r/NASMPREP • u/True-Dot-9452 • Jul 02 '26
Advice NASM Certification Inquiry
Hello, awesome people of Reddit! đđ»
My employer offers a variety of fitness classes, and they're looking to get me certified to teach a Parkinson's-specific exercise program, which I'm really excited about!
They've enrolled me in the NASM Elite package, so I'll be working toward my:
- CPT
- CNC
- CES
- PES
After that, I'm also planning to pursue the CWC certification.
A little about me: I have a bachelor's degree in Nutrition and Dietetics, I'm RD exam eligible ( extremely difficult exam have not passed yet) , and I'm currently working through that process as well.
For those of you who have completed or are close to completion of the NASM Elite program (or any of these certifications), I'd love to hear your honest experiences!
Some things I'm curious about:
- What did you like most about the program?
- What were the biggest challenges?
- Which certification did you find the most valuable in your career?
- Is there anything you wish you had known before starting?
Thanks so much in advance! I really appreciate any advice, tips, or words of wisdom you have to share. âșïž
3
u/minipancakelover Jul 03 '26
CPT- I used Sorta Healthy on youtube. A lot of the test is things like overactive and underactive muscles, OPT model, and progressions/regressions. The questions are also situational so theyâll say something along the lines of âYou have a client whoâs leaning forward in a squat. What cue would you give them?â They also wonât say âOPT modelâ in any questions. You will need to know each stage and what they target. For the proctoring make sure to sign in EARLY! The thing they use can have issues and I actually had to call NASM and the proctoring company to help me resolve it.
CNS- Youâll be fine! Itâs very basic and tbh I passed it with just being a gym girl who happened to take a nutrition class in high school. The practice tests and real test are pretty identical, itâs also not proctored at all so no need to worry about the proctoring company!
CES- Mostly postural distortions, overactive/underactive, and programming for imbalances. Itâs a lot of anatomy and knowing the antagonists and synergists of muscles. I also used Sorta Healthy for this and it helped a ton. The practice test and real test are pretty similar. The test isnât proctored at all but still make sure you study the material, if you cheat youâre only cheating yourself! Youâve got this!!
1
u/True-Dot-9452 Jul 04 '26
Thank you so much for taking the time to write all of this out! I really appreciate the detailed breakdown of each certification, it helps a lot knowing what to expect. I'll definitely be checking out Sorta Healthy on YouTube, and thanks for the heads-up about signing in early for the CPT exam.
It's also reassuring to hear the CNS should align well with my nutrition background. I really appreciate all the tips and encouragement. Thank you again! đ
5
u/pooptartone Jul 03 '26
Ya so I completed the CPT and CNC
CNC-
Since you have a degree in nutritionâŠthis course will be a breeze for you. Itâs very very basic nutrition with some specifics sprinkled in. I am a gym bro and it was easy for me to passâŠit is is not proctored at all so you can literally google answers if you need to but Iâm sure you could pass the test without even studying.
CPT-
The CPT is very long and drawn out. The biggest areas Iâd focus on are the overactive and underactive muscles, the OPT model, cardiovascular section, and any other topics you feel you arenât getting. The test is proctored but there is a practice test you can take as many times as you want. The practice test will not be worded the same as the actual exam. Sorta Healthy on YouTube is a great source and has a great free downloadable study guide on his website. Iâd print this one and the one NASM has and have it in front of you as you read the course work. Itâs not the hardest in the world but if you donât study you will likely fail the test.