ACTION Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) Certification Review (2024)
Read this ACTION Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) Review to decide if the ACTION-CPT Certification is worth it and what the best personal training certification is for you.
One of the cheapest personal trainer certifications is the ACTION Personal Trainer Certification, more commonly known as the ACTION CPT Certification. This comprehensive ACTION-CPT review will explore the benefits, requirements, study strategies, and career prospects associated with the low cost and affordable ACTION CPT certification program.
Looking to become a certified personal trainer? Read our in-depth review of the ACTION Personal Trainer Certification (CPT) to find out if it’s the right fit for you. Once you’ve read the ACTION personal trainer certification reviews then whether you want to learn how to become a personal trainer, or learn how to become a fitness influencer, or learn how to open a gym, or learn how to start a fitness business, or anything in between, use the Exercise.com platform to accomplish your fitness business goals.
Ready to jump into some ACTION personal training certification reviews? Let’s get to it.
ACTION Personal Trainer Certification
The ACTION Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) certification is a well-regarded program that equips individuals with the skills necessary to train, educate, and motivate fitness clients effectively. Here are key details based on the provided sources:
- Accreditation: The certification exam is NCCA Accredited, ensuring that it meets industry standards for quality and credibility.
- Exam Format: The exam consists of 130 multiple-choice questions, with 100 scored questions and up to 30 non-scored research questions. Candidates have 2.5 hours to complete the exam and must achieve a score of 72% or higher to pass.
- Exam Proctoring: The exam is available online with Examity Live Proctoring, ensuring the integrity of the testing process.
- Retest Policy: If a candidate fails the exam, they must wait 90 days before retaking it. Examity charges a $99 proctor fee for each exam attempt.
- Registration Requirements: Candidates need to provide proof of current CPR and AED certification as part of the application process.
- Study Materials: The program offers a comprehensive textbook available in Kindle format for members, aiding in preparation for the exam.
- Certification Benefits: Successful completion of the certification exam leads to earning the title of ACTION-Certified Personal Trainer (ACTION-CPT), demonstrating proficiency in personal training knowledge and skills.
- Educational Services: Candidates can opt for additional educational services to prepare for the exam through bundled plans starting at $99 or $9.95 per month.
Overall, the ACTION CPT certification provides a robust educational experience, practical training resources, and a pathway to becoming a certified personal trainer with recognized credentials in the fitness industry.
Pros and Cons of the ACTION Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) Certification
Pros
- Comprehensive Resources: The certification program offers extensive resources and a well-thought-out workbook to support learning.
- Industry Recognition: ACTION is recognized as one of the most reputable associations in the fitness industry.
- Professional Development Opportunities: Access to a wide range of Continuing Education Units (CEUs) in various niches for ongoing learning.
- Affordability: The concept of free or very low-cost certification compared to other programs.
- Supportive Community: Opportunity to connect and network with other personal trainers through groups like NSCAās Personal Trainers Professional Development Group.
Cons
- Lack of Online Materials: Some reviewers note a lack of online materials within the program, such as the absence of practice exams in study materials.
- Limited Focus on Behavioral and Nutritional Coaching: The program does not offer courses specifically focusing on client behavioral or nutritional coaching skills.
- Perception of Being a “Racket”: Some individuals express concerns about the certification industry becoming overly commercialized and competitive, leading to doubts about the value and integrity of certifications like ACTION CPT.
- Accusations of Being a Scam: There are negative perceptions, with claims that ACTION may be perceived as a scam by some individuals, raising questions about its credibility.
These pros and cons provide a balanced view of the ACTION Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) certification, highlighting both its strengths and areas for improvement based on feedback from various sources.
- Choosing the right personal trainer certification is an important decision.
- ACTION Certified Personal Trainer (ACTION-CPT) is one of the many certifications available.
- There are positive and negative aspects of the ACTION-CPT certification.
ACTION Certified Personal Trainer (ACTION-CPT) is one certification exam of numerous options available for personal trainers to choose from. There are many factors to consider when choosing the right personal training certification, so it’s important for fitness professionals to weigh the positives and negatives of each certification before deciding which certification is the best fit for their career goals.
This review will discuss the details about the ACTION-CPT credential and exam.
About ACTION
Previously known as ACT (Athletic Certification Training), the ACTION-CPT exam is administered by the ACTION Governing Board. There is little information online about the ACTION governing board.
ACTION offers three certifications: the ACTION certified personal trainer (ACTION-CPT), an Advanced Nutrition certification, and a Group Exercise Instructor certification.
ACTION also offers an online personal training certificate. This certificate does not give the individual certified personal trainer (CPT) credentials. Most fitness businesses, health clubs, and gyms only want to hire certified trainers so you will need to take the ACTION-CPT certification exam to earn those credentials. Learn more about the ACTION-CPT certification process by watching the video below:
About the ACTION Certified Personal Trainer Exam
The ACTION Certified Personal Trainer (ACTION-CPT) exam has three different study plans to choose from in order to prepare for the exam. The table below describes those plans, the materials included with each, and the costs.
If you choose the monthly payment plan, you are charged $35 and immediately have access to the resources and materials for that plan. You are charged the monthly fee until it exceeds the total cost of the plan. You can then cancel the monthly fee, or continue to pay it and apply to the next highest plan (Platinum plan).
On occasion, there is a Groupon available for the Platinum Plan. The Groupon price is $149, which is $100 off the normal price of $249.
Shipping for the textbook to the US and Canada is included in the cost of the materials. Aspiring personal trainers outside of North America must have a $14.95 shipping fee. A pdf of the textbook is available for immediate download. A Kindle book is available for those who purchase the Pro or Platinum plans.
The online courses are available to stream online or you can download the videos for mobile viewing offline. The ACTION Learning system is available via the mobile app. You can also purchase additional videos for around $15.
The only additional charge on top of the study materials is the $99 fee for the testing center.
Applicants can sign up and pay online to schedule the exam. You must have current CPR and AED certification and provide proof to take the personal trainer exam. The exam must be taken within one year of purchase.
The exam is given by the Prometric test centers, which have locations across the US and worldwide. Test times and dates are during the week from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm with some availability also on weekends.
ACTION recommends the Basic Plan if you have a fitness background, prior experience in the fitness industry, or previous education in exercise science. If you learn well from reading a book, you can probably also pass the exam with the Basic Plan. Others who need additional resources would benefit from the Pro Plan.
ACTION also has one option to take the exam without the purchase of any study materials. The costs of just the exam with no study materials are $99 for the testing center fee and $99 for the exam fee for a total of $198.
There is no fee to re-take the NCCA-Accredited exam, but you must wait 90 days to re-take the certification exam and pay a $99 testing center fee. There is no waiting period to re-take the online exam but you must pay a $35 fee.
Exam Structure and Content
The ACTION-CPT exam has 150 questions. You have 2.5 hours to take the exam and you must achieve a 70% to pass the exam. You will receive your score immediately via email.
The overall content of the ACTION-CPT focuses on education, instructor training, and practical knowledge. The following topics are covered in the certification exam:
- Anatomy
- Biomechanics
- Client Assessment
- Flexibility Exercises and Importance
- Program Design
- Safety
- Special Populations
- Nutrition
- Legal and Business Topics
The ACTION online personal trainer certificate comes with the study materials and has no charge to take the online exam. Some test-takers will use this as a practice exam for the ACTION-CPT exam.
Recertification and CEUs
All personal training certifications require recertification for fitness professionals to stay current with continuing education and to keep their certification active. Different organizations have different recertification time lengths as well as differing continuing education credits or units.
ACTION-certified personal trainers (CPTs) must renew and recertify every two years and the cost is $65. Those who chose the Platinum Plan do not have to pay any recertification fees for their lifetime, which could add up to significant savings over time.
CPTs must obtain 2.0 Continuing Education Credits or CECs in the two-year period to renew their certification. This amounts to 20 hours of face-to-face or online learning.
The table below compares the recertification cycle, costs, and CEUs/CECs required for seven different personal training certifications, including ACTION.
ACTION accepts CECs offered by other organizations, so you do not have to get all of those directly from ACTION. ACTION offers two additional certifications that count for CECs. Those are:
- The Advanced Nutrition Certification, which regularly costs $149.95, but is currently on sale for $99.95. It counts for 0.8 CECs and covers nutritional recommendations, supplements, and sports nutrition.
- The Group Exercise Certification also usually costs $149.95 and is currently on sale for $99.95. It counts for 0.6 CECs and prepares instructors to lead safe and effective group exercise classes as a group exercise instructor.
The Positives
The ACTION personal trainer certification is accredited by the NCAA (National Commission for Certifying Agencies). The accreditation was granted in 2014 and expires in 2024. Accreditation means that specific standards have been met by the organization and in the exam.
The ACTION personal trainer certification exam is the cheapest exam available, at only $198. This covers both the testing center fee and the fee for the certification exam.
The study materials are available in a variety of formats. There is a physical copy of the textbook, a digital copy of the textbook, flashcards, practice exams, videos available for online or offline viewing, and a mobile app.
Another positive is that you have one year to take the ACTION-CPT exam once you register. The online format gives you the flexibility to progress at your own pace and take the exam when you feel ready to do so.
The ACTION-CPT gives you the foundational knowledge you need to be successful as a personal trainer. If you purchase the study materials, you have access to them forever.
ACTION also has some negotiated deals for liability insurance. Liability insurance is important for all personal trainers to carry, so this might save you a little money in the long run. The career transition materials that are available in the Pro and Platinum plans are also nice additional resources to help you as a newly certified personal trainer.
The Negatives
The ACTION CPT is not one of the most reputable certifications available. This may be because it is a newer certification and is it fairly new to NCCA accreditation. Other personal training and fitness training certifications have a long history of accreditation, like ACSM (American College of Sports Medicine), ACE (American Council on Exercise), NASM (National Academy of Sports Medicine), and NSCA (National Strength and Conditioning Association).
One other negative of the ACTION-CPT is that while it gives a good educational foundation for personal trainers, it is not nearly as in-depth or research-based as some of the other well-known certifications. Some users have commented that the textbook also has some inconsistencies in information.
ACTION does not provide phone support to the test takers and certified professionals. They do provide email, chat, and text message support.
One of the biggest complaints about the ACTION-CPT exam is that ACTION is trying to sell its Personal Training System, which is a platform to use to develop, deliver, and track workouts, assessments, and nutrition information for clients. They advertise and recommend this system throughout the textbook, as well as on their website.
When you purchase one of the study plans, a screen comes up for a 10-week free trial of the Personal Training System. After this, you will be charged $39.95 a month until you cancel.
It’s also confusing that ACTION offers the free online personal training certificate that comes with the study plans. A personal trainer certification is not enough to get a job as a personal trainer, so this is a useless credential. The certified personal trainer (CPT) credential is needed to be a reputable personal trainer.
The fact that a personal training certification offers a Groupon for their CPT exam is an odd occurrence. Why not just offer the Groupon price as the regular price for the certification program?
The Bottom Line
The ACTION-CPT exam is one of the cheapest options available, but not one of the most reputable. If you are just looking for a certification to have one, this one might work for you. But if you are looking to be competitive as a personal trainer, one of the other more reputable certifications would be better suited for you.
It is considered more of an entry-level certification, which may be appropriate for some fitness professionals. Others might be looking for a more in-depth or challenging certification to obtain.
ACTION does not require a high school diploma to take the ACTION-CPT exam, nor do they have an associate’s or bachelor’s degree requirement, which could be a positive or negative aspect depending on how you look at that.
Check out another ACTION promotional video below:
Is the ACTION CPT accredited?
Yes, the ACTION Certified Personal Trainer program is NCCA Accredited, ensuring its compliance with rigorous educational standards for fitness professionals. The exam is conducted online, monitored by Examity’s Live Proctoring to maintain its integrity. It includes 130 multiple-choice questions, with 100 scored and up to 30 non-scored for research purposes. This accreditation is a testament to the program’s quality, making it a reliable choice for those pursuing a career in fitness. Using comprehensive platforms like Exercise.com can further assist fitness professionals in managing and growing their businesses effectively.
How much does the ACTION CPT exam cost?
The ACTION CPT exam fee without any study materials is $99, plus a testing center fee of $99. The cost for the ACTION CPT exam varies depending on the package you choose, with options available to fit different needs and budgets. Investing in a comprehensive management platform like Exercise.com can further enhance the value you get from your certification by streamlining business operations and client engagement.
Is the ACTION CPT exam multiple choice?
Yes, the ACTION CPT exam consists entirely of multiple-choice questions, including both scored items and non-scored research questions, facilitating a clear and structured assessment format.
What is the easiest fitness certification to get?
“Easiest” can vary based on individual strengths and study habits, but many find entry-level certifications with broad study materials and extensive support, such as those offered by reputable organizations like ISSA, ACE, and NASM, to be more accessible. Platforms like Exercise.com can complement such certifications by providing practical tools for applying knowledge in a fitness business context.
Read More: Easiest Fitness Certifications
What is the hardest personal trainer certification?
The difficulty of personal trainer certifications can vary widely among individuals, but the NSCA certifications are notoriously difficult. Both the NSCA-CSCS and the NSCA-CPT exams have low pass rates and require extensive prerequisite knowledge. Certifications with extensive prerequisites, comprehensive exams, and rigorous practical assessments are often considered more challenging. Utilizing a platform like Exercise.com can help leverage any certification to its fullest potential in a fitness business.
What does ACTION CPT stand for?
ACTION CPT stands for ACTION Certified Personal Trainer, indicating a certification program focused on equipping trainers with knowledge and skills essential for personal training. Exercise.com supports fitness professionals in maximizing their certification benefits through business management and growth tools.
How many times can you take the ACTION CPT exam?
The ACTION CPT exam allows for multiple attempts, though specific retake policies and potential fees should be reviewed within ACTION’s guidelines. Continuous learning and application of knowledge, as facilitated by platforms like Exercise.com, can increase success rates.
Which gyms accept ACTION CPT certification?
Many gyms recognize certifications that are NCCA-accredited, like the ACTION CPT. However, acceptance can vary based on individual gym policies and specific requirements. It’s best to check directly with the gym or fitness facility you’re interested in working with for their specific certification requirements.
What is the most widely accepted personal trainer certification?
Certifications from organizations like ACE, NASM, and NSCA are among the most widely recognized and accepted in the fitness industry. Choosing a widely accepted certification, coupled with leveraging a platform like Exercise.com, can significantly enhance a fitness professional’s credibility and business prospects.
What kind of questions are on the ACTION CPT exam?
The ACTION CPT exam questions cover a range of topics essential for personal trainers, including anatomy, exercise physiology, training techniques, and program design, all in a multiple-choice format. Tools and resources from Exercise.com can complement this knowledge, aiding in practical application within a fitness business.
What are the best personal training certifications to get?
The “best” personal training certifications often include ISSA, NASM, ACE, NSCA, and those accredited by reputable bodies like NCCA, with comprehensive curriculum covering essential fitness knowledge and skills. Incorporating a robust platform like Exercise.com can further enhance the utility and application of these certifications in a fitness business setting.
Read More: Best Personal Training Certifications
What are the requirements to take the ACTION certified personal training (ACTION-CPT) exam?
You must have CPR/AED certification or obtain them online through one of the plans. For most certifications, you must have a high school diploma, but ACTION does not require that at this time.
Is personal training a good career to get into?
Yes, if you enjoy working with individuals to help them meet their fitness goals, motivating and encouraging people to be active, and if you are willing to work hard and have a positive mindset, personal training may be a good career for you.
What is the difference between the online personal training certificate and the ACTION-CPT exam?
The online personal training certificate is free with any of the study plans and is taken online. Some use this online exam as a practice exam for the ACTION-CPT exam. The ACTION-CPT is NCCA accredited and gives you the CPT credentials, which is important for a job in the fitness and personal training industry.
Where do you take the ACTION-CPT exam?
The exam is given at Prometric Testing Centers, which are available worldwide.
How long should I study for the ACTION-CPT exam?
This will vary depending on your experience and expertise. If you have a background in fitness, have taken coursework in exercise science, or have prior experience working in health and fitness, then you would need less time to prepare than someone new to the fitness industry. It’s important to develop a study plan based on your background that’s flexible enough to meet your schedule. You have one year to take the exam from the time you register for it.
