Continuing Education

Continuing education is a critical part of any trusted and accredited certification program. Continuing education keeps your knowledge and skills sharp so that you can perform at a high level in the industry and retain the credibility your NSCA certification delivers.

What is a CEU?

CEU stands for Continuing Education Unit and is simply the way we measure your continuing education. CEUs range across a variety of topics. For example, you could pursue CEUs in nutrition, anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, training, or sports psychology. You can earn CEUs in various ways such as attending in-person or virtual events, writing an article for publication, leading a Special Interest Group, or taking and passing a quiz.

How are CEUs calculated?

The amount of CEUs you earn is most often based on the number of contact hours (or actual clock hours) you spend to complete an activity. There are some exceptions, such as when CEUs are reported for college or university courses, NSCA Volunteer Work, NSCA or NCCA-accredited certifications, and Publications.

Contact Hours

CEU Equivalent

5 hours

0.5 CEUs

20 hours

2.0 CEUs

CEU Categories & Activities

CEU activities are divided into four categories that group similar types of CEU opportunities together. You need CEUs from at least two different categories. This encourages learning from a variety of CEU types.

Category A Attendance  
Category B Share Your Expertise
Category C Educational Activities
Category D NSCA Quizzes & Assessments 

CEU Opportunities

The NSCA is committed to providing quality education opportunities, particularly for NSCA certificants needing to earn CEUs toward recertification. These opportunities take many forms, including CEU quizzes, third-party CEU approved activities, NSCA events, and more.

Browse the sortable list of NSCA quizzes, events, and other CEU opportunities
View (non-NSCA) live events by region and home-study activities by category

Tips for Health Care Professionals and NSCA Recertification

Health care professionals carry an extra burden of continuing education. Learn how to navigate with tips on how to earn CEUs that do double-duty.

Read the Article
Members only

Members Get Free CEU Access

Beyond journal access and member-only content, gain access to up to 12 complimentary CEU quizzes each year as a member! We are offering three (3) Free CEU Opportunities for March and April and another three (3) for May and June in 2024. Get a jump start on your continuing education and take full advantage of your membership benefits.

Learn More

Report CEUs

Our online CEU reporting process is a convenient way to review, record, and stay on top of your CEU progress for the current recertification cycle. 

Recertification Planning Tool

The Recertification Planning Tool will help you plan out your CEUs for the recertification cycle, help you understand how many CEUs are needed, what type of activities count as CEUs, and key information to help you navigate continuing education and recertification.

View the RECERTIFICATION PLANNING TOOL >>

CEU FAQs

  • How many CEU’s do I need to report?

    The required number of CEUs needed to recertify is based on your certification date and where it falls within the three-year cycle. Refer to the Recertification Planning Tool to help you identify the # of CEUs needed.

  • How many CEUs is an activity worth?

    The amount of CEUs you earn is most often based on the number of contact hours (or actual clock hours) you spend to complete an activity. There are some exceptions, such as when CEUs are reported for college or university courses, NSCA Volunteer Work, NSCA or NCCA-accredited certifications, and Publications. 

    5 Contact Hours = 0.5 CEUs

    20 Contact Hours = 2.0 CEUs

    You can find a list of CEU activities and values in the different Category sections in the Recertification Policies and Procedures PDF 

  • What if I hold multiple certifications?

    If you hold multiple credentials, you do not need to submit 6.0 CEUs separately for each certification. CEUs can be applied toward multiple certifications. For example, if you became CSCS and NSCA-CPT certified before January 1, of the new cycle you are only required to submit a total of 6.0 CEUs for the reporting period. A more complex scenario exists if you became CSCS and NSCA-CPT certified at different times during reporting period. Special attention must be paid to the dates on your certificates to assure that the required CEUs are completed after those dates. Certificants are encouraged to contact the NSCA if there is confusion regarding recertification requirements.

    For more information, view the Recertification Planning Tool >>

  • What is Acceptable content for CEUs?

    Only continuing education content that relates to the scope of practice and Detailed Content Outline (DCO) of an NSCA certification exam will be accepted. Below are some examples of acceptable and unacceptable content. If you have questions about the acceptability of a particular activity’s content, contact the NSCA prior to engaging in the activity for credit. Examples of acceptable content:

    • Anatomy and Physiology
    • Nutrition
    • Biomechanics
    • Organization and Administration (Refer to the current DCO for allowed content)
    • Training Techniques
    • Sport Psychology
    • Program Design
    • Testing and Evaluation
    • Exercise Technique
    • Return to Play Reconditioning
    •  

    Examples of Unacceptable Content 

    • Surgery 
    • Diagnosing
    • Kinesio Taping
    • Treatment
    • Radiology/Imaging
    • General Business
    • Group Fitness/Holistic Activities
    • Unrelated Alternative Health Topics (e.g., hypnosis, acupuncture)
    • Allied Health Topics beyond the NSCA credential scope of practice (e.g., athletic training, physical therapy or massage therapy specific techniques)
#NSCAStrong #NSCAStrong

has been added to your shopping cart!

Continue Shopping Checkout Now