NASM Certified Sports Performance Coach (CSPC) Practice Test
Build your confidence for NASM Certified Sports Performance Coach (CSPC). Practice the concepts, understand the answers, and strengthen your knowledge one question at a time.
Try a sample questionExam overview and details
NASM Certified Sports Performance Coach covering athlete assessment, power development, speed training, and integrated performance programming. Administered by NASM. Key domains include Assessments, Testing, and Monitoring, Coaching and Sport Psychology, Components of the Integrated Training Model and Introduction to Sport Science. The exam consists of 100 questions over 90 minutes.
Sample Questions
Choose an answer and explore the explanation to see how practice works.
A youth athlete returning from ankle sprain has pain, swelling, and poor balance. What is the coach's best boundary?
A coach uses a yearly plan divided into preseason, competitive season, and postseason goals. Which planning unit is being described?
A coach is asked to provide individualized supplement dosing for an athlete with kidney disease. What is the best scope-of-practice response?
A coach increases load, complexity, or speed only after the athlete demonstrates repeatable control. Which programming concept is being applied?
An adult athlete asks for a minimum aerobic health target from ACSM-style guidance. Which recommendation is most consistent?
Career Opportunities & Salary
Exam insights and study advice
This credential matters because it translates complex sports science into actionable, real-world coaching strategies. In practical terms, a CSPC-certified coach is equipped to move beyond generic fitness programming and create targeted, periodized plans that address the specific demands of an athlete's sport and position. This leads to measurable improvements in athletic output, more effective injury mitigation strategies, and a higher standard of professional practice. For the coach, it builds credibility with athletes, parents, and institutions, opening doors to opportunities in team settings, private sports facilities, and higher-value training services.
What this exam covers
01Assessments, Testing, and Monitoring
Understand protocols for athletic testing, functional assessments, and continuous physical monitoring to track progress and evaluate training efficacy, allowing for data-driven adjustments to an athlete's specific strength and conditioning plan for better results.
02Coaching and Sport Psychology
Master the principles of coaching psychology, motivation, team dynamics, and mental strategies used to optimize athlete performance and support overall psychological well-being during high-pressure competitive situations and various training cycles throughout the year.
03Components of the Integrated Training Model
Examine the components of the integrated training model, integrating various modalities to build strength and conditioning regimens that address the unique physical requirements and performance goals of diverse athletic populations in many different environments.
04Introduction to Sport Science
Learn the concepts of sport science, physiological responses to exercise, and how movement mechanics influence physical performance, ensuring you understand the biological basis for various athletic training and conditioning interventions used in professional sports.
05Nutrition and Supplementation
Review nutritional guidelines, energy requirements, and supplementation practices that support athletic recovery and performance, helping athletes maintain the fuel necessary for intense training sessions and optimal competition day output levels for their specific sport.
06Program Design
Design structured training programs tailored to specific athletic goals, incorporating periodization and safe progression strategies to ensure athletes reach their peak physical condition while minimizing the risk of overtraining or injury during the season.