Continuing education is a component of professional development for certified personal trainers. A continuing education credit (CEC) is awarded for participating in related learning activities.
NFPT offers a variety of different courses that will earn you credits with NFPT and with all other major certifying agencies. All accredited personal trainer certifications require CECs. But NFPT offers free CEC options and approves non-NFPT CE learning activities so that you can choose whatever fits your needs for CECs.
Continuing Ed Requirements for NFPT Certification
Continuing education requirements can be different for each certification agency. But the premise is the same, we all require that continued competence be demonstrated through continuing education. For details regarding what Continuing Education is, and what it isn’t, read our article on the subject, click here.
If you don’t keep up on your CECs, you will lose the CPT credential that you worked hard for (which will affect your job, your insurance policy, and your reputation – we’ll help make sure that doesn’t happen)!
We make our requirements easy to understand. There are NO (none, nada, zero) CECs required in your first year. Starting your second year, 2.0 CECs are required annually. We’ll keep you updated on your status and notify you by email as deadlines approach.
NFPT keeps your recertification cost low. There are even options for earning all of your 2.0 CECs for free. Our renewal membership fee ($85) + CEC cost (FREE!) will be lower than others, by far! Learn more about how to renew your certification >>
We make CE and NFPT-CPT maintenance convenient, affordable and easy to understand. If there is ever a question about how to get CECs, contact us and we will help you to find something that’s right for you and that is in your budget.
How To Get Continuing Education Credits
There are a wide variety of ways to get NFPT Continuing Education Credits – so many that we can’t even list them all! Here’s some of the most popular methods for credits:
- Courses / Classes
- Workshops
- Seminars
- CPR/AED Certification
- Proof of Insurance
- Content Contribution
- NFPT Self Tests & other FREE CE sources
If you take the time to do something that educates you in exercise science or fitness business, we’ll give you the credit!
You may choose to submit a learning activity which is not pre-approved by NFPT for CECs, that’s okay! There is no petition or submission fee for our review and approval! We will review your submission and determine your credit award (CECs) based on 3 things:
1. Participation Hours
| Participation Hours | CECs Awarded |
|---|---|
| 1 to 2 hours | 0.25 |
| >2 to 3 hours | 0.50 |
| >3 to 4 hours | 0.75 |
| >4 to 6 hours | 1.00 |
| >6 to 7 hours | 1.25 |
| >7 to 9 hours | 1.50 |
| >9 to 10 hours | 1.75 |
| more than 10 hours | 2.00 |
2. Recognition of Learning Activity/Provider: the course/activity must be delivered and/or developed by a provider with relevant education and experience. This means that the individual developer or deliverer of the learning activity must have a related exercise science degree and 3 or more years of experience.
3. Relevant Subject Matter: the educational content of the learning activity must speak to the development of fitness training skill sets and/or the business of personal training:
| Relevant Subject Matter | |
|---|---|
| Anatomy | Kinesiology/Biomechanics |
| Aquatics | Martial Arts/Boxing |
| Biology | Nutrition |
| Client Screening/Consultation | Physiology |
| Dance/Gymnastics | Special Populations |
| Endurance Training | Sports Conditioning |
| Fitness Business | Sports Rehabilitation |
| Flexibility/Stretching | Stress Management |
| Functional Training | Weight Management |
| Holistic Wellness | Weight/Resistance Training |
| Group Fitness | Wellness |
| Injury Treatment/Prevention | Yoga/Pilates |
When submitting a learning activity that is not pre-approved by NFPT, we will ask for information that addresses these requirements, including a certificate of completion or similar documentation. The submission form and instructions for additional documentation will be found in your NFPT online account.
When submitting a learning activity that is pre-approved by NFPT, you will only need to submit the certificate of completion or similar documentation for your credit award.
When completing a NFPT CE Course or FREE CE offers for CECs, you are automatically awarded credits, no submission is required.
How To Get FREE CECs
Self-Tests
NFPT Self-Tests are free, optional quizzes consisting of about 50 questions. They are published twice a year in June and December. Questions cover continuing education articles we publish on the blog monthly. The tests are taken through the Online Learning Portal. Score 80% or higher to be awarded 0.5 CECs. Take both self-tests and get 1.0 CECs each year at no cost.
Trainer Refresher
This 120 question quiz is based on the NFPT Personal Fitness Trainer Manual. It covers the basics of personal trainer knowledge. Take the quiz through our Online Learning Portal.
Fitness Flops
A free monthly quiz where you identify the problem depicted in an image. The ‘flop’ could be incorrect form or incorrect client:trainer etiquette – identifying the wrong way reinforces the right. Correct answers are awarded 0.1 credit. Easily get half your annual CEC requirement by participating each month.
How To Submit Your CECs
If you take the time to do something that educates you in exercise science or fitness business, we’ll give you the credit!
Submit documentation for CECs through your online NFPT account, or by snail mail or email at [email protected]. Documentation could be in the form of a certificate of completion, transcript or confirmation letter – heck, take a picture of the doc with your smart phone and send it to us, we’ll accept it that way too!
At NFPT, we make CEC submission a breeze. No stress and no hassle when you submit information for your credits, and no submission fees either! NFPT is one of the only cert companies that won’t charge a fee for reviewing your documentation and processing your credit award. Any method that you use to get the information to us, courier pigeon or cell phone, we’ll take it! As long as you provide us with the document/s/ that shows us what you’ve done and with what company/presenter you did it through, get it over to us and we’ll award you the credit!
Ready to Submit for CECs? Log in to your NFPT account, or contact us for our mailing address, instructions for a quick CE doc submit, or to ask any questions. We’re here and happy to help!
Continuing Education Courses
Courses for your continuing education and professional development are available from NFPT and our approved providers.
NFPT courses provide 0.5 – 2.0 credits. Courses range from introductory to advanced. Some are conveniently available online. Cost varies by course.
Cost and credits awarded from our approved providers vary.
