NSCA-CPT Exam Questions

Correct answer: The criminal justice system

The criminal justice system is correct because this action is prohibited and has been made criminal by federal and state statutory laws. This crime is punishable by fine or imprisonment. Other criminal cases levied against personal trainers relate to sexual misconduct or theft.

The civil justice system, focusing on contract law is incorrect because this would relate to a dispute about the agreement between the personal trainer and client. The civil justice system, focusing on tort law is incorrect because this typically involves a personal injury or wrongful death case.

Correct answer: Decline bench press

Exercises where weights are placed above the head and put the client at significant risk of injury if they should fail the lift often require a spotter.

An exception to this rule is power exercises, such as the snatch and clean and press. Power exercises should not be spotted, and athletes should be taught how to safely "bail" on these lifts. Machine exercises, such as lat pulldowns, do not require a spotter.

Correct answer: Sticking point

Sticking point is correct because this is the most difficult part of the exercise. The sticking point occurs during the concentric phase of an exercise, typically soon after the transition from the eccentric phase. Inhalation should take place during the eccentric phase of an exercise.

Concentric phase is incorrect because exhalation should only occur through the sticking point portion of the concentric phase. Middle of the exercise is incorrect because the exhalation should not occur until after this position.

Correct answer: Cables and pulleys are arranged in order to lift a weight stack

A selectorized machine offers an easy way for clients to change weight and set up an exercise by simply moving the pin on the weight stack. Cables and pulleys are arranged in such a way as to lift said weight stack against gravity.

Weight plates are a part of plate-loaded machines. Variable resistance is offered by cam machines, which may or may not be a part of a selectorized machine. Hydraulic machines use fluid for resistance.

Correct answer: Sit-ups

Sit-ups involve lumbar flexion, a contraindicated movement for an individual with this injury. Any lumbar rotation is also not advised for a client with a disc herniation. Any abdominal exercises performed by this client should involve lumbar stabilization.

Prone lumbar extensions may actually reduce this client's pain, and planks are a great choice for this client.

Correct answer: Keeping the wrists in relative flexion throughout the movement

The wrists should remain neutral throughout the exercise. Allowing them to fall into flexion or extension can put tension through the wrists and other areas of the upper body and can lead to injury. 

The head should be kept in line with the torso. The elbows should be fully extended at the top of the motion. 

Correct answer: 1.5-mile run

1.5-mile run is correct because, when possible and appropriate, choosing specific tests that are congruent with a client's goals and preferred mode of exercise can give them a clearer picture of their progress. For this client, because they like to cycle at high intensity, participate often in cardiovascular exercise, and appear to be safe to perform a more intense test, this near-maximal running test is the most appropriate. However, this test may be inappropriate for another client.

T-Test is incorrect because the mode of exercise does not measure aerobic cardiovascular fitness. Rockport walking test is incorrect because the intensity may not be high enough to give the client an accurate score for their ability.

Correct answer: Leg press, vertical chest press, lat pull-down, leg curl, machine biceps curl, machine seated calf raise

Leg press, vertical chest press, lat pull-down, leg curl, machine biceps curl, machine seated calf raise is correct because this places the exercises in order from largest to smallest muscle groups. All the multiple-joint exercises are performed before the single joint exercises. In addition, the muscle groups are training in an alternating fashion to minimize the length of breaks needed between exercises.

Lat pull-down, leg press, machine biceps curl, machine seated calf raise, leg curl, vertical chest press is incorrect because a large muscle group multi-joint exercise is performed last. Leg press, machine biceps curl, vertical chest press, machine seated calf raise, lat pull-down, leg curl is incorrect because small muscle group single joint exercises are performed before large muscle group multiple joint exercises.

Correct answer: Client-trainer fitness facility agreement

Because exercise poses an inherent risk of injury, both trainers and clients must clearly establish what happens in the case of an injury during a training session. This occurs during the client-trainer fitness facility agreement, where it is established who is responsible when an injury takes place.

This usually occurs after compatibility discussions, client-trainer agreements, and before the health appraisal screening.

Correct answer: Between the shoulder blades

Between the shoulder blades is correct because this placement allows for the greatest force to be applied in the correct direction when the victim is bent over at the waist. Five back blows should be applied in a row with the heel of the hand. This method can be combined with abdominal thrusts (five each) to aid a conscious client who is choking and consents to help.

Just below the neck is incorrect because this position is too high and may injure the victim. Just above the navel is incorrect because this is the placement of the fist during abdominal thrusts.

Correct answer: About 1" in front of the mid-shins

The power clean is a full body movement that moves the bar from the mid-shin up to the shoulders in an explosive movement and is used to develop power. In the starting position for the power clean, the bar should be about 1" or so in front of the legs. This also places the bar over the balls of the feet.

The lifter should squat down to grab the bar to begin the lift. As the bar is lifted from the start position, the space between the bar and the shins allows the lifter to pull the bar in toward the shins to keep it close to the body throughout the movement. The lifter should continue to push through the legs to bring the bar up the body, passing the knees. The bar will be close to or touching the thighs as it continues to rise.

At this point, the lifter should perform an explosive movement to accelerate the upward movement of the bar and then finally rotate the arms around and under the bar to catch the bar on the shoulders with the knees slightly bent.

Correct answer: Judge

Judge is correct because this individual possesses the knowledge needed to evaluate this often complicated question. If such a duty is determined by a judge to indeed exist, the decision of whether the duty was breached is turned over to a jury. The jury will also determine the damages to be awarded for such a breach.

Jury is incorrect because these individuals will determine if that duty was breached. Attorney is incorrect because these individuals plead the case of whether the personal trainer had a duty to care for the client.

Correct answer: A form that may reduce some liability on a trainer if the client should become injured during exercise

Assumption of risk documents allow for some limits on liability experienced by trainers when clients are injured during training. However, trainers still must practice safety and ensure that their clients are not exposed to unnecessary levels of harm.

Correct answer: 3 days

There are a few methods a personal trainer might utilize to help analyze a client's current state of nutrition. These include:

1. Dietary recall. This involves asking the individual to remember and report what they consumed over the past 24 hours.
2. Diet history. This method asks the individual questions to identify individual preferences, typical eating schedule, history of body weight changes, etc.
3. Diet record. This is also known as a food log and requires the individual to log everything they consume (including beverages and supplements) over the course of a 3-day period. This is considered to be the best representation of the three methods for assessing an individual's current diet.

When asking a client to complete a diet record, it's important to emphasize the need to follow their typical eating patterns, including the quality and timing of food. Many individuals will attempt to "eat more healthfully" during this period, which then prevents an accurate assessment.

Correct answer: Skinfold testing will provide an estimate of one's body fat within a few percentage points of that person's true body fat percentage.

The standard error of measurement is a concept that describes how tests will differ within an acceptable and predictable range from the "true" score based on a gold standard.

Skinfold testing seeming like it measures what it's supposed to measure is an example of face validity. Skinfold testing as the testing that is touted as the best estimate of body fat percentage as compared to all other body fat tests is an example of a gold standard test, and is not true in this instance. Skinfold testing has a modest error rate.

Correct answer: Transverse and sagittal

Transverse and sagittal is correct because this exercise has both sagittal and transverse plane movements. The upward and downward parts of the exercise occur in the sagittal plane. The twisting or rotational parts occur in the transverse plane.

Sagittal is incorrect because there is also rotational, or transverse plane, movement within this exercise. Frontal is incorrect because there is no side to side movement involved in this exercise.

Correct answer: Construction phase

Construction phase is correct because this is, by far, the most time-consuming aspect of the process. It is likely that this will take, at a minimum, half of the total time from conception to completion. During this phase, the design committee should monitor the process to ensure that the master plan and project deadlines are fulfilled in a timely manner.

Design phase is incorrect because this may take several months, but the construction phase may take years. Pre-operation phase is incorrect because it is likely that this phase will take the least amount of time.

Correct answer: Perform the abdominal thrusts straight back toward the spine

Perform the abdominal thrusts straight back toward the spine is correct because the true direction of the abdominal thrusts should be upward. This follows the desired direction of movement of the foreign object. The thrusts, combined with the back blows, should be performed until the object is cleared, the victim can cough forcibly or breathe, or the victim becomes unconscious.

Place the fist just above the navel and cover the fist with the other hand and place the fist with the thumb side against the victim's body are incorrect because these are how abdominal thrusts should be performed.

Correct answer: Body mass index

Body mass index is correct because this is a measure of body mass related to stature. However, there is no distinction as to whether this mass is fat or lean mass or where this mass is distributed in the body. This can be an important body composition measurement for obese individuals for whom fat mass calculations can be inaccurate or uncomfortable.

Bioelectrical impedance assessment and skinfold measurement are incorrect because these are measurements of fat mass.

Correct answer: Bodyweight squat and single-leg balance for 30 seconds

Evaluating a client's ability in foundational movements prior to beginning or advancing their training program is crucial to their safety, and these assessments can help ensure that the client is physically prepared for their training program. For plyometric training, the foundational movement patterns that should be assessed are different for each level of intensity. 

Those interested in any plyometric training should be able to perform a bodyweight squat with good form, which includes keeping the heels flat, maintaining an anterior pelvic tilt and good trunk position while moving through the entire range of motion. As they progress toward more advanced plyometric training, clients should be capable of performing a back squat with 1.5 times their body weight.

In addition, those interested in performing low-intensity plyometrics should also be able to balance on each leg for 30 seconds on each leg.

To progress to an intermediate intensity level, individuals should be able to balance in a single-leg quarter squat position for 30 seconds on each leg.

Those interested in an advanced plyometric training program that might include single-leg plyometric exercises should be able to balance in a single-leg half-squat position for 30 seconds.