Strength & Conditioning Certifications

Training athletes requires a different skill set than training the general population for weight loss. The focus shifts entirely to power output, rate of force development (RFD), and injury prevention.

The NSCA CSCS (The Gold Standard)

The Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) is the absolute requirement for working in collegiate or professional sports.

• Prerequisite: You MUST hold a bachelor's degree (and soon, it must be in a related field like kinesiology).
• Pass Rate: ~56%. It is extremely difficult and highly academic.

Alternatives

If you don't have a degree but want to coach athletes, consider:

• NASM PES: Performance Enhancement Specialist.
• Starting Strength Coach (SSC): Brutally hard practical exam, incredible for pure barbell strength coaching.