2. Take the ACSM 3-day exam review workshop. In the workshop you will receive a review book which will be invaluable to your study.
3. Buy the study materials for the ACSM Certified Personal Trainer Exam. There are 3 books that you will need.
5. Study the ACSM's Certification Review book after you finish reading the 3-day exam review workshop. Take all the sample tests that come with the book.
6. Read all the dialogue boxes (highlighted in orange) throughout the book "ACSM's Resources for the Personal Trainer".
7. Now, go back and re-read the workbook that came with the 3-day exam review workshop. But this time, read one chapter in the workbook, and then go back to the "ACSM's Resources for the Personal Trainer" and read the corresponding material.
8. When you have finished, doing the above, go to the "ACSM’s Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription, 8th edition" book and read the updated section on how to screen clients that need referral to a doctor prior to beginning an exercise program.
9. Now, you're ready for taking the practice tests that ACSM offers on their website. DO NOT TAKE ANY PRACTICE TESTS OR MATERIAL ADVERTISED BY THIRD PARTY COMPANIES...unless money is not an issue.
10. Here are the links to the practice tests online.
2 of the tests are paid. They are called practice test A and practice test B (50 questions each).
1 test is free (15 Questions)
http://www. acsmlearning.org
Note: you will have to actually register with ACSM and log-in before you can take either the paid or free exam.
VERY IMPORTANT....MAKE SURE YOU TAKE THE PRACTICE ACSM EXAMS THAT I MENTIONED ABOVE BECAUSE SOME OF MATERIAL ON THE REAL EXAM IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE QUESTIONS AS ON THE PRACTICE TESTS.
11. That's it! Your are now ready to take the real exam.
Good luck!
Is there a book that I can purchase similar to the one you receive at the 3 day workshop? I live in Hawaii, and ACSM just doesn't coe here, and it's very expensive to fly out. What d you think of the courses they offer through the learning portal?
ReplyDeleteI checked out the portal and it seems similar to the workshop topics with one caveat. You can't practice the actual physical tests...i.e. the 3-min. step test, the sit-and-reach test, etc. You will need the spotting chart from the workshop book, because they ask questions about how to spot for various exercises (I'm not sure if that's covered in the portal since I never took the material offered through the portal). I would call ACSM and see if they'd be willing to send you a workbook. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteSo basically I can take as much time that I need to study and be sure I will pass the test?
ReplyDeleteNot necessarily. You have a higher chance of passing, but your success depends strictly on you. The above strategy worked for me and many other trainers I coached who used it to pass the test. The more time and effort you put into it, the more likely you are to pass the test. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteAG
Is it required to take and pass the ACE Exam? Or can I go straight for the ACSM test?
ReplyDeleteHi Jane,
ReplyDeleteNo! you do NOT need to take the ACE exam prior to the ACSM exam. You can directly take the ACSM exam. If you take the ACE exam first, however, it will make the ACSM exam seem easier because much of the material overlap.
Good luck!
AG
Hello should I take the workshop before reading the books or after? I'm having such a hard time focusing and teaching myself. Thanks
ReplyDeleteHi Ashley,
ReplyDeleteI personally took the workshop prior to studying because then I knew what to study :) When I took the ACSM exam I'd already passed the ACE exam and was somewhat familiar with the information. However, if you've never studied fitness and you do not have any other certifications, I would at lease scan the text before taking the workshop. Good luck!
Thank u so much. I have the ACSM books but I am considering doing ISSA first because they have online material and I'll probably benefit more from getting assignments. Have you heard of anyone finishing through ISSA?
DeleteYes, I have. However, I do not know if the ISSA material overlaps the ACSM material as I am not ISSA certified! You may want to check to see if ISSA is a nationally recognized certification. I would not take it if its not as its best to get nationally recognized certs.
ReplyDeleteAG