FSTA Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to become FSTA Certified?

That depends entirely upon you.  Once you place your order, we will priority ship your study guide and exam materials and it will be in your mailbox within 2 business days.  Read through the study guide and take the written portion of the exam.  When you finish the written portion, mail it back to us.  We will grade the exam and email your written score and set up a time for your exit interview.  The phone call should take no more than 5 minutes.  You must score a combined 80 out of a possible 100 points on your exams to become FSTA Certified.  We will then email you the compiled score of your exams and mail your certification.  Once you receive your passing score via email, you’re certified!  Begin promoting your FSTA Certification on your resume, business cards, and by hanging your certificate in your office.  Some FSTA students have quickly completed their exam to become certified in one week, but the average time span from order to certification is 2 weeks.  Work at your own pace because there is no time limit for completing the exams.

How do I pronounce FSTA?

FSTA is pronounced Fasta. Upon completion of your exams you will become “Fasta Certified”.

I am a personal trainer, is FSTA Certification for me?

Absolutely.  A personal training certification along with a FSTA Certification is a very powerful combination.  Whether you own your own personal training studio, are a staff trainer, or are an independently contracted trainer, your success depends on getting more people to sign up for your personal training service and/or memberships.  Some of the absolute best personal trainers in our industry have very little to no sales ability.  Think of all the lives that are left unchanged because the trainer couldn’t convince the potential client to work with them.  FSTA Certification offers many marketing and sales strategies that are applicable to personal training sales.  You will learn simple and advanced skills that will help you sell more personal training packages than you ever thought possible.

Do I have to pay for continuing education credits?

FSTA Certification is yours for life, no need for continuing education.  With personal training certifications, it is obvious why CEU’s and CEC’s are required.  The research on the effects of exercise on the human body is always changing and certified personal trainers need to stay current in order to safely train their clients.  Sales strategies in our industry, for the most part, remain the same year after year.  We will provide regular updates, trend reports, and innovative ideas through email communication to our FSTA Members, thus eliminating the need for continuing education. 

Do you offer group discounts?

We do not offer group discounts.  FSTA Certification, as compared to other fitness-related certifications, is very affordable. 

Is the exam difficult?

All of the short answer questions on the written portion of the exam can be found within the study guide.  The essay questions will allow you to develop your own ideas from the information you will find in the study guide.  If you have no experience with fitness sales, you will probably want to spend more time absorbing the information in the study guide, but the exam itself will not be difficult as long as you prepare.  The exit interview is nerve-racking for some, but again it is not difficult.  We recognize that role playing is somewhat challenging and even embarrassing when you’re put on the spot.  We take this into consideration during this portion of the exam and we want you to be as comfortable as possible during the interview. 

Where do I send my completed exam?

When you complete the written portion of the exam, please mail it to:

Fitness Sales Training Association
Exam Center
107 Nature Walk Parkway, Suite 106
St. Augustine, FL 32092

Is there a time limit to complete the certification process?

There is no time limit.  Take as much time as you need to complete both portions of the exam.

How many people fail the exam the first time?

Fewer than 3% of FSTA students fail the exam on their first attempt.  Most times, this is due to poorly written essay answers.  We want all FSTA Certified professionals to be knowledgeable, well-spoken, and maintain a high level of integrity.  If we feel your answers are not representative of these traits, we will offer advice for your retest.  The retesting fee is $45 and typically only consists of rewriting your essay questions.

How much emphasis is on the written portion and how much is on the exit interview portion of the exam?

Out of 100 total possible points, 70 are from the written portion and 30 are from the exit interview.  The exit interview will be completely subjective and dependent upon how well the evaluator feels you handled the interview.  Very few people receive a perfect score, but nearly all FSTA students pass their exam the first time they take it.

How do I get started?

Simply click here to be directed to the secure online order form.  You will receive your certification material and study guide within 2 business days.

If you would prefer to submit your order via fax or mail, please click the link below and fill out the order form completely.  You will find the fax number and mailing address on the order form.  The order form is in Adobe PDF format.  If you do not have Adobe Reader on your computer, click here to download it for free.

Click Here for the Printable Order Form

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