CI-Certified Personal Trainer (CI-CPT) Candidate Guide• Book: Resistance Training Instruction, Everett Aaberg • Book: American College of Sports Medicine Guidelines for Exercise

CI-Certified Personal Trainer (CI-CPT)Candidate Guide

2 • © CooperInstitute.org

How To RegIsTeR

The Cooper Institute Certified Personal Trainer (CI-CPT) exam is available in Pearson VUE professional testing

centers across the U.S., Brazil, Canada, Mexico, The Virgin Islands, and military installations worldwide!

Steps to Becoming a Certified Personal Trainer

Exam Price: $289 Retake Price: $195 (Get a discount voucher from The Cooper Institute before scheduling your retake.)

What you will need to register:1. 18 years of age or older2. Current adult Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) that includes hands-on training*

PLEASE NOTE: Register under the name shown on your photo ID and CPR card. These documents must match the registration name or you will not be admitted

to the exam. Exam fees are non-refundable 24 hours before the exam time.* Online CPR courses are not accepted. International CPR is accepted from a recommended CPR provider in the country your exam is administered. See the online CI-CPT Candidate Handbook for more details.

Register for an exam date, time, and location of your choosing:OnlIne Pearsonvue.com/cooperinstitute- or -Call 1-877-383-2901

The Cooper Institute Certification Board c/o Credentialing Certification Department12330 Preston Road • Dallas, TX 75230 • (800) 635-7050 • [email protected] • CooperInstitute.org

1 Prepare• UsetheStudyResourcesTableinthisguide.• Youwillneedtoknowfactualinformationandapplyknowledgefromallexamdomainstotypicaljobsituations.• CoursesinpersonaltrainingeducationareavailablefromTheCooperInstitute.

Practice• Spendatleast10hoursinpersonaltrainingroleplaywithvarioustypesofclients.• ApracticetestisavailableatCooperInstitute.org.

Pick a Date and Location for the CI-CPT Exam• Yourexperience,background,andstudylevelwillhelpyoudecidewhenyouarereadytotakethe certificationexam.• GotoPearsonvue.com/cooperinstituteorcall 1-877-383-2901toscheduleyourexam.• Resultsareavailableattheendofyourexamsession.

Promote• CertifiedprofessionalsmayusetheCI-CPTidentitymark [email protected]

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GET STARTED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

GET CERTIFIED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Exam Purpose Eligibility Non-Discrimination Confidentiality Exam Day Requirements Recommended CPR Providers Exam Specifications Special Accommodation Requests Exam Development and Validity Preparing for the Exam Exam Scoring and Statistics Exam Results Score Appeals Retaking the Exam Exam Resources

STAY CERTIFIED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 CI-CPT Logo Certification Reprint Certification Verification Address/Email Updates Cooper Certified Core Values Certification Renewal Certification Denial or Revocation Concern Forms CERTIFICATION BOARD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Information and prices contained in this handbook are subject to change at any time without prior notice. Always visit CooperInstitute.org to obtain current certification information.

Table of ConTenTs


Do you like helping people achieve healthier lives? Do you need a job that provides you with flexibility?

Then a career as a Certified Personal Trainer may be for you!

Becoming a Certified Personal Trainer is a two step process. First, you will obtain the education needed for this occupation and then pass an accredited certification exam. The Cooper Institute (CI) offers both.

CI education courses can provide you with excellent training in the knowledge base that is needed for

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personal training. Learn at the 4½ day class in Dallas or at your own pace online. CI offers several resources for exam preparation (see Preparing for the Exam), choose the one(s) that best meet your learning style.

For information on course registration or product purchase go to CooperInstitute.org. Visit the Certified Personal Trainer section. There you can take a quiz to help you select education tailored to your needs.

Already have some knowledge/field experience and want to get started now? Try the CI-CPT Practice Test! Available at CooperInstitute.org.


Recommended CPR providers include:• American Heart Association• American Red Cross• American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons• American Safety & Health Institute• Medic First Aid• National Safety Council

The CI-CPT exam is a stand-alone exam. You can register for the certification exam without taking a Cooper Institute education workshop.

Non-Discrimination CI makes programs accessible to all persons meeting the minimum eligibility requirements.

No qualified registrant or candidate will be denied admission or certification because of race, religion, gender, national origin, disability, military status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal or state law.

ConfidentialityCandidate information is confidential. Personal information is not leased or sold to other organizations for any reason.

Transfers and CancellationsTo transfer or cancel contact Pearson VUE at least one business day before your scheduled exam date. Contact information is on the confirmation email you receive after registering for the exam.

Exam Specifications

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exam PurposeThe CI-CPT exam identifies individuals who have the factual and applied knowledge of exercise and behavioral sciences to:

• design and execute safe, effective, and motivating programs;• enhance the health-related benefits of physical activity; and• work with healthy and medically cleared populations.

eligibility and exam Day RequirementsTo register for the exam you need to:

• Be 18 years of age or older• Have current adult Cardiopulmonary

Resuscitation (CPR) certification with hands-on training*

At exam check-in you will:• Show a current government-issued photo identification with birthdate• Show valid CPR certification*

If you do not have these items or the documents do not match the registration name you will not be admitted to the testing center. Using false or forged documents will result in permanent ineligibility to take the exam. Exam fees are not refunded if you do not meet check-in requirements.

*Online CPR courses are not accepted. International CPR is accepted from a recommended CPR provider in the country your exam is administered.

Exam fees will not be refunded for less than 24 hours notice or if you do not show for the exam appointment.


CI-CPT exam questions are chosen at random from an item bank. A panel of Subject Matter Experts (SME) reviews all questions for relevance to the Per-sonal Trainer job practice and for content accuracy.

The exam questions are created using multiple re-sources that are widely available within the industry. It is likely that exam questions may appear which are relevant to the job practice that are not included sole-ly within one resource or education course.

• 100 scored four-option multiple choice questions • Computer-based testing (CBT) format • Passing score = 70 questions (70%) • Four performance areas: o Core Knowledge o Health and Medical Review; and Fitness Assessment o Fitness Training: Design, Implementation, and Evaluation o Professional Responsibilities • Exam Day Requirements (page 5) must be met to receive exam materials • 2 hour exam session • All items needed to take the exam are provided to you

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• No personal items (food, water, cell phones, hats, study materials, etc.) are allowed • Dress comfortably

Special Accommodation RequestsCI complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. All special accommodation requests must be approved by CI prior to scheduling an exam date with Pearson VUE. Contact CI certification department at (800) 635-7050 and allow 5 business days to process the request.

Reasonable accommodation does not lower the standards that have been set for granting certification.

exam Development and ValidityThe CI-CPT exam is developed using commonly ac-cepted psychometric (test measurement) practices. Statistical analyses performed on the CI-CPT exam show high levels of validity and reliability.

Preparing For The examEducation resources (see page 8) do not teach you how to take the exam. Resources listed in this guide can help you acquire the knowledge, skills, and abili-ties that are needed to perform as a Personal Trainer. No guarantee is made with regard to the use of listed resources and exam performance.

• A complete listing of Personal Trainer Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities is available at CooperInstitute.org. • Readiness to take the exam can only be decided by the individual candidate. • Each exam candidate should be familiar enough with the knowledge areas to be able to apply it to a job-related situation. • Exam questions will ask the candidate to both recall facts and to apply knowledge from multiple exam domains to typical job situations.


For those new to the field, a minimum of 75 hours of independent study is recommended. An additional 10 hours of role play (that is, simulated Personal Trainer scenarios) is recommended to aid in applying knowledge to typical job situations. To be most effective, each practice scenario should apply knowledge elements from multiple domains.

A CI-CPT Practice Test is avai lable at CooperInstitute.org. The 50-question practice test has questions from all four performance domains in the same proportion as on the CI-CPT exam. Questions on the practice test do not appear on the CI-CPT exam. Results of the practice test should not be used to predict performance on the certification exam.

exam Scoring and Statistics • The exam is scored at the end of your exam session. • Each exam question has only one best answer and is scored as either correct or incorrect. • There is no penalty for guessing or any additional penalty for wrong answers. • The cut score of 70 correct questions (70%) on the 100 item exam has been validated statistically. • CI-CPT exam pass rates are posted at CooperInstitute.org.

exam Results • Candidates receive a score report and an individualized feedback report at the test center. • The feedback report is a useful tool to identify areas in which further study is needed. • Certification is granted on the accumulation of 70 correct answers across all domains. • Official results are mailed two weeks after the exam date. • Scores will not be given over the telephone.

Score appealsA candidate who did not pass the exam may file a concern with The Cooper Institute if he/she feels the exam was scored inappropriately or if a problem occurred during the exam administration. • CI must be notified of the concern by e-mail, mail, or fax within 30 days of the exam results letter date. • A full description of the concern must be included. • Candidates are not given access to a written version of the exam or to exam answers. • Concerns will be responded to within 10 business days of receipt.

Retaking the exam • A candidate may retake the exam for a discounted fee after receiving official results from CI. Contact the Certification Manager at 800-635-7050 to purchase a discount voucher. • Exam Day Requirements documentation must be shown at each exam check-in.

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exam DomainPercentage

of Questions on exam

Recommended Study Time Suggested Resources*

Core Knowledge • Kinesiology: Anatomy and Biomechanics • Exercise Physiology • Basic Nutrition and Weight Management • Human Behavior

30% (30 questions) 23+ hours

• CI Personal Training workshops1

• Book: Principles of Health and Fitness, CI publication• PT Knowledge, Skills and Abilities2

• Book: Resistance Training Instruction, Everett Aaberg• Anatomy for Fitness and Wellness, CI online course

Health and Medical Review; and Fitness Assessment • Health History Review • Current Health Conditions Review • Health-Related Fitness Appraisal




• Book: American College of Sports Medicine Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription, Eighth Edition• Book: Physical Fitness Assessments and Norms, CI Publication3

Fitness Training: Design, Implementation, and Evaluation • Fitness Goal Setting • Safe and Efficient Exercise • Program Design: Cardiorespiratory, Strength, and Flexibility • Program Evaluation




• Book: Resistance Training Instruction, Everett Aaberg• Book: American College of Sports Medicine Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription, Eighth Edition• Personal Trainer Exercises CD

Professional Responsibilities • Standards of Practice • Leadership Techniques • Basic Business Principles




1 Personal Trainer Education (PTE) offered by CI – 4 ½ day live and online courses available. See website for course options. Recommended if you do not have an exercise science-related degree, and/or if you are new to the field and have no/limited experience or formal training. Course fee includes Principles of Health and Fitness textbook.2 Personal Trainer Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA) available at CooperInstitute.org.3 Extracted from the Principles of Health and Fitness textbook.* Other reputable resources available nationally may also be used to further knowledge in the field.

Always check our website for the most up-to-date details.

To order resource materials go to CooperInstitute.org or call 1-800-635-7050.


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CI-CPT logo The CI-CPT identity mark is available to certificants that are “Currently Certified and in Good Standing” with CI. If your status changes from this you must stop using the CI-CPT logo. Certification must be renewed every three years to remain currently certified. E-mail logo requests to [email protected].

Certification ReprintsCertification reprints are available for a fee for those who hold a current and valid CI-CPT certification. Expired, non-renewed, and revoked certificates will not be reprinted.

Certification VerificationEmployers, hiring managers, and other persons may request verification of certification status. There are three status reports available. • CurrentlyCertified–Certificantswhoare in good standing (that is, currently certified or maintainingcertificationrenewalwithno disciplinary actions). • NotCurrentlyCertified–Personswhohave previously been certified but have not maintainedcertificationrenewal.Former certificantswhohavedisciplinaryactions against them may also be reported as NotCurrentlyCertified/NotinGoodStanding. • NeverCertified–Personswhohavenever earned or have never tried to earn certification.

Confidentialinformationwillnotbegivenduringthe verification process.

Moved? New e-mail?Always make sure CI has your current mailingaddress and e-mail address so you will receiveimportant certification notices. E-mail changes to: [email protected].

COOPeR CeRTIFIeD CORe ValueS

Integrity 1. The safety, health, and welfare of your clients are your primary responsibility. 2. Maintain ethical relationships and honor contracts with clients and other professionals. 3. Present fitness information completely and accurately to help the client make informed decisions; refer clients when appropriate to qualified professionals.

Respect 1. Focus on behavior, factual information, and positive forms of communication. 2. Treat all clients equally regardless of race, gender, age, physical disability, or nationality. 3. Uphold your client’s right to confidentiality and privacy.

Teamwork 1. Share in your client’s success and challenges. 2. Commit to each client an appropriate amount of time. 3. Seek multiple resources and partnerships to increase your effectiveness.

leadership 1. Lead by example. 2. Promote a healthy lifestyle for yourself and provide encouragement to others.

Knowledge 1. Incorporate new techniques into program- ming and be willing to offer different options for different client needs. 2. Follow professional standards for health screenings, fitness assessments, and exercise techniques. 3. Maintain training in First Aid, CPR, and AED. 4. Receive additional training and education on a regular basis to always learn and always grow. 5. Understand that this profession can make a difference in the quality of life for many.

excellence 1. Excellence is the standard.

COOPERCI Cer t i f iedCooperInstitute®.org


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Certification RenewalCertification renewal information for the CI-CPTcredentialisincludedwiththeexamresultsmailed to certificants. The most up-to-date information, including current renewal form, isalwaysavailableatCooperInstitute.org.

• CI-CPTisvalidfor3years • 30ContactHoursarerequiredforrenewal • CurrentCPRcertificationisrequiredforrenewal • Renewalisavailableonlytopersonswhoare currentlycertifiedandingoodstandingwithCI

Certification Denial Or RevocationCImaychoosetonotreleaseorcantakebackaCI-CPTcertificationforanyofthefollowingreasons: • Non-paymentoffees. • BreachoftheNon-DisclosureAgreement (that is, relaying any of the information containedwithintheCI-CPTexam). • Dishonesty,fraud,orforgery(orinhelping otherstocommit)inexameligibility,taking theexam,orincertificationrenewal.This includes dishonesty, fraud, or forgery of any associated official documents.

• Documentedgrossnegligenceorintentional misconduct in performing credentialed services. • Convictionofafelonyorcrimeinvolvingmoral conduct (including the recommendation, sale, distribution, or use of illegal performance enhancing substances).

AformalprocessisfollowedbeforeadecisionismadebyTheCooperInstituteCertificationBoard(CICB)towithholdorrevokeacertification.

Concern FormsA Concern Form can be used by registrants, examcandidates, and certificants to provide a writtenaccount to document concerns about a certification-relatedprocessorpolicy.AConcernFormcanalsobe used by any individual/group with a concern/issue related to an individual who has earned, orwhoisrepresentingthemselvesashavingearned,acredentialingcertificationthroughCI.

Concern Forms are addressed within 60 businessdays of receipt.

Certification Board (CICB)TheCICBisthebodywhichprovidesgovernanceandoversight of policies and procedures directly related to orhaving impactuponCooper Institute creden-tialing certifications, certificants, and certification re-newalactivities.

Contact Information:

TheCooperInstituteCertificationBoardc/oCredentialingCertificationDepartment12330PrestonRoad•Dallas,TX75230

(800)[email protected]

CI-Certified Personal Trainer (CI-CPT) Candidate Guide• Book: Resistance Training Instruction, Everett Aaberg • Book: American College of Sports Medicine Guidelines for Exercise

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