NSCA- CPT EXAM QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS 2026-2027
1. What is the name of the connective tissue that surrounds skeletal muscle-
: Epimysium
2. How many neuromuscular junctions does each muscle fiber have: 1
3. Which branch of the nervous system is responsible for activating skeletal
muscles: Somatic
4. Which division of the skeleton contains the skull and vertebral column: Axial
Skeleton
5. Which connective tissue connects muscle to bone: Tendon
6. What is the approximate pH of human blood at rest: 7.4
7. The heart is composed of how many chambers: 4
8. What two things occur to facilitate a redistribution of blood flow at the
onset of physical exercise: Skeletal muscle arteriole dilation and nonactive organ
arteriole constriction
9. What refers to the amount of air moving into and out of the lungs at rest
during normal breathing: Tidal volume
10. What is correct regarding maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max): It relates to
the heart's maximal ability to eject blood (maximal cardiac output), it represents the
maximal ability of skeletal muscle to extract oxygen, and it represents the ability to
use maximal AVO2 difference to aerobically produce energy
11. What are characteristics of bioenergetics: Breakdown of food, conversion of
chemical energy to mechanical energy, and breakdown of chemical bonds
12. How many molecules of ATP are produced from glycolysis of one molecule
of glucose in blood?: 2
13. What energy system is the primary source of energy at rest and during
aerobic activities: Oxidative
14. Glycogen becomes the preferred fuel source at intensities above about
what percent of maximal oxygen uptake: 60-75%
15. When relying on the slower ATP-producing energy systems, ATP can be
produced as long as the body has a good supply of what: Muscle glycogen,
fatty acids, and protein
16. In biomechanics, the term body may refer to what: the human body, limb
segment, and piece of chalk
17. What is the equation that represents Work (W): Force x Distance moved
(displacement)
18. What is correct regarding rate of force development: It is the ratio of the
change in force over the change in time, it is time rate of change of force, and it can
be improved with resistance training
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,NSCA- CPT EXAM QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS 2026-2027
19. What is correct regarding the use of heavy metal chains on barbells: they
can be used with linear movements, the chains add resistance throughout the range
of motion, and the chains can be used in exercises such as the squat or bench press
20. With water resistance, if the surface area is larger, then the exercise will
be : harder
21. What is correct regarding stress responses to resistance exercise?: it can
lead to increase in bone mineral density, it leads to muscle growth, and it results in
increased strength
22. Steroid hormones: Testosterone, estrogen, and any hormone derived from
cholesterol
23. What is correct regarding endocrine adaptations to resistance exercise: -
Testosterone has been shown to increase, resistance exercise leads to up regulation
of androgen receptor content, and growth hormone does not appear to increase
24. What is correct regarding individuals who possess the ACTN XX genotype-
: commercial DNA testing companies can inform individuals if they possess it, the
ACTN gene is responsible for producing a structural Z-line protein found mainly in
type II muscle fibers, and being a carrier of the ACTN XX genotype does not present
deleterious health consequences
25. Approximately how often does resistance exercise need to be performed
to prevent detraining: 1 or 2 session per week
26. What increases during an aerobic exercise bout: Respiratory exchange rate
27. What is the Fick Equation: VO2 (L/min) = Cardiac output (Q) x A-VO2 differ-
ence
28. What is correct regarding the skeletal muscle adaptations to chronic aer-
obic exercise training: Increased muscle myoglobin stores, no change in type II
muscle fiber cross-sectional area, and little to no change in type I muscle fiber
cross-sectional area
29. What is correct regarding age differences in maximal aerobic power: Fe-
males tend to reach their maximal aerobic power at 12-15 years of age, men tend
to reach their maximal aerobic power at 17-21 years of age, and in adults aerobic
power gradually decreases with age without regular training
30. Approximately how soon after aerobic training is stopped does muscular
endurance decrease: 2 weeks
31. What is within the personal trainer's scope of practice regarding providing
nutrition information to a client: Convey general nutrition knowledge
32. What is realistically attainable by a personal trainer to estimate energy
requirements of a client: Log of all food and drink intake, estimated activity level,
and estimated resting energy expenditure
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1. What is the name of the connective tissue that surrounds skeletal muscle-
: Epimysium
2. How many neuromuscular junctions does each muscle fiber have: 1
3. Which branch of the nervous system is responsible for activating skeletal
muscles: Somatic
4. Which division of the skeleton contains the skull and vertebral column: Axial
Skeleton
5. Which connective tissue connects muscle to bone: Tendon
6. What is the approximate pH of human blood at rest: 7.4
7. The heart is composed of how many chambers: 4
8. What two things occur to facilitate a redistribution of blood flow at the
onset of physical exercise: Skeletal muscle arteriole dilation and nonactive organ
arteriole constriction
9. What refers to the amount of air moving into and out of the lungs at rest
during normal breathing: Tidal volume
10. What is correct regarding maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max): It relates to
the heart's maximal ability to eject blood (maximal cardiac output), it represents the
maximal ability of skeletal muscle to extract oxygen, and it represents the ability to
use maximal AVO2 difference to aerobically produce energy
11. What are characteristics of bioenergetics: Breakdown of food, conversion of
chemical energy to mechanical energy, and breakdown of chemical bonds
12. How many molecules of ATP are produced from glycolysis of one molecule
of glucose in blood?: 2
13. What energy system is the primary source of energy at rest and during
aerobic activities: Oxidative
14. Glycogen becomes the preferred fuel source at intensities above about
what percent of maximal oxygen uptake: 60-75%
15. When relying on the slower ATP-producing energy systems, ATP can be
produced as long as the body has a good supply of what: Muscle glycogen,
fatty acids, and protein
16. In biomechanics, the term body may refer to what: the human body, limb
segment, and piece of chalk
17. What is the equation that represents Work (W): Force x Distance moved
(displacement)
18. What is correct regarding rate of force development: It is the ratio of the
change in force over the change in time, it is time rate of change of force, and it can
be improved with resistance training
1/
14
,NSCA- CPT EXAM QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS 2026-2027
19. What is correct regarding the use of heavy metal chains on barbells: they
can be used with linear movements, the chains add resistance throughout the range
of motion, and the chains can be used in exercises such as the squat or bench press
20. With water resistance, if the surface area is larger, then the exercise will
be : harder
21. What is correct regarding stress responses to resistance exercise?: it can
lead to increase in bone mineral density, it leads to muscle growth, and it results in
increased strength
22. Steroid hormones: Testosterone, estrogen, and any hormone derived from
cholesterol
23. What is correct regarding endocrine adaptations to resistance exercise: -
Testosterone has been shown to increase, resistance exercise leads to up regulation
of androgen receptor content, and growth hormone does not appear to increase
24. What is correct regarding individuals who possess the ACTN XX genotype-
: commercial DNA testing companies can inform individuals if they possess it, the
ACTN gene is responsible for producing a structural Z-line protein found mainly in
type II muscle fibers, and being a carrier of the ACTN XX genotype does not present
deleterious health consequences
25. Approximately how often does resistance exercise need to be performed
to prevent detraining: 1 or 2 session per week
26. What increases during an aerobic exercise bout: Respiratory exchange rate
27. What is the Fick Equation: VO2 (L/min) = Cardiac output (Q) x A-VO2 differ-
ence
28. What is correct regarding the skeletal muscle adaptations to chronic aer-
obic exercise training: Increased muscle myoglobin stores, no change in type II
muscle fiber cross-sectional area, and little to no change in type I muscle fiber
cross-sectional area
29. What is correct regarding age differences in maximal aerobic power: Fe-
males tend to reach their maximal aerobic power at 12-15 years of age, men tend
to reach their maximal aerobic power at 17-21 years of age, and in adults aerobic
power gradually decreases with age without regular training
30. Approximately how soon after aerobic training is stopped does muscular
endurance decrease: 2 weeks
31. What is within the personal trainer's scope of practice regarding providing
nutrition information to a client: Convey general nutrition knowledge
32. What is realistically attainable by a personal trainer to estimate energy
requirements of a client: Log of all food and drink intake, estimated activity level,
and estimated resting energy expenditure
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