RECERTIFICATION

POLICIES & PROCEDURES

2018 – 2020 REPORTING PERIOD

INFO RMATIO N INS IDE

Recertification Requirements
Recertified with Distinction Qualifications
CEU Category Maximums | CEU Category Descriptions
CEU Calculation/Documentation Table
 NSCA RECERTIFICATION POLICIES & PROCEDURES 2018 – 2020 REPORTING PERIOD

RECERTIFICATION
In order to remain certified, the NSCA requires that each Certified Not all CEU activities are based on actual clock hours. There are
Strength and Conditioning Specialist® (CSCS®), Certified Special exceptions, such as college or university courses, where 1 semester
Population Specialist® (CSPS®), NSCA-Certified Personal Trainer® credit hour equals 0.5 CEU and 1 quarter credit hour equals 0.3
(NSCA-CPT®), and Tactical Strength and Conditioning Facilitator® CEU. For example:
(TSAC-F®) maintain current CPR/AED certification and complete • 3 unit, semester-long Exercise Physiology course
Continuing Education Units (CEU) every three years. A two- to three- equals 1.5 CEUs
year certification period is common practice among certification
organizations in the fitness industry. A three-year recertification • 4 unit, quarter-long Functional Anatomy course equals 1.2 CEUs
period was chosen for NSCA certifications programs to ensure that Educational activity completed prior to an achieved certification
certificants keep their knowledge of industry trends, technology, cannot be applied for CEUs. CEUs must be completed between
and laws/regulations up-to-date. The recertification deadline for the date of certification and end of the recertification cycle.
the 2018 – 2020 reporting period is December 31, 2020 for all Refer to the table below to determine the number of CEUs and
certified individuals. related fees required.
There are two options for becoming recertified:
Individuals with Multiple Certifications
1. Retake and pass the appropriate certification exam
If you hold multiple credentials, the same policies and procedures
2. Complete and report a specified number of continuing apply. You do not, however, need to submit 6.0 CEUs separately for
education units (CEUs) and pay a recertification fee each certification. For example, if you became CSCS and NSCA-CPT
certified before January 1, 2018, you are only required to submit
CEU Program Overview a total of 6.0 CEUs for the 2018 – 2020 reporting period. A more
The purpose of continuing education is to require that certified complex scenario exists if you became CSCS and NSCA-CPT certified
individuals stay abreast of evolving knowledge and skills in the at different times during the 2018 – 2020 reporting period. Special
profession, and to promote the ongoing competency of those attention must be paid to the dates on your certificates to assure
certified. Because scientific knowledge, training techniques, and that the required CEUs are completed after those dates. Certificants
equipment are continuously evolving in strength and conditioning, are encouraged to contact the NSCA if there is confusion regarding
periodic reporting of continuing education is needed to ensure that recertification requirements.
certified individuals are continually competent. In general, CEUs
are based on the number of contact hours (or actual clock hours)
undertaken to complete an activity or event.
For example:
• 1 contact hour equals 0.1 CEU
• 10 contact hours equals 1.0 CEU

MEMBER NON-MEMBER
ORIGINAL
CEUS FEE FOR EACH FEE FOR EACH CATEGORY A CATEGORY B CATEGORY C CATEGORY D
CERITIFICATION DATE
REQUIRED CREDENTIAL CREDENTIAL MAXIMUM MAXIMUM MAXIMUM MAXIMUM
(SHOWN ON CERTIFICATE)
HELD HELD

Before 2018*‡ 6.0 $65 $90 5.5 4.0 5.5 3.5

During 2018*^ 4.0 $55 $80 3.5 2.5 3.5 1.5

During 2019*^ 2.0 $45 $70 1.5 1.0 1.5 1.0

January 1, 2020 to June 30, 2020^ 1.0 $35 $60 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

July 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020 0 $0 $0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

* You must obtain CEUs from at least two categories.

‡ All CEUs must be earned after January 1, 2018, even if certification was earned prior to this date.
^ All CEUs must be earned after the date of certification.

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 NSCA RECERTIFICATION POLICIES & PROCEDURES 2018 – 2020 REPORTING PERIOD

CEU Reporting
The online CEU reporting process is a convenient way to review,
record, and edit activities. To access the online CEU reporting page,
visit www.nsca.com/recertify. Online reporting allows certified
individuals to:
• View certification summaries
• Determine CEUs required
• Review category maximums
• View certification number
• Determine certification expiration date
• Track accumulated CEUs
• Record and edit CEUs
• Submit the recertification fee(s)

A paper application is available for individuals without internet

access, however, it must be requested in writing.

Acceptable Content
Only continuing education content that directly relates to the
scope of practice and detailed content outline (DCO) of a NSCA
certification exam will be accepted. The following are only examples
of acceptable and unacceptable content. Certificants with questions
regarding the acceptability of a particular activity’s content should
contact the NSCA prior to engaging in the activity for credit.
Examples of Acceptable Content
• Anatomy/Physiology
• Nutrition
• Biomechanics
• Organization and Administration
• Refer to current DCO for allowed content
• Training Techniques
• Sport Psychology

Examples of Unacceptable Content

• Surgery
• Diagnosing
• Kinesio Taping
• Radiology/Imaging
• General Business/Statistics
• Group Fitness/Holistic Activities
• Unrelated Alternative Health Topics
(e.g., hypnosis, acupuncture)
• Allied Health Topics beyond the NSCA credential scope of
practice (e.g., athletic training, physical therapy or massage
therapy specific techniques)

Note: CEUs obtained for recertification must fall within the scope
and/or be consistent with the DCO for the NSCA certification held.
Please refer to the current DCOs found in the Certification Handbook
for content areas allowed for CEUs.

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 NSCA RECERTIFICATION POLICIES & PROCEDURES 2018 – 2020 REPORTING PERIOD

CEU CATEGORY DESCRIPTIONS

Category A Category C
Attendance at clinics, conferences, seminars, workshops, symposia, First Aid Certification or Recertification
live webinars, and live streamed events permitted that the Completing the requirements for certification or
information provided falls within the scope and/or is consistent with recertification in First Aid.
the DCO for the NSCA certification held. Post-certification College Course Work
Note: Live attendance does not need to be pre-approved. Successfully completing post-certification college/university-level
courses that fall within the scope and/or is consistent with the DCO
Note: Attendance at exercise science-related exam preparation
for the NSCA certification held.
courses for NCCA-accredited certifications will be accepted.
Note: Teaching academic courses does not qualify for CEUs.
Category B Note: College courses must be started after date of certification
Committee Work (during the current reporting cycle) and completed before the
Serving as a State/Provincial Director or a member of a NSCA recertification cycle ends.
committee, SIG Executive Council, or the Board of Directors. Internships (non-college credit)
NSCA Quizzes Completion of a 150-hour internship relevant to strength and
Passing quizzes from articles in the Strength and Conditioning conditioning or personal training.
Journal, NSCA Conference Videos, and/or NSCA webinars. Note: All activity must fall within the scope and/or be consistent with
Presentations the DCO for the NSCA certification held.
Participation as a speaker or panelist at clinics, conferences, etc. USADA Quiz
Note: Teaching academic courses does not qualify for CEUs. Passing the USADA quiz listed under the quiz section of
the NSCA website.
Note: Presenting at certification preparation courses offered by
organizations other than (1) NSCA Certification or (2) other NCCA-
accredited certification programs does not qualify for CEUs.
Category D
Publications Associate Publication Quizzes
Passing quizzes from articles in the NSCA Coach, Personal Training
Published works in which the certified individual serves as
Quarterly, and/or TSAC Report.
author/co-author.
Pre-approved Home Study Courses
Completing courses by pre-approved NSCA certification CEU
providers only. Check the NSCA website, under Continuing
Education, for the current pre-approved course listings.
Personal Development
Any activity undertaken to keep current with the NSCA certification
held, and does not fit into another category, is considered personal
development. Some examples of activities include reading journals,
magazines and books and/or viewing websites that are related to
strength and conditioning and/or personal training; participating in
self-improvement seminars.
Earning an NSCA Certification Not Currently Held
Once certified, CSCS, CSPS, NSCA-CPT, or TSAC-F, certified
individuals are allowed to obtain CEUs towards their first credential
by earning a second NSCA credential.
Earning NCCA-accredited certifications
The NSCA will award CEUs when a CSCS, CSPS, NSCA-CPT, or
TSAC-F certified individual passes a certification exam offered by a
fitness, sport or exercise nutrition organization currently accredited
by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).
Note: CEUs will be awarded at the time of the original certification
only. Recertifying the NCCA-accredited certification does not
qualify for CEUs.

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 NSCA RECERTIFICATION POLICIES & PROCEDURES 2018 – 2020 REPORTING PERIOD

CATEGORY SUB-CATEGORY ACTIVITY NUMBER OF CEUs AWARDED REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION*†

Attending strength and conditioning

and/or personal training clinics,
0.1 CEU per hour of attendance Photocopy of attendance
conferences, seminars, workshops,
(Ex: 8 hour clinic x 0.1 CEU = 0.8 certificate or letter verifying
A Attendance symposia, etc. Note: Attendance
CEU) A maximum of 2.0 CEUs participation and number of
at exercise science-related exam
allowed for any one event hours for non-NSCA events
preparation courses for NCCA-accredited
certifications will be accepted

Serving as a State/Provincial
Director or a member of a NSCA 0.5 CEU per year of
B Committee Work
committee, SIG Executive Council, committee involvement
or the Board of Directors

Passing NSCA Webinar, Strength 0.2 CEU for each quiz that is submitted
B NSCA Quizzes and Conditioning Journal and/ and passed Note: Conference video
or conference video quizzes quizzes CEU values may vary

1.0 CEU per hour of presentation, Photocopy of brochure/flyer

Serving as a speaker or panelist
B Presentations a maximum of 2.0 CEUs allowed showing participation or letter
at clinics, conferences, etc.
for each presentation of verification from event host

Articles: 1.5 CEUs for NSCA publications,

Articles/Abstracts: Photocopy of
Authoring/co-authoring articles, 1.0 CEU for peer-reviewed journals, 0.5
periodical cover and first page
abstracts, chapters in books, and/ CEU for all others | Abstracts: 1.0 CEU per
B Publications of article/abstract | Chapters/
or books published abstract | Chapters: 1.5 CEUs
Books: Photocopy of book
Note: Item must be published per published chapter
cover and table of contents
Books: 3.0 CEUs per published book

Becoming certified or 0.5 CEU awarded at time of Photocopy of certification

C First Aid
recertified in First Aid certification/recertification card or certificate

0.3 CEU per quarter credit hour.

Passing post-certification Photocopy of grade report
C College Course Work 0.5 CEU per semester credit hour, a
college course work or unoffical transcript
maximum of 2.0 CEUs per course

Completion of non-academic credit Photocopy of verification

C Internships 2.0 CEUs per internship
granting internship of at least 150 hours of internship completion

Passing USADA quiz through 0.2 CEU for each quiz that is
C USADA quizzes
NSCA website submitted and passed

Associate Publication Passing NSCA Coach, Personal Training 0.1 CEU for each quiz that is
D
Quizzes Quarterly, and/or TSAC Report Quizzes submitted and passed

CEUs awarded for pre-approved

Photocopy of verification
Pre-approved Home Successfully completing an courses only; refer to course
D of course completion from
Studies approved home study course listings at www.nsca.com for
pre-approved provider
number of CEUs awarded

Educational activities not covered by any

other category (e.g., watching videos, Statement of nature of
D Personal Development 0.5 CEU per year
reading articles, completing quizzes, activities completed
or home studies not pre-approved)

Earn a NSCA certification Earning a certification for the NSCA

D 3.0 CEUs
not currently held credential not currently held

NCCA-accredited Fitness, Earning a fitness, sport or exercise

Photocopy of score
D Sport, or Exercise Nutrition nutrition certifications from other 1.0 CEU
report or certificate
Certification(s) NCCA-accredited organizations
*Documentation for NSCA activites not required †Documentation only required if selected for an audit, or requesting an appeal or reinstatement.

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 NSCA RECERTIFICATION POLICIES & PROCEDURES 2018 – 2020 REPORTING PERIOD

NSCA CEUs Entered Random Audit

When certificants obtain CEUs through the NSCA, the NSCA will The NSCA will conduct a random audit of a percentage of certified
record those CEUs in the certificant’s recertification record. These individuals that complete the recertification process. Those
CEUs will also be applied towards Recertified with Distinction (*D®). individuals selected for the audit will be required to submit their
This includes: CEU documentation to the NSCA for verification.

• Attending or presenting at NSCA events Those chosen randomly for the audit will be notified by mail no
later than March 2021. Once contacted, certified individuals have 45
• Authoring articles, abstracts, and/or books for days to submit the documentation that supports the information
NSCA publications previously submitted online or on the CEU Reporting Form. If
• Passing NSCA quizzes supporting documentation is not provided within the time allotted
• Participating on NSCA committees (45 days), does not substantiate the activities reported, or is found
to not meet CEU requirements (i.e., activity falls outside the scope
• Serving as a State/Provincial Director
of practice for the NSCA certification held) the conditions for
• Serving as a SIG Executive Council Member recertification will have not been met, and those individuals will not
• Serving on Board of Directors be recertified.
• Earning additional NSCA credential(s)
• Serving as a NSCA Intern
Late Fees
• NSCA/Human Kinetics home study courses There will be a late fee of $35 for certificants who earned the CEUs
during the reporting period (1/1/2018 – 12/31/2020), however failed
Note: NSCA/Human Kinetics home study courses must be self-
to report by the deadline. The late reporting option is available
reported by certificant
through January 31, 2021. Individuals do not need to submit any
supporting documentation when paying a late fee. All certificants
CEU Documentation not completing recertification by January 31, 2021, will have their
It is the responsibility of each certified individual to maintain a certification revoked.
record of all documentation for completed activities; see the table
on page 5 for documentation requirements. Failure to Report/Appeals
Documentation does not need to be submitted to the NSCA, for Once certified, each certified individual continues to be certified
standard recertification, unless requested and/or in conjunction with as long as he/she fulfills the minimum CEU requirements and pays
the random recertification audit conducted at the conclusion of a the recertification fee by the deadline of December 31, 2020. The
recertification cycle. NSCA Certification Committee will be notified of the names of
Note: Documentation is required when requesting an appeal those failing to meet all CEU requirements so that the appropriate
or reinstatement. action may be taken. Those who fail to meet the CEU requirements
will be sent a Notice of Certification Revocation. Those wishing to
appeal the revocation can do so by submitting an appeal in writing,
including all relevant supporting education documentation, to the
Certification Committee.

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 NSCA RECERTIFICATION POLICIES & PROCEDURES 2018 – 2020 REPORTING PERIOD

Reinstatement
Individuals with expired certifications may petition NSCA for
reinstatement of their certifications at any time. Reinstatement will
be granted upon fulfillment of the following conditions:
1. Presentation of documentation that all required CEUs were
earned since the last successful recertification and earned in
accordance with the requirements of the recertification policy in
effect at that time.
2. Verification of currrent CPR/AED
3. Payment of reinstatement and all related recertification fees of
previous recertification period(s).
If reinstatement is granted, certificants will maintain their initial
certification date (a new certification number may be issued).
Certificants who are denied reinstatement may appeal to the
Certification Committee. The Certification Committee will review
appeals at the Committee’s next scheduled meeting and render a
final decision.
The fee for reinstatement is $200 plus previously unpaid
recertification fees. The appropriate forms can be found online
at www.nsca.com.

Recertified with Distinction (*D)

Recertified with Distinction is a program that honors certified
professionals who have met a high standard for continuing
education, and are acknowledged for their significant role and
participation with the NSCA. The Recertified with Distinction
program benefits those who qualify, by enhancing their professional
status and by providing public recognition including:
• A specially designed certificate honoring the accomplishment
• The right to use the trademark protected “*D” as an extension
of their CSCS, CSPS, NSCA-CPT, and/or TSAC-F credential(s)
• Special notation on NSCA conference badges
To qualify for Recertified with Distinction status, certificants must:
1. Meet the standard recertification requirements established by
the NSCA for the current recertification period.
2. Acquire a total of 10.0 CEUs from NSCA activities in a
recertification period. (the requirements are not prorated for
those certified after January 2018 and CEU category maximum
rules do not apply)
3. Select the option to recertify *D on the recertification payment
section of the NSCA website (Non-members will pay a $25 fee;
Members have no fee but must select the box)
Holders of multiple NSCA certifications must earn an additional
2.0 CEUs in order for the *D to count toward all certifications held
(Example: 12.0 CEUs for two certifications, 14.0 CEUs for three or
more). The “*D” must be displayed following the appropriate NSCA
certification credential(s), separated by a comma, with no space in
between, example: “CSCS,*D.”

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