Which strength and conditioning certification is best for you?
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Hello, and welcome to International Personal Trainer Academy’s best strength and conditioning certifications breakdown.
In this article, we’re going to highlight 6 of our favorite strength training certifications and provide some insight into what they can offer you as a trainer.
In this article, we will be covering:
- The nuances of each of the Breakdowns of the best strength and conditioning certifications out there
- Time investment and exam requirements for each certification
- Certification and recertification information
- Valuable strength and conditioning specialist career insights informed by a mix of practical lived experience and data
The goal of this article will be to help you decide on the best certification option for you and your own career goals. The best strength and conditioning certification for you will depend on your circumstances, preferences, and career aspirations.
So, let’s dive right in.
We highly recommend that you take our helpful quiz to find the best strength and conditioning certification for you.
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Why are we qualified to recommend the top strength and conditioning certifications?
International Personal Trainer Academy’s team of fitness professionals cumulatively holds many major strength and conditioning certifications, personal trainer certifications, and nutrition certifications. Our lived experiences with fitness certifications, familiarity with the industry, and data-driven approach have allowed us to build a comprehensive understanding of the nuances of top strength and conditioning certifications. We hope to use our industry insider perspective to help you out on your journey to become a certified strength and conditioning coach.
We aim to help set you up to have a head start on your fitness career, so that your overall journey ends up being much smoother and more profitable. Making more informed decisions early on will help you avoid common pitfalls that aspiring certified strength and conditioning specialists fall into.
Once you finish reading this article, you’ll be ready to select the best strength and conditioning certification for your own personal objectives and needs.
Our Top Value Pick
IPTA Strength and Conditioning Specialist Program
- No degree or prior certification required to enroll
- 726-page curriculum across 25 chapters, including a full chapter on Olympic lifting technique
- The $799 package includes the NCCA accredited IPTA CPT, so you finish with two credentials
- Unlimited free exam retakes and your first recertification covered
A Quick Look at the Best Strength and Conditioning Certifications
- Best overall: NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist
- Best value: IPTA Strength and Conditioning Specialist
- Best for general population coaching: ISSA Strength and Conditioning Certification
- Cheapest NCCA-accredited exam: NCSF Strength Coach
- Best study system: NASM Performance Enhancement Specialist
- Most complete: CSCCa
Best Strength and Conditioning Certification Reviews
Let’s start by looking at all of the most popular strength and conditioning certifications from some of the best fitness companies in the industry.
Best overall: NSCA CSCS
PROS
CONS
Summary:
The NSCA CSCS is the most prestigious strength and conditioning certification out there. Upper level exercise science courses in colleges are sometimes even modeled specifically off of the NSCA CSCS due to its unique rigor and quality. It is considered so high quality that it is the most sought after certification for strength and conditioning coaches working with collegiate and pro athletes. The NSCA CSCS sets you up to become very effective at optimizing athletic performance, including at the highest levels of performance.
Starting at $594
Prices listed are non-promotional, full-price, non-member prices.
The CSCS is widely recognized across the fitness industry as a high quality certification. This recognition and common understanding means that attaining the CSCS will make you much more employable. Although it is targeted towards athletic performance, you will also have a much easier time landing a standard personal trainer job with a CSCS than without one.
The CSCS textbook consists of over 700 pages of very dense information about strength and conditioning. Similar to other strength and conditioning certifications, you cover all of the basics like functional anatomy, applied exercise physiology, biomechanics, effective coaching techniques, program design, performance psychology, assessment evaluation, and more.
The key way that the CSCS differs from its competitors is that although the topic areas are similar, they are covered in much more depth. Similarly, the exam itself also expects you to understand the material in great depth. Many questions on the exam will require you to creatively and accurately apply information from multiple topic areas to solve complex and layered problems. Rather than asking you which muscle is active during the Barbell Bent Over Row, the CSCS exam is more likely to ask a question like this: What happens to the A band of sarcomeres in your biceps brachii during the eccentric phase of a Barbell Bent Over Row?
Of note, the CSCS also provides the most in depth coverage on important strength and conditioning topics like periodization and Speed, Agility, and Quickness (SAQ) training.
Compared to ISSA or NASM, the NSCA’s CSCS certification may be a bit overkill if you just want to be a personal trainer, so we recommend looking towards other options if that’s your goal. However, if you are up for the challenge of preparing for and passing the exam, the CSCS will set you up with knowledge that will help you be a much more effective trainer.
The NSCA CSCS certification can be a big investment, so if you are uncertain of whether or not it is the right path for you, it is okay to start off with another certification and revisit the idea of obtaining a CSCS later in your career. Whenever you’re ready, we have resources available that can set you up to know how to become a strength and conditioning coach or specialist.
The CSCS test is challenging and infamous as being the hardest certification exam in the fitness industry. It’s multiple steps up from the NSCA CPT exam in terms of difficulty. In 2023, 37% of candidates passed both sections of the exam, meaning that there is a 63% failure rate. This failure rate is actually worse than it seems at first glance. The CSCS can only be taken by candidates who already have a bachelor’s degree, meaning that the population taking the exam are more likely to have stronger study skills and to be more familiar with topics covered in the test like physiology or biomechanics. This is different from the average candidate for a personal trainer exam or strength and conditioning coach exam through another organization.
Despite this, over 60% of candidates failed.
While the price for the exam starts at $475, you can lower the price by becoming a NSCA member. Members get discounts on the test cost as well as study materials and CEUs.
Budget past the registration fee, though. The $475 non-member exam fee buys the exam alone, with no textbook, study guide or study system attached. Adding the Essentials textbook at $119 takes the realistic minimum to $594, and NSCA’s own study collections start at $346 on top of the exam.
To find the current CSCS cost, go to NSCA CSCS by clicking on the link here.
As stated earlier, the CSCS requires you to have a bachelor’s degree or higher to qualify for the certification. Earning a bachelor’s degree is not only a prerequisite for the CSCS certification. At the time of this article’s publication, you can sit for the exam regardless of what you earned a bachelor’s degree in. However, the NSCA is moving to increase the standard so that only candidates with a bachelor’s degree related to exercise science can sit for the exam by 2030. , Having a relevant bachelor’s degree makes for more effective CSCS holders and an easier test going experience.
Best value: IPTA SCS
PROS
CONS
Summary:
The IPTA Strength and Conditioning Specialist exists to answer the problem the certification above it creates. The CSCS requires a bachelor’s degree, and for a large share of working trainers that single requirement closes the door before the conversation starts.
IPTA sets no degree requirement and no prerequisite certification, and the curriculum it puts behind that open door is not a light one. The textbook runs 726 pages across 25 chapters, with seven chapters on program design and periodization alone, a full chapter on Olympic weightlifting and explosive lifting technique, and another on velocity-based training and monitoring technology.
The study system is the largest here by some distance, which is unsurprising given that Trainer Academy built exam prep for other organizations’ certifications for years before launching its own.
This one is the right call if you are coaching high school, club or private athletes and the degree requirement has been standing in your way.
Starting at $399
Prices listed are non-promotional, full-price, non-member prices.
The MVP package includes an exam simulator, spaced-repetition flashcards, a short-answer study guide, audio guides and SurePass AI readiness scoring.
The final exam is 100 multiple choice questions with a 70% pass mark, and retakes are unlimited at no cost.
Where IPTA gives ground is age and format. It is the newest credential in this roundup, so it does not yet carry the name recognition of NSCA or NASM, and it has no practical assessment, which the CSCCa does have.
Certification cost $399 to $799, with the $799 package including the NCCA accredited IPTA CPT
- Prerequisites: 18 years old, high school diploma, current CPR/AED. No degree, no prior certification
- Exam: 100 multiple choice questions, 70% to pass, online, unlimited free retakes
- Certification period four years, recertification at the two-year mark, first recertification covered
- Study system includes the full textbook, exam simulator, flashcards, short-answer guide, audio guides and SurePass AI
- Bundle builder: $999 for the CPT plus three certifications, $1,199 for all six
- Trainer Academy carries a 4.7-star Trustpilot rating
Best for general population coaching: ISSA Strength and Conditioning Certification
PROS
CONS
Summary:
ISSA, or the international sports sciences association, is a great certifying agency. With over 30 years in the game and being a leader in the online, distance learning spaces, they’ve had time to optimize their approach to educating future strength coaches.
Their S&C certification may not be as intensive as others such as the CSCCa and NSCA CSCS, but it still covers high the quality and relevant information. This is especially true when it comes to the program design aspect of the certification, which ISSA does very well given their practical lean.
This one is great if you want to work with general population groups as a supplement to normal PT work.
Starting at $639
Prices listed are non-promotional, full-price, non-member prices.
The ISSA Strength and Conditioning Certification provides plenty of supplemental resources to help you make the most of your study prep for the exam. Their materials are pretty robust, which also serves to prepare you to become a more skilled strength and conditioning coach later on.
Here’s a breakdown of the topics you’ll cover:
- Introduction to Strength and Conditioning
- Nervous System
- Muscular System
- Skeletal System and Joint Actions
- Cardio Respiratory and Support Systems
- Bioenergetics
- Biomechanics
- General Assessments
- Performance Assessments
- Principles of Program Design
- Flexibility
- Plyometric Exercises
- Core Exercises
- Lower-Body Exercises
- Upper-Body Exercises
- Power and Olympic-Style Weight Lifting
- Resistance Training Systems
- Applying Periodization
- Cardiorespiratory Programming
- Recovery and Injury Prevention
- Nutrition
- Supplementation
- Performance Psychology
- Professional Practice
The ISSA study system includes a PDF of the textbook, which is easy to thumb through, online lectures and quizzes on each chapter. The textbook includes all of the topics listed above, which are pretty industry standard for strength and conditioning certifications, except it places more emphasis on certain topics than others. For example, this certification emphasizes supplementation a bit more than the industry norm.
This is a valuable topic to learn more about when working with members of the general population, because many people use or are interested in using supplements. Having a solid evidence-based foundation can allow you to answer their questions about these products and support them in making the best decision for themselves and their goals more easily.
Another reason that ISSA excels is that they offer very cost effective certification packages.
If you opt for the ISSA Elite Trainer package, you’ll get a personal trainer certification, a nutritionist certification, and the Strength and Conditioning cert at only $1,499.65. You also have the ability to choose different versions of the Elite Trainer Bundle that come with different bonus certifications based on your goal. Their current offerings allow for a bodybuilding focused package, online coach focused package, and corrective exercise focused package. Although $1,499.65 itself is a high price tag, you get a large number of certifications in exchange for paying a large amount up front. This results in the total cost per certification actually being pretty low, making their Elite Trainer Package very cost effective.
Having multiple certifications will help make you a better Personal Trainer in the long run. The more you learn about exercise science and professional practice, the more nuanced your understanding of training and coaching will be. Having a nuanced understanding allows you to make decisions that better serve your clients.
Beyond simply becoming a more skilled and effective coach, you will also be more marketable to potential employers. Having multiple certifications could be a differentiating factor between you and another job candidate that you are being compared against. Nearly every trainer has a personal trainer certification, but much fewer trainers have two or more fitness certifications.
We always recommend looking at getting multiple certifications when you start off because it allows you to stand out from the competition.
Make sure to visit ISSA’s website to see if the Elite Trainer deal is still available. It’s a tough offer to pass up.
Working on developing your skills as a fitness professional is a way to invest in yourself long term. Invest in yourself now for greater returns down the line.
Speaking of certifications in general, if you find that you’re currently trying to make a decision between pursuing multiple certifications through ISSA or NASM, we break down the pros and cons associated with the decision for you in our other article. Check it out if you want to have some guidance on which company is better fit to meet your personal needs.
And, if you decide to earn a personal training certification through ISSA, we also breakdown the ISSA exam info, to make the certification process as painless as possible for you.
Cheapest NCCA-Accredited Exam: NCSF Strength Coach
PROS
CONS
Summary:
The National Council on Strength & Fitness (NCSF) is a less-known certifying agency compared to industry giants like the NSCA or NASM, but it has educated over 325,000 fitness professionals throughout the years.
This organization is a little newer on the scene than NASM or NSCA, which you can read about in our NCSF CPT review, but it has still had over two decades to build its reputation.
Starting at $899
Prices listed are non-promotional, full-price, non-member prices.
The NCSF Strength Coach certification is often discounted which can provide you with a a great value if you are able to purchase the certification during an active discount.
Of all the strength and conditioning certifications, NCSF’s textbook is the easiest to read. It is very straightforward, to the point, and not very dense.
We also like that they cover nutrition in more depth than the average strength and conditioning certification. Many certifications touch on sports nutrition to some degree given how performance is inherently dependent on nutrition. But the NCSF does provide a more solid overall foundation to build off of than the average strength and conditioning coach certification.
Nutrition is integral to improving athletic performance, so understanding basic sports nutrition can help set you up for success as a coach. Even if working in a role where you prescribe specific foods to a client is outside of your scope of practice, understanding nutrition is still helpful. The exercise prescription decisions you make should factor in the dietary context in which your client is operating in. You can even factor dietary context into evaluating a client’s response to exercise in order to improve the accuracy of your assessment. Having more accurate assessments and evaluations of a client’s response to exercise will set you up to make more effective exercise prescription decisions as well.
Our favorite aspect of the NCSF Strength Coach certification is the price. NCSF lists the base price at $899, but you can usually find the course for almost half off, meaning you only pay $479.
Not only that, but NCSF offers some incredible bundles, where you can get the Certified Strength Coach (CSC) along with either the NCSF Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) or Sports Nutrition Specialist (SNS) for a just a few hundred dollars more. Having multiple certifications puts you in a better position to find work as you have more qualifications on your resume.
Stay updated with the latest info about NCSF by clicking this link.
Best study system: NASM PES
PROS
CONS
Summary: NASM, or the National Academy of Sports Medicine, is by far the most well-known certifying institution here.
But this notoriety is not unearned. NASM has such a stellar reputation because it delivers on a promise of top-notch education, especially when it comes to its certified CPT program for anyone learning how to be a personal trainer.
Starting at $899
Prices listed are non-promotional, full-price, non-member prices.
The NASM PES is not just a great cert; it’s also a convenient one. You never have to recertify. Once you have the certification, you have it for life. This is partly because it is not NCCA accredited, but regardless it is a big advantage to this certification. Most other strength and conditioning certifications require regular recertification, which can get pricey over time. Completing recertification requirements can also be pretty time consuming.
The latest NASM certification review has more than enough info to get you started.
At International Personal Trainer Academy, we believe that having multiple certs at once can be a real asset. It helps you find work, and it helps you become more effective at doing that work.
Being able to coach athletes is a valuable skill, but the vast majority of jobs out there involve working with everyday people and non-athletes. Although much of what is covered in strength and conditioning certifications is highly translatable to working with non-athletes, certifications focused specifically on personal training are better fits for this sort of work.
Similarly, most fitness certifications cover exercise nutrition or sports nutrition to some degree. But, only certifications specifically focused on nutrition and dietetics cover this information very in depth. Pursuing a nutrition based certification allows you to operate as a coach more effectively by preparing you to see a bigger picture than exercise-alone when working with a client.
Currently NASM does have a few options for you if you want to purchase multiple certs at once and not break the bank doing it.
There’s a Nutrition and Fitness bundle for $2,298 and a NASM Elite Trainer bundle which includes 6 different certifications for $4,846.
One of the certifications you could pick up with the Elite Trainer bundle is NASM’s Corrective Exercise Specialist. This will aid in your ability to manage and prevent injuries in your athletes, which will serve to improve client outcomes.
Go to the NASM website to see if the offers are still available. When NASM has a deal, it’s worth considering if you have the money for it.
We also have a NASM vs ACE comparison for you as well and ACE study guides and ACE test questions to make studying even easier for that cert.
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Most complete: CSCCa Master Strength & Conditioning Coach
PROS
CONS
Summary: The CSCCCa MSCC is the big kahuna when it comes to S&C credentials. It is revered, recognized, and accepted almost everywhere.
Starting at $470
Prices listed are non-promotional, full-price, non-member prices.
The CSCCCa MSCC is the most difficult strength and conditioning certification to obtain, requiring, amongst other things, at least 12 years of full-time experience in the strength and conditioning field before you can apply.
In addition, you must complete at least a 640-hour internship program before you sit for the exam.
You also are not permitted to maintain dual certification in other fields, because the CSCCa is committed to having certification holders who are purely committed to work in strength and conditioning.
This one is designed exclusively for established pros, but if you are one, it allows you to take your career to the next level.
The CSCCa MSCC not only includes text-based learning, but also in-person instruction. The exam includes practical components as well.
This certification is highly valued by collegiate and professional level athletic organizations.
What Is A “Strength and Conditioning Coach”
A strength and conditioning coach is a fitness expert who supports physical performance through exercise prescription and management. Strength and conditioning coaches are effective at integrating various aspects of exercise science to optimize athletic performance in both an acute and long term sense. This can involve but is not limited to increasing muscular strength, muscular power, and agility.
Comprehensive strength and conditioning programs consist of a mix of resistance training, agility work, mobility work, flexibility training, balance training, stability training, aerobic training, and sports specific practice. The exact composition of a strength and conditioning program will depend on the athlete that the program is being built for and their specific goals.
Optimizing athlete strength and conditioning will significantly impact an athlete’s ability to succeed by directly improving their sports performance. For this reason, S&C experts often have roles in the professional sports industry, which can be a very lucrative career path.
That’s the basic strength and conditioning coach job description!
How to Become A Strength and Conditioning Coach
Becoming a strength and conditioning coach requires a more in-depth practical and academic understanding of the techniques and principles that govern good exercise instruction than becoming a personal trainer.
It’s possible to obtain a strength and conditioning certification as your first fitness certification. But many people pursue one as an additional certification after already becoming a certified personal trainer. This route is most common because strength and conditioning certifications are more challenging to earn than personal training certifications on average, at least the NCCA accredited ones.
As an easy example of this, think about biomechanics. Personal trainers need to have a foundational understanding of biomechanics, but do not need to be hyper effective at applying that information to problem solve in real-time. Strength and conditioning coaches do.
It’s also harder to support further adaptation to exercise in someone who is already well-adapted. So in order to do this, strength and conditioning professionals have to be very competent with exercise prescription, programming, and administration. They also have to be able to problem solve by working through the complexities of exercise science in an open ended way in real time.
That’s why a strength and conditioning coach certification often comes with a demanding list of prerequisites compared to other fitness certifications.
After completing a strength and conditioning program, you will be able to make training programs for current athletes and aspiring athletes. Many S&C courses out there are online.
Let’s take a look at the four steps to S&C success!
As mentioned, the prerequisites for strength coach certification are a little more stringent than the standard CPT certs that are far more common.
A handful of the certs you’ll encounter in this article have their own unique prerequisites. Some require some form of extensive prior experience and/or others require that you hold a certain degree or certification before sitting for the exam. The requirements vary by organization, so a solid first step is to see what you actually qualify for. This can help narrow down your options, making it much easier to make a final decision about who you will get certified through.
Two on this list gate entry on a degree. The NSCA CSCS requires a bachelor’s degree, and the CSCCa requires a bachelor’s degree plus a completed 640-hour approved internship. The IPTA SCS, ISSA SCC, NCSF Strength Coach and NASM PES do not.
Aside from these extra prerequisites, here are standard requirements that you can expect when taking most strength and conditioning exams:
- Be of age (18+ years old)
- Have current first responder certifications (First Aid, CPR/AED)
- Have a high school diploma or equivalent
- Produce a government-issued photo ID
Step 2: Find the Best S&C Certification for YOU
There are 6 S&C certs we will be touching on in this article. These are:
- NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist
- IPTA Strength and Conditioning Specialist
- ISSA Strength and Conditioning Certification
- NCSF Strength Coach
- NASM Performance Enhancement Specialist
- CSCCa Master Strength & Conditioning Coach
Each has its own merits and drawbacks, which we will take a deep dive into to decide on the best choice for you.
Your circumstances and career objective will influence which certification plays best towards a successful career.
Step 3: Prepare for Your Exam & Pass!
Once you’ve settled on a choice, it’s time to dive straight in and take on the exam.
Most of these exams cover more in depth detail than PFT tests. So, naturally strength and conditioning coach exams take a bit longer to study for, especially if you’re going in blind. If you don’t have a frame of reference for how long studying for an exam can take and are wondering “how long does it take to become a fitness trainer”, then we’ve got you covered.
As long as you do your best to have a comprehensive study strategy, and prepare to the best of your ability, you can increase your odds of success on the exam.
The International Personal Trainer Academy prides itself on providing the best third-party study resources available, so when it comes time to prepare, you know where to find us!
Click on this link to unravel these study materials and kick off your learning journey.
Step 4: Start Working with Strength and Conditioning Clients
The clients you work with as a strength and conditioning specialist will, on average, differ from the clients you’d work with at a standard commercial gym as a personal trainer.
People who seek S&C coaching have specific goals related to their physical function and conditioning. Most clients who will seek your expertise will be interested in athletic performance, but some will be interested in specific conditioning or physical function outcomes that they want to optimize their ability to achieve in as timely a manner as possible.
What this means from a business perspective is that if you end up working as an independent strength and conditioning specialist, rather than one contracted under another organization or facility, you will have to tailor your marketing to a limited number of types of clients. Marketing and sales won’t be as “shoot from the hip” as it is when focusing on with making money as a personal trainer.
Once you do get the ball rolling, strength and conditioning can be quite lucrative. This makes for an overall positive job outlook for strength and conditioning professionals, especially because S&C work can be more stable than personal training work if you end up working for a college or professional team. This differs a bit from the personal trainer job outlook.
Strength and conditioning coach-certified individuals are taught to be proficient at working with advanced and elite athletes to improve all areas of their physical fitness, as necessary.
After you begin working with different athletes you may realize you also want to pick up additional qualifications like a sports nutrition certification, so you can help athletes with a plan to fuel their workouts.
If you are interested adding nutrition to you list of skills we an ISSA Nutritionist Certification review as well as a comparison of ISSA Nutritionist vs NASM CNC and a Precision Nutrition Certification review, which is one of our top picks for working with athletes.
Before we proceed, we also have some top strength and conditioning certifications that come highly recommended if you just received your personal training certification.
Click on the links below to read more about them.
What to look for when choosing a strength and conditioning certification?
Accreditation
A big consideration going in with any cert is accreditation. This stamp of approval assures that what you’re paying for is nothing short of a top-tier educational service.
Accreditation is a certificate for a certification, letting you know that it is up to code when it comes to:
- Quality and relevance of the content
- Meeting industry standards
- Having the correct recognition and acceptance
- Administering the training and certification within approved and standardized protocols.
Accreditation is also a good way to avoid scams and extremely low quality certifications since the NCCA and DEAC filter for both of these.
In that way, accreditation helps you identify which certs meet a minimum standard of quality.
As far as accreditation goes, there are two major bodies concerned with that sort of authentication.
Those are the NCCA, short for the National Commission of Certifying Agencies, and the DEAC, short for Distance Education Accrediting Commission.
| Certification | Accreditation |
|---|---|
| NSCA CSCS | NCCA |
| IPTA SCS | NCCA via the included IPTA CPT |
| ISSA SCC | DEAC |
| NCSF CSC | NCCA |
| NASM PES | None, it is a specialization |
| CSCCa MSCC | NCCA |
A note on how to read this table. The NASM PES does not carry NCCA accreditation of its own, and the same is true of our IPTA SCS and ISSA Strength and Conditioning Certification. What the IPTA row reflects is that the $799 package includes the NCCA accredited IPTA CPT alongside it, so accreditation arrives with the bundle rather than with the strength credential itself.
Aside from ISSA, which is DEAC accredited, the certifications here are backed by the NCCA at the organization level.
Study Materials Rating
A big consideration when it comes to selecting a certification is the study materials they come with.
This is what’s going to help you prepare for the coming exam, and your success pretty much hinges on the course material, as you would imagine.
A big consideration when it comes to selecting a certification is the study materials they come with.
This is what’s going to help you prepare for the coming exam, and your success pretty much hinges on the course material, as you would imagine.
We’ve taken a look at the materials on offer and given them a rating out of 10 based on our educated opinion on what comprehensive and effective strength and conditioning coach certification prep material should constitute.
We would know since putting together second-to-none study packages is kind of our thing, so let’s take a look:
We have scored our own certification here, so it is worth saying plainly what the 9 rests on and what it does not. It rests on volume and structure: a 726-page textbook, an exam simulator, spaced-repetition flashcards, a short-answer study guide, audio guides and readiness scoring. It does not rest on anything we can claim and a competitor cannot verify. We have not given ourselves a 10, because the CSCCa’s practical component is something no self-study package replicates.
The study materials from these certs range from excellent to lackluster.
Let’s start with the lackluster, which is the case with CSCCa’s SCCC certification.
The first thing we realized was how difficult it was to locate the relevant study materials, and once we did, all we could find was about 20 sample questions and a random assortment of textbooks.
All the textbooks were S&C-based, and given the nature of this organization’s robust examination protocol, it is likely that all are required reading. This is because the exam tests open-ended application of strength and conditioning principles, which requires the candidate to understand as much about strength and conditioning and exercise science as possible.Next up are the NSCA, or the National Strength and Conditioning Association, prep materials. Some people also call it the strength and conditioning coaches association. Now, these weren’t bad, but they were also not that amazing.
At least it was easy to navigate and locate when searching for the prep packages, but one caveat regarding NSCA certifications is that the study packages exclude exam registration.
You’ll need to purchase them separately. This isn’t such a bad thing since the total cost is pretty much on par with what the other certs present, but we’ll get into cost later in the article.
NSCA sells two study collections. The Essential Collection includes the Essentials textbook, the study guide, and practice quizzes and practice tests covering both the practical/applied and scientific foundations sections. The Platinum Collection adds the online study course and the Exercise Technique Manual.
Pricing is $273 member or $346 non-member for the Essential Collection, and $500 member or $595 non-member for the Platinum Collection.
Read those two carefully, because the word “test” in the package contents refers to a practice test rather than the certification exam. Neither collection includes the CSCS exam itself. Whichever collection you buy, you still register and pay for the exam separately, at $340 for members or $475 for non-members.
Bought separately, the Essentials textbook is $105 member or $119 non-member, and the recommended Exercise Technique Manual is $72 member or $89 non-member.
ISSA brings us a simple but effective online strength and conditioning certification study package.
Unlike most other certification courses that bring an array of choices packaged in different tiered options, ISSA provides one complete study platform.
The materials included are:
- An online study guide and workbook
- Official course textbook
- Online exercise lab
- Practice exam
- Section quiz
The only shortcoming when it comes to ISSA is the lack of variety. While the study package on offer is more than adequate, having options is always a benefit.
NCSF and NASM shine the brightest among the third-party options with the widest number of choices. Within these options is quite a bunch of stuff to help you fully prepare for the exam, which will increase your odds of passing.
NCSF, for example, comes with the following in their basic package, the Home Study Course:
- Advanced Concepts of Strength & Conditioning (Digital Edition)
- Instructional Videos
- Lesson Notes
- Online Certified Strength Coach Practice Exam
- Questions and Answers
- Review Quizzes
Their all-inclusive option, the Workshop Plus Package, includes:
- 2-days of workshop instruction (16 hours)
- Advanced Concepts of Strength & Conditioning (Digital Edition)
- Instructional Videos
- Lesson Notes
- Membership (One Year)
- NCSF Certified Strength Coach Exam
- Online Certified Strength Coach Practice Exam
- Questions and Answers
- Review Quizzes
There are four packages available in total for the NCSF Strength Coach cert, including an exam-only option.
Not to be outdone, NASM also offered a generous amount of prep material, packaged in various options.
NASM offers the PES in two tiers, Self-Study and Premium Self-Study.
The Self-Study package comes with:
- NASM-PES Digital Textbook
- Online PES Exam
- 2 Online Practice Exams
- Syllabus and Study Guide
- Application Videos
- Lecture Videos
- Exercise Libraries
- Module Quizzes
The Premium Self-Study package adds three things on top of that:
- A hardcover copy of the PES textbook
- The PES program generator
- A functional anatomy course
On price, the two tiers work out like this once you account for NASM’s $199 deposit and 17 monthly payments. Self-Study is $26 a month on the current promotion and $41 at standard pricing, so $641 or $896 all in. Premium Self-Study is $33 a month promotional and $59 standard, so $760 or $1,202 all in.
Unlike NCSF, neither NASM tier is an exam-only option. Even the lower package arrives with a full bundle of prep material, which is a meaningful difference if you would otherwise be buying a textbook separately.
Because of that, we’d say NASM is the winner among the third-party options when it comes to study material quality, with NCSF just behind it.
At International Personal Trainer Academy, we have premium study materials that are end-products of research and years of experience helping students to prepare for and pass these exams effortlessly. That work is also what sits behind our own SCS certification’s study package.
For each certification, any of these MVP packages will help you greatly increase your odds of passing and will help you reduce your total study time if you are a busy person.
Whether you click on the ISSA MVP package or NSCA MVP package or NASM MVP package, our time-tested study techniques are more than adequate to help you ace the final exams.
Quality and variety are all important when making an informed decision about what to purchase, but it only matters if you’re able to actually afford the product you’re considering purchasing.
Let’s take a look.
Price
How much a certification costs will likely impact on which one you end up going with in the end.
Try to assess the quality of a certification relative to its price. A high quality offering with an extremely high price tag may be less valuable than a moderate quality option with a moderate price tag.
Most certifications offer multiple study package options for you to choose from, each with a different associated price. Make sure that you consider the price of the package that best suits your needs when comparing between your options. Some packages don’t automatically include a textbook in their initial price, so it can be helpful to double check what is included in any bundle you are considering purchasing.
A physical textbook is essential for many learners who benefit from working with physical materials as a part of their natural learning style.
Your options may be limited by your current financial means, which is completely okay. You can still make the most of your situation by going with an option that is within your means. Even a lower quality option can provide you with an entry ticket into the profession, which can set you up to earn more money in the future and ultimately help to improve your financial standing.
In this category, we’ll only be dealing with the cheapest cert options and not necessarily the best or most complete packages. Prices below reflect current promotions where they exist, so they are what you would actually pay today.
| Certification | Cost (cheapest option) |
|---|---|
| NSCA CSCS | $594 realistic minimum as a non-member, being the $475 exam plus the $119 textbook. The member route is $510 all in, being $65 membership, the $340 exam and the $105 textbook. NSCA's study collections ($273 to $595) do not include the exam, so a non-member buying the Platinum Collection and sitting the exam reaches $1,070 |
| IPTA SCS | $399, textbook included |
| ISSA SCC | $639 |
| NCSF CSC | $449 package with digital textbook, discounted from $899. The $349 exam-only option excludes the textbook, which is $129 in print |
| NASM PES | $641 for Self-Study on the current promotion, $199 down plus 17 payments of $26. Standard pricing is $41 a month, totalling $896. Premium Self-Study is $760 promotional and $1,202 standard |
| CSCCa MSCC | $640 to $700 all in. Exam $340 member or $470 non-member, plus a $230 practicum fee, plus $70 to $130 membership dues for the member rate |
The headline number is not always the real number here, so it is worth reading this table carefully.
Once you account for what each price actually includes, IPTA is the cheapest realistic route to a strength and conditioning credential on this list. Its $399 package includes the textbook and the full study system.
NCSF’s $349 is the lowest exam fee here, but it buys the exam alone. The textbook is $129 in print, taking that route to $478, and the cheapest package bundling the digital textbook is $449 on its current discount, down from $899. Whichever route you take, it lands above IPTA. The NSCA figures are exam-only as well.
CSCCa deserves particular attention, because its listed exam fee understates it substantially. On top of the exam you pay a compulsory $230 practicum fee, and the member rate assumes annual dues of $70 to $130. All in, expect $640 to $700, before you have accounted for the bachelor’s degree and the 640-hour approved internship the credential requires.
NSCA needs the same treatment as CSCCa, because its headline figure is a registration fee rather than a price. The $475 non-member exam fee includes no textbook, no study guide and no study system. Add the Essentials textbook at $119 and the realistic minimum is $594. Members pay $340 for the exam and $105 for the textbook, but membership itself is $65 a year, so that route lands at $510. NSCA also sells two study collections, the Essential Collection at $273 member or $346 non-member and the Platinum Collection at $500 member or $595 non-member. Neither includes the exam. The tests inside those collections are practice tests, so the registration fee is still owed on top. A non-member buying the Platinum Collection and sitting the exam is looking at $1,070.
That leaves the current field ordered like this on a realistic, textbook-included basis. IPTA is cheapest at $399, then NCSF at $449, then NSCA at $510 for members or $594 for non-members, then a cluster of ISSA at $639, NASM Self-Study at $641 and CSCCa at $640 to $700. NASM’s Premium Self-Study tier sits above all of them at $760, rising to $1,202 if you miss the promotion.
The gap that matters is the one at the bottom, where IPTA is the only option under $400 that includes a textbook.
IPTA’s $799 package is also the only one in this roundup that returns a second full certification, since it bundles the NCCA accredited IPTA CPT alongside the strength credential.
With all that said, it’s important to mention that these certification package prices often change quite significantly and frequently.
Discounts and promos are standard. So common that the actual market value is rarely what you will pay for in many cases.
Keep your eyes peeled for discounts since it is the name of this game.
Use the links below to update yourself on current prices and ongoing promos.
- IPTA Strength and Conditioning Specialist
- ISSA Strength and Conditioning Certification
- NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist
- NCSF Strength Coach
- NASM Performance Enhancement Specialist
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Study Time
The time it will take for you to study for the course will depend on a number of factors. Most importantly, it will depend on your study skills and study processes.
The more effective you are at studying, the faster you will be able to master exam materials at a level that will be adequate enough for you to pass the exam. Naturally, this effect will also be modified by the study materials that you have access to. If you purchase a study package with materials that help you learn more efficiently, you will cut down on overall time spent studying for the exam.
Ideally, you want to finish studying within the time limit imposed by your exam’s enrollment period. Although this may sound intimidating, nearly all candidates are able to finish studying for their exam within this time frame
The enrollment period is the time from the moment of purchase to the exam deadline.
Looking at this first will help you determine how much time you can and should reserve for your learning and exam prep activities.
| Certification | Enrollment period |
|---|---|
| NSCA CSCS | 4 months |
| IPTA SCS | Self-paced |
| ISSA SCC | 12 months |
| NCSF CSC | 6 months |
| NASM PES | 12 months |
| CSCCa MSCC | 12 months |
The NSCA CSCS has quite a strict time frame, as you can see. This is a factor that contributes to the low pass rate of this cert. It compounds the exam’s already high difficulty.
NCSF brings in a 6-month timeframe, which is more in line with standard certifications such as PT certs.
Other than that, all the other S&C certs allow an entire year in which to complete the course and take the exam.
ISSA, however, claims you’ll be exam-ready within 10 weeks of a 2 hour per day study schedule.
The IPTA SCS is self-paced with no fixed deadline, and most candidates take four to six months given the size of the textbook.
One shining feature of ISSA’s study packages across all their certifications is the fact that they provide a guided study plan which allows you to work with a pre-managed study certification program.
At International Personal Trainer Academy, we’ve taken it a step further to bring you an adaptive study blueprint. It’s a time management system you can scale up or down according to your own availability.
With our premium blueprint, you can play the long game or do a last-minute cram and still have a significant shot at success.
Click on the links below to have access to them.
Exam Layout and Passing Grade
So you’ve studied your butt off, and now it’s actually time to take the certification exam.
It’s great to understand what content will be in the exam, but it’s just as crucial to understanding how it will be structured, presented, and administered.
This can help you better tailor your approach to studying so that each hour spent studying is more effective at achieving targeted and highly relevant studying goals. This will serve to both increase your chances of passing the exam and to reduce the total amount of time you need to invest in studying for the strength and conditioning coach exam.
| Certification | Number of Questions | Passing Grade |
|---|---|---|
| NSCA CSCS | 125 | 70% |
| IPTA SCS | 100 | 70% |
| ISSA SCC | N/A | 75% |
| NCSF CSC | 150 | 70% |
| NASM PES | 100 | 70% |
| CSCCa MSCC | N/A | 61% |
ISSA and CSCCa have varied approaches to their exams. ISSA, for one, is done completely online; however, its questions include written portions as well as an S&C video practical.
CSCCa is quite similar, with their practical portion, but rather than a submission video, you are required to perform the practical tasks in front of a live panel of expert coaches who evaluate your performance through a mix of quantitative and qualitative means.
Not much information is provided on the actual structure of the CSCCa exam beyond that, but it is known to be very difficult.
The NSCA, NASM, NCSF and IPTA are more or less in line with what you would normally expect from a cert exam in terms of the number of questions and passing grades. NASM PES vs. CSCS is a common comparison owing to the similarities of these certs.
One difference worth noting on the IPTA SCS is the retake policy. Retakes are unlimited and carry no fee, where a failed attempt elsewhere on this list generally means paying again.
The NSCA CSCS exam is notorious for being one of the most difficult, if not the most difficult exam of the lot. Pass rates fluctuate; right now, the pass rate for the CSCS is 37% for both sections as of 2023. This is much lower than other certifications for strength and conditioning coaches
Understanding the exam you are preparing for by breaking it down one section at a time will help you increase your odds of passing the exam.
You can gain more insight into that information when purchasing the exam as they often provide it at check-out.
Remember to focus on the sections which are more heavily scored.
And as a rule of thumb, the sections with the heaviest score towards the final grade typically deal with the more practical aspects of S&C.
The more theory/principle-based sections are worthless in general.
To get yourself familiar with the exam format, structure, and questions, you can use our free CSCS practice test and CSCS study guide or NASM practice test to see if you are truly ready.
Try out our NASM study guide too; it has been known to greatly improve the technical understanding candidates have about the cert., helping them to pass the final exams in flying colors.
Continuing Education Requirements
As with most certifications, there is an expiration date and a renewal requirement attached to your S&C credentials.
Accredited organizations require you to regularly renew your credentials after a fixed period of time so that you can stay on top of modern advancements to science and practice in the field. This helps make sure that everyone continues to meet professional standards of practice, even without having to take the exam again.
To recertify, you will need to submit the minimum required amount of CEUs along with a recertification fee if applicable.
Let’s take a look at the recertification conditions for each of these.
| Certification | Required CEUs | Certification Period | Recertification Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSCA CSCS | 60 hours | 3 years | $65 member, $90 non-member |
| IPTA SCS | 1 course | 4 years, recert at 2 | $0 first cycle |
| ISSA SCC | 20 hours | 2 years | $0 to $99 |
| NCSF CSC | 10 hours | 2 years | $75 |
| NASM PES | None | None | None |
| CSCCa MSCC | None | None | None |
NASM and CSCCa offer lifetime certifications. Concerning the CSCCa certification, this is quite understandable considering the incredibly strict prerequisite requirements.
This is great since these are the two biggest names in S&C.
NSCA CSCS is also a big-league institution when it comes to strength and conditioning. This cert, however, does require recertification after 3 years along with 60 hours worth of CEUs, the most required out of the bunch.
ISSA comes in with a standard certification period of 2 years, as well as the typical 20 hours worth of CEUs you would normally encounter.
Depending on how you obtain your CEUs, you may pay between absolutely nothing to $99.
If your CEU’s are obtained through ISSA, there is no fee attached.
NCSF comes in with a requirement of only 10 hours of credits over the course of two years as well as a recertification fee of $75.
The IPTA SCS runs on a four-year certification period with recertification at the two-year mark. The top package covers that first recertification along with a continuing education course chosen from a catalogue of more than 100, so the first cycle costs nothing.
Note that usually you can pick up continuing education units from your certification organization or through other CEU providers. You can even use other certifications and specializations to help your renew your current certification, as long as your certification providers accepts these CEUs.
Click here to find these study materials and get closer to your dream career.
Popularity and Recognition
The popularity and reputation of the certification that you acquire will have an impact on your future career prospects. Certifications that are recognized as being more difficult and higher quality lead to more effective coaches who are better at applying exercise science correctly, and employers know this.
However, all accredited certifications have value in their own way and are appropriate in different contexts.
Some certifications are more popular than others, which can happen for a variety of reasons, but this does not mean that they are better or offer an advantage when it comes to employment. However, certifications that are more popular are more likely to be recognized by employers than lesser-known lower quality certifications, and this still has value.
Although we don’t have up to date exam enrollment data for each certification we covered on this list, we can still explore their popularity from a more qualitative perspective.
The first thing to note is that most of the certifications we discussed are fully accredited certs, which means they are seen as legitimate across the fitness industry.
As far as popularity is concerned, NASM has historically granted a large number of personal trainer certifications per year and this may track to their other certifications, because many trainers stay internal to one organization if possible – meaning that trainers who pursue future bonus certifications have a tendency to pursue them through the first organization that certified them.
ISSA is very accessible in general, so it is a very common strength and conditioning certifying body for trainers to work with.
When it comes to prestige, the NSCA CSCS and CSCCa are the two most valued strength and conditioning certifications.
They represent the pinnacle of academic and practical prowess in the field as far as certifications go.
The CSCCa Master Strength & Conditioning Coach cert has such high requirements to earn that it stands out when a coach actually holds one. It is very rare.
This is the category where our own SCS is weakest, and it would be strange to pretend otherwise. It is the newest credential on this list, and a hiring manager scanning a resume is more likely to recognize NASM or NSCA on sight. That matters most in collegiate and professional settings and matters least when you are working for yourself or with high school and club athletes.
To get more info on these certifications, click on the links below:
The Average Income for Strength and Conditioning Coaches
Your earning potential might be an important factor for you when deciding on pursuing a career in strength and conditioning. Especially if you are comparing your ability to pay your bills across multiple types of fitness careers and highly value financial stability
So when it comes to strength and conditioning coach salary, it’s important to have an idea of what you can earn.
As far as we are aware, there is no comprehensive database that lists earning by strength and conditioning certification for us to directly compare and contrast them. So instead, we will focus on what S&C coaches tend to make on average in the US.
For a US-based S&C coach, the average salary is around $44k, according to salary.com.
Factors that influence income potential include:
- Location
- Setting of employment
- Years of experience
- Other credentials
- Value of credentials
While this income isn’t much better than the average certified personal trainer salary, the prospect of working as a professional sports coach, a strength and conditioning expert allows you to have more stability in your career, especially if you work in a college or pro environment. In either case, you will naturally earn more as you work with higher level athletes.
Pros vs. Cons
| Certification | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| NSCA CSCS | Highly regarded and prestigious, 3 years before recertification is required | One of the toughest exams, hefty recertification CEU requirements, requires a bachelor's degree |
| IPTA SCS | No degree or prerequisite required, largest study system here, unlimited free retakes, first recertification covered | Newest certification in this roundup, no practical component |
| ISSA SCC | Simple but effective study package, completely online, flexible study and exam process | The most expensive option, lacks variety with regards to prep material |
| NCSF CSC | Very lenient CEU requirements, reasonably priced, great study material options | Probably the least recognized, textbook is a separate purchase |
| NASM PES | The most popular certifying agency, no recertification required, great study materials | Relatively pricey |
| CSCCa MSCC | The pinnacle of strength and conditioning | Difficult to figure out in terms of required reading and study materials, extremely stringent entry requirements, listed price excludes a compulsory practicum fee |
Our Top Picks
| Best For | Certifications |
|---|---|
| Top tier sports science and S&C work | CSCCa, NSCA |
| Beginners | ISSA, NCSF, IPTA |
| Seasoned professionals | NASM, NSCA, CSCCa |
| Physical educators | ISSA, NCSF, IPTA |
| Higher learning | CSCCa |
| General practice | ISSA |
| Special populations | NSCA, CSCCa |
| Business and entrepreneurship | NASM, NCSF, ISSA, IPTA |
| CEUs | NCSF, ISSA, IPTA |
| International certification | ISSA |
| Most recognised | NASM, ISSA |
| Coaching without a degree | IPTA, ISSA, NASM |
Conclusion
| Certification | Study Material Rating | Cost (cheapest option) | Enrollment Period | Required CEUs | Certification Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSCA CSCS | 6 | $475 non-member, $340 member | 4 months | 60 hours | 3 years |
| IPTA SCS | 9 | $399 | Self-paced | 1 course | 4 years |
| ISSA SCC | 7 | $1,398 | 12 months | 20 hours | 2 years |
| NCSF CSC | 8 | $449 | 6 months | 10 hours | 2 years |
| NASM PES | 8 | $899 | 12 months | None | None |
| CSCCa MSCC | 5 | $640 to $700 all in | 12 months | None | None |
That wraps up our review of our five favorite strength and conditioning certs.
We hope you found this insightful and that it helps you decide on how to chart your career forward.
If you’re already stuck into exam prep, make sure to check out our awesome packages here, so you can get an edge on your exam prep mission!
References
- Foulds S, Hoffmann S, Hinck K, Carson F. The Coach–Athlete Relationship in Strength and Conditioning: High Performance Athletes’ Perceptions. Sports. 2019;7(12):244. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/sports7120244
- Gleason BH, Hornsby WG, Suarez DG, Nein MA, Stone MH. Troubleshooting a Nonresponder: Guidance for the Strength and Conditioning Coach. Sports. 2021;9(6):83. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/sports9060083
- LaPlaca DA, Schempp PG. The Characteristics Differentiating Expert and Competent Strength and Conditioning Coaches. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport. 2020;91(3):1-12. doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/02701367.2019.1686451
- Duehring MD, Feldmann CR, Ebben WP. Strength and conditioning practices of United States high school strength and conditioning coaches. Journal of strength and conditioning research. 2009;23(8):2188-2203. doi:https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181bac62d
- Weldon A, Duncan MJ, Turner A, Lockie RG, Loturco I. Practices of Strength and Conditioning Coaches in Professional sports: A systematic Review. Biology of Sport. 2022;39(3). doi:https://doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2022.107480
- Cormier T. Salary Review of Strength and Conditioning Coaches: 2022 Survey Results. Strength & Conditioning Journal. 2023;45(3):367. doi:https://doi.org/10.1519/SSC.0000000000000780
- Massey CD, Schwind JJ, Andrews DC, Maneval MW. An Analysis of the Job of Strength and Conditioning Coach for Football at the Division II Level. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. 2009;23(9):2493-2499. doi:https://doi.org/10.1519/jsc.0b013e3181bbe9b6
- Quebedeaux C, Adamson G, Rankin J, et al. The Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association (CSCCa) 2023 Salary Survey. Research Directs in strength and performance. 2024;4(1). doi:https://doi.org/10.53520/rdsp2024.105106
- Duehring MD, Feldmann CR, Ebben WP. Strength and conditioning practices of United States high school strength and conditioning coaches. Journal of strength and conditioning research. 2009;23(8):2188-2203. doi:https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181bac62d
- LaPlaca DA, Schempp PG. The Characteristics Differentiating Expert and Competent Strength and Conditioning Coaches. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport. 2020;91(3):1-12. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/02701367.2019.1686451
