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Fitness and health is the primary concern for most athletes these days. With increasing competition, sportsmen tend to maintain a fit body. The sudden increase in the demand for professional trainers has led to an increase in the number of people opting for this as a career.
If you already are a professional then you can apply for the Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) certification exam for validation. After credentials, you can apply scientific knowledge to train sportsmen for improving their athletic performance.
Conduct testing sessions, design, implement training strategies, conditioning programs, and devise the nutrition system. For more details on eligibility and exam patterns, visit National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). Take guidance from the Best CSCS study guides listed below for preparation.
Best CSCS Exam Prep Books for Excellency in Results
Becoming a professional trainer for athletes is not an easy job and so is the examination to get the certification. To get through this exam you need to clear two test sections. Failing in either section means failing in the overall exam.
We have prepared a list of the best CSCS exam prep books that will help in clearing the exam on the first attempt. However, these are the 3 best picks by us for the CSCS exam preparation for different types of aspirant needs.
- Best pick: CSCS Study Guide by Ascencia can totally change your exam status in no time. It has all the reviews and practice questions for thorough preparation.
- Best value pick: CSCS Study Guide by APEX Test Prep serves the best at the best price. It has all the topics vital for the exam.
- Best budget pick: Secrets of the CSCS Exam Study Guide comes at a very fair price along with all the secret study tips and test section reviews and practice questions.
You can read about each of these highly recommended books in the next section. We have given our ratings to help you choose accordingly. We also suggest you read the description of other books and select the right book.
1. CSCS Study Guide by Ascencia
CSCS Study Guide by Ascencia provides the latest study material on the Certified Strength and Conditioning and Specialist exam. With the help of this guide, you can achieve success instantaneously. This study guide offers a complete review of essential subjects.
The different topics written down briefly are exercise science, nutrition, assessment, exercise techniques, program designs, client relations and coaching, professional development and responsibility, safety, and risk management.
The guide also includes two full practice question sets that help in exam preparation. Online study material like ‘cheat’ sheets and flashcards are provided with free practice questions and test tips.
Why You Should Buy This Book
- Latest and up-to-date information
- Easy-to-understand language & comprehensive format
- Online resources such as flashcards and cheat sheets provided
- 35 test-taking tips and strategies
- Free practice questions are available online
- Real-world examples and practice problems
How this book helps you to prepare for your exam?
This study guide provides both theoretical and practical study material for the CSCS exam preparation. The guide has been positively reviewed by the users. If you wish to get through the exam on the first attempt then you must go for this guide.
Our Rating: 5 out of 5
2. CSCS Study Guide by APEX Test Prep
CSCS Study Guide by APEX Test Prep is an amazing guide to preparing for the CSCS examination. The book includes all the essential topics that are relevant for the examination such as muscle anatomy and physiology, sport psychology, nutrition, exercise techniques, program design, organization and administration, testing, ongoing monitoring, and data evolution.
It also offers a separate chapter on test-taking strategies. Practice questions with their explanations are given at the end of each chapter. A free DVD along with the book is provided.
Why You Should Buy This Book
- Very straightforward and to-the-point information
- Simple-to-understand language and comprehensive format
- An abundant number of practice questions for exam readiness
- Detailed explanation for every answer for clearing concepts
- Essential test-taking tips for the aspirants to reduce anxiety
How this book helps you to prepare for your exam?
This guide will give you a complete sense of preparedness due to the total inclusion of essential topics. The review sections are written down really well. The test-taking tips help in preparing better exam strategy reducing exam stress.
Our Rating: 4.9 out of 5
3. CSCS Study Guide by TPB Publishing
CSCS Study Guide by TPB Publishing shall help you in becoming a professional athlete trainer with CSCS certification. The initial coverage is on the test-taking strategies and an overview of the exam pattern. A free DVD comes along with this study guide.
The topics of muscle anatomy and physiology, nutrition, exercise technique, sport psychology, program design, organization and administration, testing, ongoing monitoring, & data and evolution are written down precisely. Each of these topics has sub-topics. The end of the chapter is marked by a set of practice questions and explanations with answers.
Why You Should Buy This Book
- It is a comprehensively written CSCS exam review guide
- Practice test questions at the end of each review chapter
- Explanations for each question in detail
- The essential test-taking strategies and tips for proper guidance
- Friendly customer service to get in contact with experts
How this book helps you to prepare for your exam?
This guide provides all the essential study material. The review of subjects, practice exam questions, and test-taking strategies are written down in a way that aspirants feel confident. This guide can be a great source of scoring high in the CSCS certification exam.
Our Rating: 4.8 out of 5
4. Secrets of the CSCS Exam Study Guide
Secrets of the CSCS Exam Study Guide can accelerate your performance from average to outstanding within a few weeks of practice. Since the exam is challenging, this guide includes all the essential topics on exercise science, nutrition, techniques, program design, testing and evaluation, organization, and administration.
This is a specialized guide that has all the topics, concepts, procedures, and principles expected to appear in the NSCA-based CSCS exam. The guide comes along with practice test questions with a logical and brief explanation of each answer. Essential test-taking strategies are provided for strengthening your morale.
Why You Should Buy This Book
- Complete review of all the test sections
- Comprehensively written guide with the simple use of language
- Only specific and detailed information key to passing the exam is given
- Enough practice questions and detailed answer explanations
- Real-life examples and up-to-date information
How this book helps you to prepare for your exam?
One of our best-recommended guides due to the completeness it offers to the aspirants. It has complete review sections along with practice test questions and tips and strategies. This guide can be considered due to the high public ratings. It comes under a genuine budget.
Our Rating: 4.9 out of 5
5. CSCS Prep Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist
CSCS Prep Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist is a very well-organized and distinctly divided study guide for the CSCS exam. The first section is an outline of the exam content. It is followed by the exercise science section. It includes reviews on the human physiology-types of joints, biomechanics, metabolism, energy pathways, and anatomy- nervous, muscular, skeletal, respiratory, and so on.
The next section is dedicated to sports psychology. Learning this section is crucial to boost the confidence of the athletes while you train them. The third and final section is on nutrition, it discusses the nutrition factors, different types of nutrition, and muscle buffers.
Why You Should Buy This Book
- A brief review of every test section
- Simple language and easy words are used
- Detailed practice questions and their answers with explanations
- Quick reference pages that include charts, formulas, conversions
- Helpful reference links for additional study
- Helpful videos and blogs on the online platform
- 24*7 coaches available to take your queries
How this book helps you to prepare for your exam?
This is a study guide that can be the most influential factor for your excellence in CSCS exam preparation. It is unique in the way it is written. It’s very well-organized and comprehensive. The online resources are the key highlights.
Our Rating: 4.8 out of 5
6. Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning
Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning is the study guide with all the essential text for improving and better conditioning of professionals. This is a comprehensive guide written by a group of 30 experts. There are overall 24 chapters written simply. The structure and function of body systems, biomechanics, bioenergetics, endocrine responses, adaptations to anaerobic training programs, aerobic programs, and so on are included in the initial chapters. Sports psychology is a separate chapter.
From here on the food and nutrition sections are discussed in detail. The test selection and administration, interpretation, flexibility training, program design, techniques, rehabilitation, facility design, and layout are also discussed. Practice questions and their answers are provided at the end. Each chapter has a concluding paragraph and learning aids.
Why You Should Buy This Book
- Segregated into clear-cut chapters
- Each chapter is written briefly
- Only the relevant and necessary information is included
- Easy language and simple-to-understand words are used
- Practice test questions and their answers provided
- Learning aids at the end of each chapter
How this book helps you to prepare for your exam?
This guide could prove beneficial for lots of aspiring candidates. It has almost everything covered required for the CSCS exam preparation. The learning aid section shall help in gaining extra knowledge.
Our Rating: 4.8 out of 5
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7. Flashcard Study System for the CSCS Exam
Flashcard Study System for the CSCS Exam is a unique system to improve performance significantly. The flashcards have an in-depth review of every test section. The exercise test section has topics on muscles, blood, heart, bones, and joints.
It is followed by a nutrition section that has a DRI system, electrolytes, cell turnover, and IPO. The exercise technique section has dynamic stretching, receptors, and hold relaxation with agonist contraction. It is followed by the program design section, organisation, administration, testing, and evaluation section.
Why You Should Buy This Book
- Very short and to-the-point information
- All the essential review topics are there
- Portable and Easy to carry
- Huge complex information can be digested as tiny bits
- Repetitive learning helps in quick memorization
How this book helps you to prepare for your exam?
The flashcards study system is a unique and rare study system for CSCS preparation students. Flashcards and quick notes help in coming over this challenging exam. If you have very little preparation time left, this study system could help in maximum preparation. Reading the text, again and again, would lead to memorization.
Our Rating: 4.6 out of 5
In this article, we have discussed the 7 Best CSCS exam preparation books for aspirants looking forward to a professional career as certified athlete trainers. The fitness trainers ready to groom some professional athletes can take up this exam.
The examination is challenging and requires thorough preparation for both test sections. We have already mentioned the 3 best books in the initial section. We have also discussed a flashcards study system. If you are too busy and lack time for preparation then the flashcard study system could be a great choice. It helps in quick revision when there is a very short preparation time left.
This certificate, not just only validates your skills and knowledge about the profession but also makes you the family advisor. You can give professional tips and exercise methods to your close friends and family members.
