NASM-CPT Practice Questions (2026) — Free Sample Questions with Answers

Answer: B

240 kcal: This counts every gram at 4 kcal (60 g × 4). Fat provides 9 kcal per gram, not 4.

290 kcal: Correct. Carbohydrate 30 × 4 = 120, protein 20 × 4 = 80, fat 10 × 9 = 90. Total 120 + 80 + 90 = 290 kcal.

340 kcal: This counts protein at 9 kcal per gram (120 + 180 + 40). Protein provides 4 kcal per gram.

540 kcal: This counts every gram at 9 kcal (60 × 9). Only fat provides 9 kcal per gram.

Energy per gram: carbohydrate 4, protein 4, fat 9, alcohol 7 kcal. Multiply grams by these values and add.

Answer: A

Action: Correct. The action stage is regular participation in the new behavior for less than six months.

Preparation: Preparation describes someone who intends to start soon and may be taking small steps, not someone exercising consistently.

Maintenance: Maintenance requires the behavior to be sustained for six months or longer.

Contemplation: Contemplation describes someone thinking about changing within about six months but not yet acting.

TTM sequence: precontemplation → contemplation (within ~6 months) → preparation (soon, small steps) → action (doing it < 6 months) → maintenance (≥ 6 months).

Answer: C

Adductor complex: The adductors are typically OVERACTIVE in knee valgus, pulling the femur into adduction.

Tensor fasciae latae: The TFL is typically overactive with knees caving in, contributing to internal rotation of the femur.

Gluteus medius: Correct. An underactive gluteus medius (and gluteus maximus) fails to control hip adduction and internal rotation, so the knees drift inward.

Biceps femoris (short head): The short head of the biceps femoris is listed as overactive in this compensation.

Knees move in: overactive adductors, TFL, biceps femoris (short head), vastus lateralis; underactive gluteus medius and maximus and VMO. Inhibit or lengthen the overactive muscles, then activate the underactive ones.

Answer: A

Barbell back squat at 85–100% 1RM, then squat jumps: Correct. Phase 5 pairs a heavy strength exercise (about 1–5 reps at 85–100% 1RM) with a biomechanically similar explosive exercise (8–10 reps) to raise rate of force production.

Leg press at 70–80% 1RM, then single-leg balance: Pairing a strength exercise with a stabilization exercise defines Phase 2 (Strength Endurance), not Phase 5.

Ball wall squat for 15 reps, then step-ups to balance: Both are stabilization-level exercises, as in Phase 1. There is no heavy strength or explosive component.

Dumbbell lunges at 75% 1RM, then lying hamstring curls: Two moderate-load strength exercises with no explosive element resemble Phase 3 (Muscular Development) programming.

Phase 5 = heavy (85–100% 1RM, 1–5 reps) + power (30–45% 1RM or ≤ 10% body-weight medicine ball, 8–10 reps, as fast as can be controlled) in a superset.

Answer: A

The same single-leg balance while standing on a foam pad: Correct. NASM's proprioceptive progression moves from stable to less stable surfaces (floor → foam pad → balance disc, and so on), changing one variable at a time.

A single-leg hop onto a box followed by an immediate jump: This jumps from stabilization to balance-power with an immediate re-jump, which is too large a step and skips the stabilized landing.

Two-legged stance on the floor with the eyes kept open: This is a regression. The client has already mastered a harder version.

Single-leg balance on a wobble board with heavy dumbbells: This changes several variables at once (very unstable surface plus heavy load), which is unsafe and not a gradual progression.

Progress balance one variable at a time: stable → unstable surface, two legs → one leg, eyes open → closed, static → dynamic, then add load or speed.

Answer: C

Write the meal plan, since nutrition supports her training: Writing an individualized meal plan to manage a medical condition is medical nutrition therapy, which is outside a CPT's scope.

Recommend a low-carbohydrate supplement to steady her glucose: Recommending supplements to treat a medical condition is outside scope and could be unsafe alongside her medications.

Share general healthy-eating guidance and refer her to a dietitian: Correct. Trainers may share general, evidence-based nutrition information, but individualized plans for a medical condition belong to a registered dietitian or her physician.

Tell her to skip meals before workouts to improve fat burning: This is outside scope and potentially dangerous for someone with diabetes because of hypoglycemia risk.

Scope of practice: trainers educate on general nutrition guidelines. They do not prescribe meal plans or supplements for medical conditions; refer to an RD or physician.