CASCE ANNOUNCES NEW ACCREDITED STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS IN 2026

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO — The Council on Accreditation of Strength and Conditioning Education (CASCE, pronounced kass-key) proudly announces 23 newly accredited programs across 20 institutions in 2026. Each demonstrated academic and practical excellence through rigorous peer review, preparing students to meet the 2030 degree requirement for Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist® (CSCS®) exam eligibility and supporting career readiness after graduation.

NEWLY ACCREDITED PROGRAMS

With these additions, CASCE now recognizes 68 total accredited programs and continues to raise the standard for professional preparation across the field.

Starting in 2030, candidates for the CSCS exam must hold a bachelor’s degree or higher in a strength and conditioning-related field from a CASCE-accredited program. Candidates with related health degrees may meet the requirement through a CASCE-accredited post-baccalaureate certificate. The change will not affect candidates who earned a bachelor’s degree outside the U.S. until January 2036. The current CSCS degree requirement will remain in effect through December 31, 2029.

Applications for CASCE accreditation are accepted from October 1 through December 1 annually. Because accreditation is a two-year process, programs preparing for 2030 are encouraged to apply early. To support early adoption, the CASCE Accreditation Grant covers accreditation and annual fees for approved programs through December 31, 2029. New programs may apply through December 1, 2027. For details, visit NSCA.com/CASCE/Grant.

Learn how CASCE accreditation can benefit your program, understand the process, and view accredited programs at NSCA.com/CASCE.

Media Note: For interview requests or more information about CASCE accreditation, please contact accreditation@nsca.com.

About the National Strength & Conditioning Association

Founded in 1978, the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) is an educational nonprofit dedicated to advancing strength and conditioning and sport science professions around the world. The NSCA empowers a community of professionals by disseminating evidence-based knowledge and its practical application through industry-leading certifications, peer-reviewed research journals, career development services, and continuing education. The NSCA community is composed of more than 60,000 certified professionals and members worldwide who further industry standards as researchers, educators, strength and conditioning coaches, performance and sport scientists, personal trainers, tactical professionals, and other related roles.