The NSCA Education Recognition Program (ERP) Personal Training Program recognizes and distinguishes both 2-year and 4-year degree granting academic institutions with standardized, approved personal training curricula that is designed to prepare students for the NSCA-CPT® and the NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist® (CSCS®) certifications. The program does not have to be classified as a major, minor, sequence, or concentration. However, it does have to be a formalized area of study. A full list of required content areas can be found in the Personal Training Program application.

The NSCA Education Recognition Program (ERP) Undergraduate Strength and Conditioning Program recognizes and distinguishes baccalaureate degree granting academic institutions with standardized, approved strength and conditioning curricula that is designed to prepare students for the NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist® (CSCS®) certifications. The program does not have to be classified as a major, minor, sequence, or concentration. However, it does have to be a formalized area of study. A full list of required content areas can be found in the Undergraduate Strength and Conditioning Program application.

Join the 2026 NSCA Training for the Endurance Athlete Summit in Tempe, AZ, on March 28. Explore endurance training performance, learn hands-on, + earn 0.8 CEUs.

The National Strength and Conditioning Association is governed by a Board of Directors that is elected by the NSCA membership. The board is comprised of eight members of the NSCA and one elected public member.

Start your search for a new Sport Science position on the NSCA Job Board. Employers who prefer NSCA-certified professionals are hiring entry-level to senior roles across the strength and conditioning industry. Find your "perfect fit" career opportunity today.

The NSCA Education Recognition Program (ERP) recognizes and distinguishes schools with standardized, approved strength and conditioning or personal training curricula in undergraduate and graduate settings designed to prepare students for the NSCA-Certified Personal Trainer® (NSCA-CPT®) and NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist® (CSCS®) certifications.

The NSCA Education Recognition Program (ERP) Graduate Strength and Conditioning Program recognizes and distinguishes academic institutions that offer at least a Master’s degree with standardized, approved graduate strength and conditioning curricula that is designed to prepare students for the NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist® (CSCS®) certifications. Recognition can be achieved for applied curriculum, research curriculum, or both. A full list of required content areas can be found in the Graduate Strength and Conditioning Program application.

Dr. Whitney Moore and Val Smith from Wayne State University use this session, from the 2019 NSCA National Conference, to provide evidence-based motivational strategies and leadership behaviors, strength coach tested relationship-building strategies, and explain different levels of informal leadership training opportunities

Learn how the NSCA and APTA joint principles statement supports the advancement of athlete health, performance, and safety through evidence-based collaboration.

For many athletes, being agile is the end goal of physical performance training. It represents their capacity to change velocity and direction in response to the actions of their opponent and the opportunities and constraints of their environment. The aim of this article was to describe the pitch-based development of agility, focusing on 60–1808 turns. This ensures all turns have the demand of deceleration, turning, and reacceleration, requiring both outside leg turns (608) and inside leg turns (1808). To enable the effective coaching of these, coaches must understand movement mechanics and thus the fundamental principles that underpin good technique. Within agility training, a detailed appreciation of how the center of mass and base of support interact to affect the direction of force is fundamental to this. This understanding and the ensuing technical models ensure athletes have the best chance of executing the task optimally and ensure coaches can effectively instruct athletes and adapt drills accordingly.