• The NASM-CPT (NCCA-accredited) exam has 120 questions — 100 scored plus 20 unscored pretest items — with a two-hour time limit; it is closed-book and proctored by PSI, available online or in person. (source)
• Passing requires a scaled score of 70; NASM uses continuous scaled scoring so the passing standard stays consistent across exam forms and over time. (source)
• NASM's own published 2025 results: 19,338 of 22,843 candidates passed the NASM-CPT exam, an 85% pass rate — higher than the ~64% figure commonly cited by third-party prep sites. (source)
• Prerequisites to sit the exam: a high school diploma or GED, plus a current CPR/AED certification (required before exam day, not before enrollment); no prior fitness certification is required. (source)
• Exam-only registration is listed at $599 (NASM product CPT7107001, price valid through October 24, 2026); this is separate from study-material bundles, which cost more. (source)
• The current curriculum is the CPT 7 edition, built on NASM's proprietary OPT™ (Optimum Performance Training) Model, which remains the framework tested across the exam's program-design and exercise-technique sections. (source)
• Recertification is required every two years via 2.0 CEUs (about 20 hours of approved continuing education); NASM One™ membership waives the separate recertification fee. (source)

Last verified: September 24, 2026 against nasm.org (official NASM pages).