Certified Strength and Conditioning
Specialist Exam.
A Comprehensive Exam Study Guide
Latest Updated 2025/2026
bioenergetics - ansThe flow of energy in a biological system; the conversion of
macronutrients into biologically usable forms of energy.
What are the 5 points of body contact? - ans1. Head in neutral position on bench or back pad
2. Shoulders and upper back set evenly on bench or back pad 3. Buttocks on bench or seat
4. Right foot flat on floor
5. Left foot flat on floor
What are the 6 principles that effect program design? - ansSpecificity, overload, progression,
variation, diminishing returns, reversibility
Assumption of risk - ansvoluntarily participation in activity with knowledge of the inherent
risk(s). Athletic activities, including Strength & Conditioning, involve certain risks.
Participants must be informed of the risks of activity, and required to sign a statement to that
e ect.
Responsibility, duty or obligation - ansStrength & Conditioning professionals have a duty to
the participants they serve to take reasonable steps to prevent injury, and to act prudently
when an injury occurs.
Standard of care - answhat a prudent and reasonable person would do under similar
circumstances. A Strength & Conditioning professional is expected to act according to his/her
education, training and certi cation status (e.g., CSCS, NSCA-CPT, CPR, and First Aid).
Negligence - ansfailure to act as a reasonable and prudent person would under similar
circumstances. Four elements must exist for a Strength & Conditioning professional
to be found liable for negligence: duty, breach of duty, proximate cause, and damages (65).
Simply stated, a Strength & Conditioning professional is negligent if he/ she is proven to
have a duty to act, and to have failed to act with the appropriate standard of care, proximately
causing injury or damages to another person.
Standard - ansa required procedure that probably re ects
a duty or obligation for standard of care (note that the standard statements in this document
utilize the word
"must").
Guideline - ansrecommended operating procedure formulated and developed to further
enhance the quality of services provided (note that the guideline statements in this document
utilize the word "should"). Guidelines are not intended to be standards of practice or to give
rise to legally de ned duties of care, but in certain circumstances they could assist in
evaluating and improving services rendered.
What % of of all court cases concerning athletic injuries deal with some aspect of
supervision? - ans80%
What is product liability? - ansthe legal responsibilities of a product manufacturer and/or
vendor if a person sustains injury or damage due primarily to a defect or deficiency in design
or manufacturing
What is included in informed consent documents? - ans• Purpose of the activity
• Risks of the activity*
• Bene ts of the activity
• Con dentiality
,Certified Strength and Conditioning
Specialist Exam.
A Comprehensive Exam Study Guide
Latest Updated 2025/2026
• Inquiries
• Signatures
What is included in agreement to participate documents? - ans• Nature of the activity
• Possible consequences of injury* (*note assumption of risk language*)
• Behavioral expectations of the participant • Condition of the participant
• Concluding statement
• Signatures
Cardinal Principles of Supervision - ans• Always be there.
• Be active and hands-on.
• Be prudent, careful, and prepared.
• Be quali ed (e.g., accredited degree, CSCS, CPR, First Aid).
• Be vigilant.
• Inform participants of safety and emergency procedures. • Know participants' health status.
• Monitor and enforce rules and regulations.
• Monitor and scrutinize the environment.
4 steps for applying standards of practice to risk management - ans1. Identify and select
standards of practice, as well as all applicable laws.
2. Develop risk management strategies re ecting standards of practice and all applicable laws.
3. Implement the risk management plan.
4. Evaluate the risk management plan.
PPE & Clearance - ansShould include a comprehensive health and immunization history, a
relevant physical exam, part of which includes an orthopedic evaluation. Some type of
cardiovascular screening, as discussed below, is also recommended.
Who is the head of the crisis management team at a facility? - ansExecutive Director ->
Senior Director of Membership and Business Development
Where should emergency procedures be posted in a facility? - ansnear a telephone
catabolism - ansThe breakdown of large molecules into smaller molecules, associated with
the release of energy. Usually uses energy
anabolism - ansThe synthesis of larger molecules from smaller molecules; can be
accomplished using the energy released from catabolic reactions. Energy is sometimes used
from a previous catabolism reaction.
exergonic reactions - ansEnergy-releasing reactions that are generally catabolic.
endergonic reactions - ansRequire energy and include anabolic processes and the contraction
of muscle.
metabolism - ansThe total of all the catabolic or exergonic and anabolic or endergonic
reactions in a biological system.
adenosine triphosphate (ATP) - ansAllows the transfer of energy from exergonic to
endergonic reactions.
lactate threshold (LT) - ansThe exercise intensity or relative intensity at which blood lactate
begins an abrupt increase above the baseline concentration.
, Certified Strength and Conditioning
Specialist Exam.
A Comprehensive Exam Study Guide
Latest Updated 2025/2026
excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC) - ansOxygen uptake above resting values
used to restore the body to the pre-exercise condition; also called post-exercise oxygen
uptake, oxygen debt, or recovery O2.
Onset Blood Lactate Accumulation (OBLA) - ansAt a slightly higher exercise intensity than
lactate threshold a second increase in lactate accumulation can be seen and is often referred to
as the onset of blood lactate accumulation or OBLA.
OBLA generally occurs when the concentration of blood lactate reaches about 4mmol/L
hormones - ansChemical messengers that are synthesized, stored, and released into the blood
by endocrine glands and certain other cells.
Autocrine - anscell releases hormone within itself, does not travel outside cell
Paracrine - anscell releases hormone to neighboring cells, does not travel in bloodstream
Binding Proteins - anscarry both peptide and steroid hormones, act as storage sites in
circulation, helping prevent degradation prior to delivery to target tissue; extend half-life
Anabolic hormones - anshormones that promote tissue building. Examples are insulin,
insulin-like growth factors, testosterone, and growth hormone.
Catabolic hormones - anshormones that attempt to degrade cell proteins to support glucose
synthesis. Examples are cortisol and progesterone.
Lock-and-key theory - ansA principle in endocrinology according to which a given hormone
interacts with a specific receptor. The receptor is the lock and the hormone is the key.
anatomy - ansThe study of components that make up the musculoskeletal "machine."
biomechanics - ansThe mechanisms through which these components interact to create
movement.
agonist - ansThe muscle most directly involved in bringing about a movement; also called the
prime mover.
antagonist - ansA muscle that can slow down or stop the movement.
mechanical advantage - ansThe ratio of the moment arm through which an applied force acts
to that through which a resistive force acts.
A mechanical advantage greater than 1.0 allows the applied (muscle) force to be less than the
resistive force to produce an equal amount of torque.
A mechanical advantage of less than 1.0 is a disadvantage in the common sense of the term.
first-class lever - ansA lever for which the muscle force and resistive force act on opposite
sides of the fulcrum.
second-class lever - ansA lever for which the muscle force and resistive force act on the same
side of the fulcrum, with the muscle force acting through a moment arm longer than that
through which the resistive force acts. Due to its mechanical advantage, the required muscle
force is smaller than the resistive force.
third-class lever - ansA lever for which the muscle force and resistive force act on the same
side of the fulcrum, with the muscle force acting through a moment arm shorter than that
through which the resistive force acts. The mechanical advantage is thus less than 1.0, so the
Specialist Exam.
A Comprehensive Exam Study Guide
Latest Updated 2025/2026
bioenergetics - ansThe flow of energy in a biological system; the conversion of
macronutrients into biologically usable forms of energy.
What are the 5 points of body contact? - ans1. Head in neutral position on bench or back pad
2. Shoulders and upper back set evenly on bench or back pad 3. Buttocks on bench or seat
4. Right foot flat on floor
5. Left foot flat on floor
What are the 6 principles that effect program design? - ansSpecificity, overload, progression,
variation, diminishing returns, reversibility
Assumption of risk - ansvoluntarily participation in activity with knowledge of the inherent
risk(s). Athletic activities, including Strength & Conditioning, involve certain risks.
Participants must be informed of the risks of activity, and required to sign a statement to that
e ect.
Responsibility, duty or obligation - ansStrength & Conditioning professionals have a duty to
the participants they serve to take reasonable steps to prevent injury, and to act prudently
when an injury occurs.
Standard of care - answhat a prudent and reasonable person would do under similar
circumstances. A Strength & Conditioning professional is expected to act according to his/her
education, training and certi cation status (e.g., CSCS, NSCA-CPT, CPR, and First Aid).
Negligence - ansfailure to act as a reasonable and prudent person would under similar
circumstances. Four elements must exist for a Strength & Conditioning professional
to be found liable for negligence: duty, breach of duty, proximate cause, and damages (65).
Simply stated, a Strength & Conditioning professional is negligent if he/ she is proven to
have a duty to act, and to have failed to act with the appropriate standard of care, proximately
causing injury or damages to another person.
Standard - ansa required procedure that probably re ects
a duty or obligation for standard of care (note that the standard statements in this document
utilize the word
"must").
Guideline - ansrecommended operating procedure formulated and developed to further
enhance the quality of services provided (note that the guideline statements in this document
utilize the word "should"). Guidelines are not intended to be standards of practice or to give
rise to legally de ned duties of care, but in certain circumstances they could assist in
evaluating and improving services rendered.
What % of of all court cases concerning athletic injuries deal with some aspect of
supervision? - ans80%
What is product liability? - ansthe legal responsibilities of a product manufacturer and/or
vendor if a person sustains injury or damage due primarily to a defect or deficiency in design
or manufacturing
What is included in informed consent documents? - ans• Purpose of the activity
• Risks of the activity*
• Bene ts of the activity
• Con dentiality
,Certified Strength and Conditioning
Specialist Exam.
A Comprehensive Exam Study Guide
Latest Updated 2025/2026
• Inquiries
• Signatures
What is included in agreement to participate documents? - ans• Nature of the activity
• Possible consequences of injury* (*note assumption of risk language*)
• Behavioral expectations of the participant • Condition of the participant
• Concluding statement
• Signatures
Cardinal Principles of Supervision - ans• Always be there.
• Be active and hands-on.
• Be prudent, careful, and prepared.
• Be quali ed (e.g., accredited degree, CSCS, CPR, First Aid).
• Be vigilant.
• Inform participants of safety and emergency procedures. • Know participants' health status.
• Monitor and enforce rules and regulations.
• Monitor and scrutinize the environment.
4 steps for applying standards of practice to risk management - ans1. Identify and select
standards of practice, as well as all applicable laws.
2. Develop risk management strategies re ecting standards of practice and all applicable laws.
3. Implement the risk management plan.
4. Evaluate the risk management plan.
PPE & Clearance - ansShould include a comprehensive health and immunization history, a
relevant physical exam, part of which includes an orthopedic evaluation. Some type of
cardiovascular screening, as discussed below, is also recommended.
Who is the head of the crisis management team at a facility? - ansExecutive Director ->
Senior Director of Membership and Business Development
Where should emergency procedures be posted in a facility? - ansnear a telephone
catabolism - ansThe breakdown of large molecules into smaller molecules, associated with
the release of energy. Usually uses energy
anabolism - ansThe synthesis of larger molecules from smaller molecules; can be
accomplished using the energy released from catabolic reactions. Energy is sometimes used
from a previous catabolism reaction.
exergonic reactions - ansEnergy-releasing reactions that are generally catabolic.
endergonic reactions - ansRequire energy and include anabolic processes and the contraction
of muscle.
metabolism - ansThe total of all the catabolic or exergonic and anabolic or endergonic
reactions in a biological system.
adenosine triphosphate (ATP) - ansAllows the transfer of energy from exergonic to
endergonic reactions.
lactate threshold (LT) - ansThe exercise intensity or relative intensity at which blood lactate
begins an abrupt increase above the baseline concentration.
, Certified Strength and Conditioning
Specialist Exam.
A Comprehensive Exam Study Guide
Latest Updated 2025/2026
excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC) - ansOxygen uptake above resting values
used to restore the body to the pre-exercise condition; also called post-exercise oxygen
uptake, oxygen debt, or recovery O2.
Onset Blood Lactate Accumulation (OBLA) - ansAt a slightly higher exercise intensity than
lactate threshold a second increase in lactate accumulation can be seen and is often referred to
as the onset of blood lactate accumulation or OBLA.
OBLA generally occurs when the concentration of blood lactate reaches about 4mmol/L
hormones - ansChemical messengers that are synthesized, stored, and released into the blood
by endocrine glands and certain other cells.
Autocrine - anscell releases hormone within itself, does not travel outside cell
Paracrine - anscell releases hormone to neighboring cells, does not travel in bloodstream
Binding Proteins - anscarry both peptide and steroid hormones, act as storage sites in
circulation, helping prevent degradation prior to delivery to target tissue; extend half-life
Anabolic hormones - anshormones that promote tissue building. Examples are insulin,
insulin-like growth factors, testosterone, and growth hormone.
Catabolic hormones - anshormones that attempt to degrade cell proteins to support glucose
synthesis. Examples are cortisol and progesterone.
Lock-and-key theory - ansA principle in endocrinology according to which a given hormone
interacts with a specific receptor. The receptor is the lock and the hormone is the key.
anatomy - ansThe study of components that make up the musculoskeletal "machine."
biomechanics - ansThe mechanisms through which these components interact to create
movement.
agonist - ansThe muscle most directly involved in bringing about a movement; also called the
prime mover.
antagonist - ansA muscle that can slow down or stop the movement.
mechanical advantage - ansThe ratio of the moment arm through which an applied force acts
to that through which a resistive force acts.
A mechanical advantage greater than 1.0 allows the applied (muscle) force to be less than the
resistive force to produce an equal amount of torque.
A mechanical advantage of less than 1.0 is a disadvantage in the common sense of the term.
first-class lever - ansA lever for which the muscle force and resistive force act on opposite
sides of the fulcrum.
second-class lever - ansA lever for which the muscle force and resistive force act on the same
side of the fulcrum, with the muscle force acting through a moment arm longer than that
through which the resistive force acts. Due to its mechanical advantage, the required muscle
force is smaller than the resistive force.
third-class lever - ansA lever for which the muscle force and resistive force act on the same
side of the fulcrum, with the muscle force acting through a moment arm shorter than that
through which the resistive force acts. The mechanical advantage is thus less than 1.0, so the
