Which personal training certifications require a practical exam rather than just a written exam?

AFAA

In Canada, both CPTN and Can.Fit.Pro require both written and practical exams.

W.I.T.S.

AFAA requires a practical and written exam.

AFAA requires both written and practical. AFAA is accredited by DETC (Distance Education Training Council) and, in addition to several NCCA-accredited certifications, is recommended by IHRSA.

I know both AFFA and WITS requires both

NSPA. www.nspainc.com and I think Chek may to www.chekinstitute.com.

But I know NSPA for sure. I took there CCS program in "94" or "95", Certified Conditioning Specialist, it's very good. It is along the lines of the NASM-PES and NSCA-CSCS, except you don't need a degree like with the CSCS. You just need to be a CPT or have a degree in a Health/Exercise Science field.

Like one person said AFAA does as well, ACSM used to but I don't believe they do so any more. There is also an organization called AAPTE, www.aapte.org that just might.

Oh, less I forget, there are two other organizations that may as well, www.propta.com and IART, www.exercisecertification.com

Sherwood Minor, CPT

NSPA, www.nspainc.com, AFAA, www.afaa.com, PROPTA, www.propta.com and maybe CHEK, www.chekinstitute.com, IART, www.exercisecertification.com, AAPTE, www.aapte.org.

ACSM used top but I was told they don't any more.

It is possible to find American Council on Exercise educational provider who teaches the course and includes the practical. My company is an educational provider for the American Council on Exercise and will soon be having a hybrid group fitness instructor course that will run from July 11, 2011 until October 2, 2011. We will meet twice a week online for 1.5 hours and biweekly for eight hours for the practical component.

As far as the ACSM credentials are concerned, I hold four of them and there is no practical component. There are videos on the exam that assess whether an individual understands a particular component of fitness. This is where it becomes evident if one has practical experience or not.

I also hold the NSCA CSCS credential and on that exam there is a video component that assesses whether one understands proper lifting technique, running technique among other things. It was so long ago I can't remember everything that was on the exam.

Hope this is helpful to you.

I think that AFAA , ACSM are requiring a practical and a theoretical exam. But I think that instructors that are sitting for their exams need to have a bigger experience in the cover topics!!!

Try the Gray Institute (FAFS) Certification, is 40 weeks long, nothing comes close to it in the Fitness industry!!!!!

ACSM, AFAA and college certifications require both a written and practical exam.

Hi Jerry! All certifications require a written and practical exam.

I only took a written for my ACSM Personal Training exam: but both for my Group EX Leader. ACSM

I think both is the best! And NOT online!

Hello Jerry,
I know AFAA has a written and a practical.

I was certified throught NPTI and thought it was an excellent program. It was a classroom setting with tons of hands on/practical training exprience. At the end you have a practical and written exam. I would definately recommend!