Latissimus dorsi and triceps brachii
(technique of exercise) - CORRECT ANSWER-B. Latissimus dorsi and brachialis
Which of the following cues should the trainer use to improve the performance of this exercise?
(Video of Dumbbell row bringing weight far back)
A. "Do not bounce as the weight is pulled through the motion."
B. "Stabilize the trunk by keeping the shoulders parallel to the floor."
C. "Keep the stance leg straight."
(technique of exercise) - CORRECT ANSWER-B. "Stabilize the trunk by keeping the shoulders parallel
to the floor."
This exercise variation focuses on which of the following muscles? (Video of bicep curl with neutral
angle)
A. Biceps brachii
B. Brachialis
,C. Brachioradialis
(technique of exercise) - CORRECT ANSWER-C. Brachioradialis
While training a client to use a stair stepper, which of the following recommendations is most
appropriate?
A. Position the balls of the feet on the pedals
B. Lean slightly forward while stepping
C. Allow the pedals to move 4 to 8 inches (10 to 20 cm) apart
(technique of exercise) - CORRECT ANSWER-C. Allow the pedals to move 4 to 8 inches (10 to 20 cm)
apart
Which of the following guidelines should a personal trainer use to determine the stability ball size for
a client?
A. The client's hips and knees should be flexed to 90 degrees when sitting on the ball
B. Only the client's toes should touch the floor when sitting on the ball
C. The top of the ball should be level with the client's knees when standing next to it
(technique of exercise) - CORRECT ANSWER-A. The client's hips and knees should be flexed to 90
degrees when sitting on the ball
A personal trainer has been working with a new client on the performance of plyometric drills.
Which of the following is the most important action the trainer and client should focus on?
A. Minimizing the amortization phase
B. Avoiding knee varus
C. Avoiding knee valgus - CORRECT ANSWER-C. Avoiding knee valgus
Which of the following recommendations would be most appropriate for a personal trainer to use to
improve a client's jogging technique?
A. Minimize lateral arm swing
B. Focus the eyes on the ground in front of the feet
C. Contact the ground with the balls of the feet first
(technique of exercise) - CORRECT ANSWER-A. Minimize lateral arm swing
, A client describes a recent training session she had with her running group to her personal trainer.
The group ran in a single file line below race pace and at random points in time, the person at the
end of the line would sprint to the front. The group repeated this activity for 10 miles (16 km). What
type of training is this?
A. Repetition
B. Long slow distance
C. Fartlek
(technique of exercise) - CORRECT ANSWER-C. Fartlek
Which of the following identifies the change in biomechanics from walking to running?
A. foot strike shifts from heel-to-toe while walking to a forefoot strike while running
B. foot strike shifts from being in front of the body while walking to under the hips while running
C. an increase in stride frequency when running by taking shorter steps
(technique of exercise) - CORRECT ANSWER-B. foot strike shifts from being in front of the body while
walking to under the hips while running
Which of the following personal training clients are best prepared for the addition of plyometrics to
their program?
A. a 20-year old female college student who has been resistance training for 1 month
B. a 58-year old female master's-level tennis player returning to play after 1 year who has been
resistance training for 4 months
C. a 45-year old male warehouse worker with knee pain who has been resistance training for 1 year
(technique of exercise) - CORRECT ANSWER-B. a 58-year old female master's-level tennis player
returning to play after 1 year who has been resistance training for 4 months
A cross-country runner is training for a 5k competition. Which of the following describes the best
method for increasing stride length?
A. resisted sprint drills
B. downhill running
C. plyometrics
(technique of exercise) - CORRECT ANSWER-C. plyometrics
The PNF hamstring stretch begins with which of the following?
A. passive pre-stretch
