NSCA · CSCS
Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) practice exams
The NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist exam — practice both sections against NSCA's content outline, with every answer explained.
Or read 15 sample questions with answers.
About the CSCS exam
The CSCS certifies professionals who design and run strength and conditioning programs for athletes. The exam has two sections: Scientific Foundations and Practical/Applied.
Scientific Foundations covers exercise science (48 scored questions), sports psychology (20) and nutrition (12). Practical/Applied covers program design (44), exercise technique (28), program implementation (22), and organization and administration (16).
The real exam
Public information published by NSCA. A ExamWize practice exam matches this format — it is not a copy of the exam's contents.
- Format
- Two sections: Scientific Foundations (95 questions, 1.5 hours) and Practical/Applied (125 questions, 2.5 hours). Each includes 15 non-scored questions.
- Cost
- NSCA lists exam fees, with member discounts — check the current fee schedule.
- Scoring
- You need a scaled score of 70 or higher on each section. Practice scores here use a 70% pass line.
- Validity
- Certification also requires current CPR/AED and recertification through CEUs.
Practice by exam topic
ExamWize practice exams draw questions in these same proportions, from a bank of 593 CSCS questions. Open a topic for what it covers and free questions with answers.
Who it's for
- Strength and conditioning coaches working with athletes
- Kinesiology and exercise science graduates (a bachelor's degree is required)
- Athletic trainers and physical therapists adding performance training
How to prepare
- Program design is the biggest Practical/Applied domain — know %1RM, reps, sets and rest for each training goal.
- Know the energy systems, muscle physiology and the size principle for Scientific Foundations.
- Learn testing order, spotting rules and the phases of Olympic lifts.
- Review facility guidelines, supervision ratios and liability basics.
See the free CSCS cheat sheet for a one-page domain summary, and the content policy for how these questions are written.
Free CSCS practice resources
- 15 free CSCS practice questionsSpread across the exam's topics, each with the answer and an explanation for every option.
- Free 10-question diagnosticA quick, scored check of where you stand, with no account needed.
- CSCS cheat sheetThe topics and the facts that come up most, on one page.
- CSCS study guideHow to plan your preparation.
CSCS exam FAQ
- What is the format of the CSCS exam?
- Two sections: Scientific Foundations (95 questions, 1.5 hours) and Practical/Applied (125 questions, 2.5 hours). Each includes 15 non-scored questions.
- How much does the CSCS exam cost?
- NSCA lists exam fees, with member discounts — check the current fee schedule.
- How is the CSCS exam scored?
- You need a scaled score of 70 or higher on each section. Practice scores here use a 70% pass line.
- How long is the credential valid?
- Certification also requires current CPR/AED and recertification through CEUs.
- How many CSCS practice questions does ExamWize have?
- 593 original practice questions, drawn into full practice exams in the same format and domain proportions as the real CSCS. Every option has its own explanation.
- Are these real CSCS exam questions?
- No. Every question is original, written from NSCA's public content outline — never copied from the real exam or from exam dumps. They match the real exam's format, not its contents.
- Can I try ExamWize for free?
- Yes. The free diagnostic has 10 CSCS practice questions with a full explanation for every answer, and no account is needed.