ISSA CPT study guide
ISSA CPT · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The ISSA Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) is a fully online, self-paced personal training program built for people entering the fitness industry with no prior experience, and for working trainers who want a recognized credential. Entry requirements are minimal: you must be 18 or older and hold a current CPR/AED certification before you complete your certification. The ISSA CPT study guide has 8 sections and about 2,358 words.
01Anatomy and Physiology
Anatomy questions on the exam rarely ask you to label a diagram; they ask you to reason from structure to function. Build your review around four systems.
303 words, about 2 min02Exercise Physiology and Energy Systems
The body resupplies ATP through three integrated systems, and exam questions test whether you can match an activity's intensity and duration to the dominant system. Phosphagen (ATP-PC): immediate, roughly 0-10 seconds, no oxygen required, uses stored ATP and creatine phosphate.
306 words, about 2 min03Biomechanics and Kinesiology
Biomechanics questions are applied physics: they ask why a lift feels hardest at a particular joint angle or why a client loses balance. A lever has a fulcrum, effort, and load.
296 words, about 1 min04Client Assessment and Screening
Screening comes before testing, and testing comes before programming. This domain tests sequence and interpretation as much as protocol names.
279 words, about 1 min05Program Design and Periodization
Programming questions ask you to manipulate the acute variables, namely choice, order, intensity, volume, rest, tempo, and frequency, to serve a stated goal. Name the goal first and the variables usually follow.
300 words, about 2 min06Nutrition and Weight Management
Nutrition questions usually test energy balance and scope of practice rather than biochemistry. Weight change tracks calories in versus out.
308 words, about 2 min07Special Populations and Injury Considerations
Special-population questions reward conservatism: identify the condition, adjust the variables, and know when to refer. Cardiovascular disease and hypertension.
279 words, about 1 min08Professional Practice, Ethics, and Business
Professional practice questions test judgment: what you may do, what you must document, and how you protect yourself and the client. A certified trainer may design and supervise exercise, teach general health concepts, and coach behavior.
287 words, about 1 min