Comparisons · CSCS, TSAC-F, BOC, ACSM-EP, ACSM-CEP
NSCA vs ACSM, and every other pairing
The five exams here come from three certifying bodies: the NSCA (CSCS and TSAC-F), ACSM (EP and CEP) and the BOC (the athletic trainer exam). They lead to different jobs, so the useful question is not which is better but which one matches the people you want to work with. The sheet lines all five up; under it, each pairing that people search for gets a short section with its own facts and a link to the page that covers it in depth.
Updated Oct 27, 2026 · Not affiliated with NSCA, ACSM, BOC, CSCCa, ISSA or USAW.
Five exams, one sheet
| Feature | CSCS | TSAC-F | BOC (ATC) | ACSM-EP | ACSM-CEP | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Certifying body | National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) | National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) | Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer (BOC) | American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) | American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) | [1][2][3][4] |
| Who it is for | Coaches who design and run strength and conditioning programs for athletes, with performance as the main goal | Entry-level professionals who train military, fire and rescue, law enforcement, protective services and other emergency personnel | Students and graduates of CAATE-accredited professional athletic training programs; passing earns the ATC® credential | Exercise professionals who assess and train apparently healthy clients and clients with medically controlled diseases | Clinical exercise physiologists who test and prescribe exercise for people with cardiovascular, pulmonary, metabolic, orthopedic, neuromuscular, neoplastic, immunologic or hematologic disease, from children to older adults | [1][2][4][5][6] |
| Eligibility | A bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited institution (any major), or a degree in physical therapy or chiropractic medicine, plus current CPR/AEDTranscripts may follow up to one year after the exam; you are not certified until they arrive. | At least 18 years old, a high school diploma or equivalent, and current CPR/AED; no degree needed | A student in the final term or a graduate of a CAATE-accredited professional athletic training program, endorsed by the program director; or the International Arrangement route for ARTI, BASRaT and CATA credential holders | A bachelor’s degree in exercise science, exercise physiology or kinesiology (or an equivalent set of courses), or the final semester of one, plus adult CPR/AED with a live hands-on skills check | A master’s in clinical exercise physiology (or equivalent) with 600 clinical hours (Pathway A), or a bachelor’s in exercise science, exercise physiology or kinesiology with 1,200 clinical hours (Pathway B) | [1][2][3][4][7] |
| Degree ruleThree different accreditation rules: CASCE for the CSCS from 2030, CAAHEP for ACSM degrees from August 15, 2027, CAATE master’s programs for athletic trainers. | From January 1, 2030, US candidates need a bachelor’s degree from a CASCE-accredited program (non-US degrees from January 2036); anyone certified by December 31, 2029 is not affected | No degree required; the 2030 CASCE degree rule applies to the CSCS only | CAATE programs have not admitted new bachelor’s-level students since fall 2022, so new candidates come from master’s programs (254 accredited professional programs in 2023–24)In 2023–24, 250 of the 254 accredited professional programs led to a master’s degree and 7 were bachelor’s programs in teach-out. | Degrees awarded on or after August 15, 2027 must come from a CAAHEP-accredited program or one that has started the CAAHEP/CoAES process; ACSM will reassess in August 2029 | Degrees awarded on or after August 15, 2027 must come from a CAAHEP-accredited program (bachelor’s in exercise science or master’s in exercise physiology) or one that has started the accreditation process | [1][7][8] |
| Questions on the exam | 220 questions: 190 scored and 30 unscored, in two sections | 150 questions: 130 scored and 20 unscored | 175 items, scored and unscored experimental mixed together | 140 questions: 125 scored and 15 unscored | 115 questions: 100 scored and 15 unscored | [1][2][4][5][6] |
| Testing time | 4 hours of testing (1.5 h + 2.5 h) plus a 15-minute scheduled break between the sectionsThe CSCS is the only NSCA exam with a scheduled break, and the break does not count toward exam time. | 3 hours, one section, no scheduled breakAt a test center the clock keeps running during an unscheduled break; in an online session there are no breaks, and leaving the computer ends the exam. | 4 hours | 210 minutesAt a test center breaks do not stop the clock; OnVUE allows no breaks. The tutorial is outside exam time. | 210 minutesAt a test center breaks do not stop the clock; OnVUE allows no breaks. The tutorial is outside exam time. | [1][2][4][5][6] |
| Passing scoreEach body uses its own scaled score (NSCA 70, ACSM 550 of 800, BOC 500 of 800), so the numbers do not compare and none of them is a percentage. | Scaled score of 70 on each sectionThe raw number of correct answers behind a 70 changes from form to form, so “70% correct” is wrong. | Scaled score of 70The raw number of correct answers behind a 70 changes from form to form; scaled scoring keeps the standard the same. | Scaled score of 500Candidates who pass get no score, only the pass result. | Scaled score of 550Forms are equated, so the number of correct answers behind a 550 varies. | Scaled score of 550Forms are equated, so the number of correct answers behind a 550 varies. | [1][2][4] |
| Exam priceThe bar shows the highest standard price for a first attempt (nonmember, including any application fee). | $340 NSCA member / $475 nonmember for the full exam | $300 NSCA member / $435 nonmember | $375 exam fee in the US or Canada, plus a $75 (NATA member) or $100 application fee | $350 ACSM member / $460 nonmember, each including a $50 nonrefundable application fee | $350 ACSM member / $460 nonmember, each including a $50 nonrefundable application fee | [1][2][3][4][9][10] |
| Online exam | No, test centers onlyOnline proctoring is offered only for the TSAC-F. | Yes, for US residents onlyThe TSAC-F is the only NSCA exam offered online. | No, test centers only | Yes, through Pearson OnVUE | Yes, through Pearson OnVUE | [1][2][4][9][10] |
| Pass rateBodies count differently: the NSCA reports all candidates in a calendar year, ACSM first and repeat attempts, the BOC first-time and retake candidates per exam year. | 50% of 9,650 candidates passed both sections in 2025All candidates, US and international. Scientific Foundations 71%, Practical/Applied 55%. Both sections: 39% in 2024, 37% in 2023; 37% of first-time candidates in 2022; 63% of US candidates in 2019. | 78% of 361 candidates passed in 202582% of 303 in 2024 and 88% of 360 in 2023; in 2022, 91% of 410 candidates became certified. 85% in 2019. | 74.6% of first-time candidates passed in 2024–25 (1,683 of 2,256)Retakers 29.3%, all candidates 56.2%. First-time 68.7% in 2023–24, the first PA8 year. 2025–26 rates are not published yet. | 70% of first-time candidates passed in July–December 2025, the first months of the new outlineRepeat candidates 53%. 2024: 70% first-time, 54% repeat; 2023: 68% and 52%. | 55% of first-time candidates passed in July–December 2025, down from 65% in 2024Repeat candidates 49%. 2024: 65% first-time, 47% repeat; 2023: 60% and 42%. | [11][12][13][14][15][16][17] |
| Continuing education | 6.0 CEUs per cycle if certified before 2024 (4.0 if certified in 2024, 2.0 in 2025, 1.0 in January–June 2026, none from July 2026), or retake and pass the examOne set of CEUs covers every NSCA credential you hold; 1 contact hour = 0.1 CEU. | 6.0 CEUs per cycle if certified before 2024 (4.0 if certified in 2024, 2.0 in 2025, 1.0 in January–June 2026, none from July 2026), or retake and pass the examOne set of CEUs covers every NSCA credential you hold; 1 contact hour = 0.1 CEU. | 40 CEUs with CPC Renewal (at least 10 Category A) or 50 with Legacy Renewal if certified before 2026; 20 CEUs with CPC Renewal if certified in 2026 | 60 continuing education credits (CECs) every 3 years; CPR/AED and first-aid courses count for up to 5 CECs a year | 60 continuing education credits (CECs) every 3 years; CPR/AED and first-aid courses count for up to 5 CECs a year | [1][18][19] |
| Accreditation | NCCA-accreditedOf the five NSCA credentials, only the CSCS, NSCA-CPT and TSAC-F are NCCA-accredited. | NCCA-accreditedOf the five NSCA credentials, only the CSCS, NSCA-CPT and TSAC-F are NCCA-accredited. | NCCA-accreditedThe BOC pays its annual renewal fees in part to keep NCCA accreditation. | NCCA-accreditedACSM’s CPT, EP and CEP exams were first accredited in 2006–2007. | NCCA-accreditedACSM’s CPT, EP and CEP exams were first accredited in 2006–2007. | [1][4][18] |
Two rows mislead if read across. The pass marks are three different scales, so a 70 and a 550 say nothing about each other. And each body counts its pass rate on its own base and period, which every cell names: a higher number on one row is not proof of an easier exam.
NSCA vs ACSM
| Certification | Who it is for | Eligibility | Where you test | Exam price | Continuing education | Practice | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CSCS | Coaches of athletes | Bachelor’s (any field) + CPR/AED | Test center only | $340 / $475 | 6.0 CEUs | Practice test Exam facts | [1] | |
| ACSM-EP | Healthy and controlled-disease clients | Exercise science bachelor’s + CPR/AED | Test center or online | $350 / $460 | 60 CECs | Practice test Exam facts | [4][5][7][9][19] |
The two bodies certify for different work. The association's flagship, the CSCS, is about coaching athletes for performance; the college's EP is about assessing and training adults for health, including people with a controlled disease. The degree rules differ the same way: any bachelor's for the coaching exam, an exercise science degree for the EP. The most visible difference is where you test: of these two, only the EP can be taken at home. Both bodies' full catalogs are on NSCA certifications and ACSM certifications; the choice by job, with the degree-rule split, is also set out on strength and conditioning certifications.
CSCS vs TSAC-F
| Certification | Who it is for | Eligibility | Online exam | Questions on the exam | Pass rate | Practice | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CSCS | Coaches of athletes | Bachelor’s (any field) + CPR/AED | No | 220 (190 scored) | 50% (2025) | Practice test Exam facts | [1][11][12][13][14][15] | |
| TSAC-F | Tactical facilitators | 18+, diploma, CPR/AED | Yes (US only) | 150 (130 scored) | 78% (2025) | Practice test Exam facts | [1][11][12][13][14][15] |
Same body, same scaled pass mark, very different gate: the tactical exam needs no degree and can be taken online if you live in the US, the coaching exam needs a bachelor's and a test center. The exercise science and programming principles overlap, which is why this site teaches them once, on the CSCS domain pages, and keeps the tactical pages to what is specific to military, fire and police work. The TSAC-F hub has the side-by-side from the tactical point of view.
CSCS vs the BOC athletic trainer exam
| Certification | Who it is for | Eligibility | Degree rule | When you can test | Pass rate | Practice | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CSCS | Coaches of athletes | Bachelor’s (any field) + CPR/AED | CASCE degree from 2030 | 120-day window | 50% (2025) | Practice test Exam facts | [1][11][12][13][14][15] | |
| BOC (ATC) | Athletic training graduates | CAATE program graduate | Master’s program (CAATE) | 5 windows a year | 74.6% first-time (2024–25) | Practice test Exam facts | [2][3][8][16] |
These are two professions, not two levels of one. The BOC exam is the last step of an accredited athletic training program and leads to health care work: injury evaluation, emergency care and rehabilitation, with state authorization on top. Strength coaching starts where rehab ends, with training for performance, and a coaching credential does not open the door to that exam: eligibility runs through an accredited program (CAATE program graduate). The career side is on how to become a strength coach and how to become an athletic trainer.
ACSM-EP vs CSCS
| Certification | Questions on the exam | Testing time | Passing score | Pass rate | Degree rule | Practice | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACSM-EP | 140 (125 scored) | 3 h 30 min | 550 of 800 | 70% first-time (2025) | CAAHEP degree from Aug 2027 | Practice test Exam facts | [4][5][7][17] | |
| CSCS | 220 (190 scored) | 4 h | 70 (scaled), each section | 50% (2025) | CASCE degree from 2030 | Practice test Exam facts | [1][11][12][13][14][15] |
For an exercise science graduate both are open, and both change their degree rule in the next few years, the EP's first. The choice follows the clients: health and fitness, with pre-participation screening and prescription for health, points to the ACSM-EP; teams and athletes point to the CSCS.
ACSM-EP vs ACSM-CEP
The healthy-client exam and the clinical one share a price, a pass mark and a renewal; what separates them is the clinical-hour requirement and an audit of every CEP application. The full side-by-side, with the RCEP history, is on exercise physiologist certification.
CSCS vs SCCC
| Certification | Eligibility | Where you test | Exam price | Pass rate | Practice | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CSCS | Bachelor’s (any field) + CPR/AED | Test center only | $340 / $475 | 50% (2025) | Practice test Exam facts | [1][11][12][13][14][15] | |
| SCCC | Bachelor’s + 4 courses + 640 h practicum | Written + practical | $340 / $470 | 69% (2025) | — | [20][21][22][23] |
The SCCC from the CSCCa is built for collegiate and professional strength coaches. It adds a mentored practicum and a practical exam to the written one, so it takes months rather than a test date. This site has no SCCC practice questions; strength and conditioning certifications compares it with the rest of the field.
NSCA vs ISSA
| Certification | Accreditation | Where you test | Exam price | Passing score | Practice | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CSCS | NCCA | Test center only | $340 / $475 | 70 (scaled), each section | Practice test Exam facts | [1] | |
| ISSA SCC | Not NCCA | Online, open-book | $639 courseas of Oct 27, 2026 · course price as listed on the check date | 70–75%as of Oct 27, 2026 · the ISSA FAQ gives two figures | — | [24][25] |
ISSA's strength and conditioning credential is a course with an open-book exam at home, priced as a course; the CSCS is a proctored exam with no course attached. ISSA does not claim NCCA accreditation on the course page. Personal-trainer certifications (NASM, NSCA-CPT, ACSM-CPT) are a different job again and are not compared here.
Decided? Start with the questions
CSCS practice questions with every answer explained, in a study app. Not affiliated with NSCA, ACSM, BOC, CSCCa, ISSA or USAW.
TSAC-F app
TSAC-F practice questions with every answer explained, in a study app. Not affiliated with NSCA, ACSM, BOC, CSCCa, ISSA or USAW.
BOC (ATC) app
BOC (ATC) practice questions with every answer explained, in a study app. Not affiliated with NSCA, ACSM, BOC, CSCCa, ISSA or USAW.
ACSM-EP app
ACSM-EP practice questions with every answer explained, in a study app. Not affiliated with NSCA, ACSM, BOC, CSCCa, ISSA or USAW.
ACSM-CEP app
ACSM-CEP practice questions with every answer explained, in a study app. Not affiliated with NSCA, ACSM, BOC, CSCCa, ISSA or USAW.
The five exams
- CSCSWho the credential is for, the two sections, pass rates by section
- BOC (ATC)The one exam behind ATC certification: format, domains, pass rate, licensure order
- ACSM-EPWho the credential suits, the July 2025 outline, the 2027 degree rule
- ACSM-CEPWho the credential is for, the six domains, the route to the exam
- TSAC-FNo degree, an online option in the US, seven domains in one section
Sources
- NSCA Certification Handbook, effective July 1, 2026 (PDF) nsca.com · checked Oct 27, 2026
- BOC: exam candidates bocatc.org · checked Oct 27, 2026
- BOC 2026–2027 Certification Exam Candidate Handbook 7f6907b2.flowpaper.com · checked Oct 27, 2026
- ACSM Candidate Handbook, July 2025 (PDF) acsm.org · checked Oct 27, 2026
- ACSM-EP exam content outline, effective July 10, 2025 (PDF) acsm.org · checked Oct 27, 2026
- ACSM-CEP exam content outline, effective July 10, 2025 (PDF) acsm.org · checked Oct 27, 2026
- ACSM: updated ACSM-EP and ACSM-CEP requirements and accreditation (revised Feb 6, 2026) acsm.org · checked Oct 27, 2026
- CAATE 2023–2024 Analytic Report (PDF) caate.net · checked Oct 27, 2026
- ACSM: Certified Exercise Physiologist acsm.org · checked Oct 27, 2026
- ACSM: Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist acsm.org · checked Oct 27, 2026
- NSCA exam report, 2025 exams (Wayback copy of Jun 15, 2026) web.archive.org · checked Oct 27, 2026
- NSCA exam report, 2024 exams (Wayback copy of Apr 30, 2025) web.archive.org · checked Oct 27, 2026
- NSCA exam report, 2023 exams (Wayback copy of Nov 3, 2024) web.archive.org · checked Oct 27, 2026
- NSCA exam report, 2022 exams (Wayback copy of Apr 19, 2024) web.archive.org · checked Oct 27, 2026
- NSCA Certification Handbook, 2022 edition (PDF, superseded) nsca.com · checked Oct 27, 2026
- BOC 2024–2025 Annual Exam Report (PDF) bocatc.org · checked Oct 27, 2026
- ACSM: about ACSM certification (scoring, pass rates, audits) acsm.org · checked Oct 27, 2026
- BOC: maintain certification bocatc.org · checked Oct 27, 2026
- ACSM: recertification acsm.org · checked Oct 27, 2026
- CSCCa: SCCC fees and requirements cscca.org · checked Oct 27, 2026
- CSCCa: practicum/internship cscca.org · checked Oct 27, 2026
- CSCCa: SCCC certification exam cscca.org · checked Oct 27, 2026
- CSCCa: SCCC certification statistics and exam dates cscca.org · checked Oct 27, 2026
- ISSA: Strength and Conditioning certification issaonline.com · checked Oct 27, 2026
- ISSA: FAQs issaonline.com · checked Oct 27, 2026
Comparing these certifications, quick answers
Is NSCA or ACSM better?
Neither in general. The CSCS is the coaching credential for athletes; the EP and CEP cover health, fitness and clinical exercise. Pick by the people you plan to work with.
Which has the higher pass rate, the CSCS or the TSAC-F?
The TSAC-F: 78% against 50%, both counted over all candidates in 2025.
Can a strength coach work as an athletic trainer?
Not on the CSCS alone. Athletic trainers pass the BOC exam after an accredited athletic training program. 49 states and DC regulate athletic training, so practicing also needs state authorization; BOC certification is not a license.