What questions are on the NSCA CPSS exam?

You will want to know what is on the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) Certified Sport and Performance Scientist (CPSS) exam to best prepare!

The NSCA CPSS is the gold standard in sport science and is a required credential by professional sport leagues (ex: Major League Soccer) and colleges. Whether you are a sport scientist, personal trainer, physical therapist, or strength and conditioning coach, passing this exam demonstrates your expertise in the field.

Exam Question Types

The CPSS exam is 2 hours and 45 minutes with 115 questions; however, only 100 are scored. To pass you need to earn a scaled score of 70 or higher. All of the questions are multiple-choice. The exam consists of 1 section with 2 types of questions:

1) Independent Exam Questions: 50-55 questions covering the entire textbook.

2) Case Study Questions: 45-50 questions based on athlete and research case studies.

To prepare for independent exam questions complete the practice questions from the CPSS Study Guide. To prepare for the case study questions focus on the case study questions (pages 8-10) and research review questions (pages 12-21).

*IMPORTANT: The research articles that the case study questions are based on will be automatically emailed to you when you sign up for the exam. If you don't receive it, reach out to the NSCA.

Exam Content Overview

The exam encompasses four main topics: 1) Training Theory and Process, 2) Needs Analysis, 3) Monitoring, and 4) Communication and Education. All the necessary material to pass the exam is in the NSCA Essentials of Sport Science textbook. Some chapters are emphasized more heavily than others. To focus on chapters importance for the exam, we have outlined the most relevant chapters and content for each exam topic:

1) Training Theory and Process (23-29 questions)

Chapters

• Chapter 1 - Performance Dimensions

• Chapter 2 - Training Load Model

• Chapter 3 - Periodization and Programming for Individual Sports

• Chapter 4 - Periodization and Programming for Team Sports

Content Outline

• Understand the relevant theory and principles that underpin training.

• Design or evaluate a performance program based on sound programming and periodization principles around the constraints of the training environment (e.g., equipment, location, time of year, athlete history, and sport.

• Understand the multiple dimensions of the training process (e.g., psychological, physical, sport development, personal growth, nutrition, recovery, and interventions.

2) Needs Analysis (24-30 questions)

Chapters

• Chapter 5 - Key Performance Indicators

• Chapter 6 - Profiling and Benchmarking

Content Outline

• Research factors related to success in a sport through qualitative and quantitative methods (e.g., organizational, motion, dynamics, biomechanical demands, tactical patterns, technical requirements, and injury).

• Establish key performance indicators that relate to performance.

• Identify environmental or situational constraints that may impact performance.

• Develop benchmarking (e.g., normative data) around the attributes needed for success.

• Establish assessment strategies to evaluate performance status.

• Establish resources and methods to help understand load measurement as it relates to the sport (e.g., internal load vs. external load).

• Identify acquired research and development activities that facilitate performance planning, ongoing monitoring, and assessment.

3) Acute and Chronic Monitoring (25-30 questions)

Chapters

• Chapter 7 - Technological Implementation

• Chapter 8 - Data Hygiene

• Chapter 9 - Characteristics of Tracking Systems and Load Monitoring

• Chapter 10 - Analysis of Tracking Systems and Load Monitoring

• Chapter 18 - Statistical Modeling

• Chapter 22 - Performance Interventions and Operationalizing Data

Outline

• Select appropriate and feasible assessment tools to track the key performance indicators identified in the needs analysis.

• Design robust data capture protocols that enable appropriate analysis.

• Analyze data and apply results to each specific key performance indicator (e.g., training and the athlete response).

• Use data driven outcomes to make recommendations, support the decision-making process, and/or directly intervene.

• Evaluate the efficacy of existing assessments, protocols, applications, and interventions (e.g., the quality assurance process).

4) Communication and Education (19-24 questions)

Chapters

• Chapter 21 - Data Delivery and Reporting

• Chapter 30 - Interdisciplinary Support

• Chapter 31 - Information Dissemination

Content Outline

• Understand general communication and education strategies for delivering information to athletes, coaches, high-performance teams, management, or the sport science community.

• Utilize creative and efficient solutions to disseminate situationally appropriate and timely information and data to a target audience (e.g., athletes, coaches, and performance team members).

• Translate research and theory to inform best practices within the constraints of the performance program.

• Collaborate with other professionals in finding customized performance solutions.

Support & Courses Available

Ready for more support to help you prep for the CPSS exam?

1) Join our Facebook Group, “CPSS (Certified Performance and Sport Scientist) Study Group,” here.

2) Check out our FREE CPSS Study Guide with "Need to Know" concepts, notes, and practice questions.

3) Use our CPSS Prep Course with chapter lectures and practice questions to help you pass the NSCA exam; click the link here to check it out.