HomeCertification Exam Requirements

To be eligible to take the SCCC Certification Examination, an individual must be a currently practicing, full-time, strength and conditioning coach on the collegiate or professional level, or a student preparing to become a full-time strength and conditioning coach on this level.

Our goal as an association is to identify, educate, serve, and prepare those individuals who want to be exclusively full-time strength and conditioning coaches of collegiate and professional athletic teams. Dual certification in other fields is not recommended in order to protect the integrity and value of the SCCC Certification and the profession of full-time collegiate and professional-level strength and conditioning. The various positions of strength and conditioning coach, sport coach, athletic trainer, physical therapist, teacher/researcher, personal trainer, etc., are each so broad and vast in scope that it is impossible to be effective and competent in more than one of these professions simultaneously. Each of these professions has its own organization and certification, designed specifically to meet its unique needs.

With its certification process, the CSCCa is providing a door, through which only those individuals who want to be full-time strength and conditioning coaches on the collegiate and professional level can pass. We hope to send a message to all institutions that a full-time strength and conditioning coaching position is extremely important and should be provided at every institution with an athletic program.

ATTENTION: CSCCa membership is not required for obtaining SCCC Certification, but CSCCa members do receive discounted rates. Annual membership dues (membership year runs from August 1 - July 31) must be paid by corresponding deadlines in order to receive the member discounted pricing for conference registration. A non-compliance fee will be assessed for individuals who do not pay the membership fee by the corresponding deadline, but who have received discounted pricing for any CSCCa dues and fees. SCCC_Certification_Handbook Dec 2025 SCCC Written Retake Exam Reg FORM WILL NOT BE ACCESSIBLE UNTIL AUG. 1ST, 2025

Spring 2026 SCCC Certification Exam Reg FORM WILL NOT BE ACCESSIBLE UNTIL OCT. 1ST, 2025

Standard Candidates with less than 6 years full time experience

Graduating students
Strength and conditioning coach of collegiate or professional athletic team with less than 6 years full time experience

Requirement, Description, & Deadlines

Exam Application
Applications open on October 1, 2025
Deadline: February 6, 2026

CSCCa Code of Conduct
A signed CSCCa Code of Conduct must be completed within the exam application form.
Deadline: February 6, 2026

Practicum Waiver & Information Form
A Practicum Waiver & Information Form must be submitted to the CSSCa National Office at the beginning of your 640-hour CSCCa approved internship. Email to cert@cscca.org
Deadline: February 6, 2026

Current CSCCa Membership Dues
Student $65/year Full time: $120/year (optional)
Deadline: February 6, 2026

Certification Fee
Certification Fee Member: $370 -- Non Member: $490
Deadline: February 6, 2026

Completed Education Eligibility Requirement
All first-time candidates are required to have received academic credit on their official transcripts for the following courses (5 total):
-Anatomy & Physiology (2 courses)**
-Exercise Physiology (1 course)
-Biomechanics or Kinesiology (1 course)
-Nutrition (Sports Nutrition preferred) (1 course)

Note: Classes titled as "Introductory" will not be accepted unless they are worth 3+ credit hours; standalone labs do not count as one of the required classes, and acceptable courses must be worth 3+ credit hours.
**Example: Anatomy and Physiology I and II (Both Classes), or Human Anatomy
(One Class) and Human Physiology (Another Class)
Alternatively, candidates that have a bachelor's degree in Exercise Science or Kinesiology from a CAAHEP or CASCE accredited institutions meet the education eligibility requirements.

CPR/AED/FIRST AID Card
A copy of the front and back of CPR, First Aid, and AED certification card issued only by the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association, and valid on the date of the exam, must be emailed to the national office at cert@cscca.org. While First Aid courses may be completed entirely online, we cannot accept any CPR, and AED card obtained solely online. We do strongly recommend, however, that the First Aid portion include an in-person skills assessment if at all possible. Additionally, CPR/First Aid/AED Courses must meet AHA requirements.
Deadline: March 13, 2026

Internship Completion Verification Form
Internship completion verification form signed and submitted by a CSSCa Approved Mentor at the completion of a 640-hour CSCCa approved internship. Email to cert@cscca.org
Deadline: March 13, 2026

Practicum Fee
Practicum Fee of $230 to cover CSCCa administrative costs of the program.
Deadline: March 13, 2026

Program Design
Submission of a program design to the CSSCa National Office via email. Template and instructions will be emailed to registered candidates in early March.
Deadline: March 27, 2026

Retake Candidates

Candidates who are retaking the SCCC Certification examination.

Upcoming Testing Windows:
* Written Exam: December 1-31, 2025 and March 30-May 2, 2026
* Practical Exam : May 4, 2026
Please send all requirements into cert@cscca.org

Retakes and Recertification

The following is a summary of SCCC Certification Requirements and their respective deadlines, for candidates re-taking one or both portions of the SCCC Certification Exam:

**DECEMBER 2025 WRITTEN RETAKE EXAM REQUIREMENTS**

December Retake Exam Application
Applications open on August 1, 2025
Deadline: October 17, 2025

Current CSCCa Membership Dues
Membership Dues Student $65/year Full time: $120/year (optional)
Deadline: October 17, 2025

Certification Fee
Certification Fee Member: $215 -- Non Member: $270
Deadline: October 17, 2025

Requirement Description Deadline
A copy of the front and back of CPR, First Aid, and AED certification card issued only by the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association, and valid on the date of the exam, must be emailed to the national office at cert@cscca.org. While First Aid courses may be completed entirely online, we cannot accept any CPR, and AED card obtained solely online. We do strongly recommend, however, that the First Aid portion include an in-person skills assessment if at all possible. Additionally, CPR/First Aid/AED Courses must meet AHA requirements.
Deadline: November 3, 2025

**SPRING 2026 EXAM REQUIREMENTS**

Spring 2026 Retake Exam Application
Applications open on October 1, 2026
Deadline: February 6, 2026

Current CSCCa Membership Dues
Membership Dues Student $65/year Full time: $120/year (optional)
Deadline: February 6, 2026

Certification Fee
Certification Fee One Portion- Member: $215 -- Non Member: $270
Two Portions- Member: $370 -- Non Member: $490
Deadline: February 6, 2026

CPR/AED/First Aid Card
A copy of the front and back of CPR, First Aid, and AED certification card issued only by the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association, and valid on the date of the exam, must be emailed to the national office at cert@cscca.org. While First Aid courses may be completed entirely online, we cannot accept any CPR, and AED card obtained solely online. We do strongly recommend, however, that the First Aid portion include an in-person skills assessment if at all possible. Additionally, CPR/First Aid/AED Courses must meet AHA requirements.
Deadline: March 13, 2026

Program Design **if retaking Practical Exam Submission of a program design to the CSCCa National Office via email. Template and instructions will be emailed to registered candidates in early March.
Deadline: March 27, 2026

Full-Time Candidates with 6 Years Experience

Collegiate or professional-level strength and conditioning coaches who have been coaching full-time on the collegiate or professional-level for 6 or more years.

Certification fees will be accepted after August 1, 2025.
Upcoming Testing Windows:
-Written Exam: March 30-May 2, 2026
-Practical Exam: May 4, 2026

Full-Time for 6 or more years with a collegiate and/or a professional athletic team

The following is a summary of SCCC Certification Requirements and their respective deadlines, for actively practicing full-time collegiate or professional-level strength and conditioning coaches who have a minimum of 6 years full-time collegiate and/or professional-level strength and conditioning coaching experience to be sent to cert@cscca.org:

Exam Application
Applications open on October 1, 2025
Deadline: February 6, 2026

CSCCa Code of Conduct
A signed CSCCa Code of Conduct must completed within the exam application form.
Deadline: February 6, 2026

Current CSCCa Membership Dues
Membership Dues Full time: $120/year
(optional)
Deadline: February 6, 2026

Certification Fee
Certification Fee Member: $370 -- Non Member: $490
Deadline: February 6, 2026

Bachelor's Degree
Completion of a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. A sealed, official transcript verifying attainment of a bachelor's degree is required. Transcripts issued to students or copies will not be accepted. Transcripts must be sent from the University's Records Department directly to the CSCCa National Office either electronically cert@cscca.org or mailed in an official, sealed envelope.
Deadline: February 6, 2026

Completed Education Eligibility Requirement
All first-time candidates are required to have received academic credit on their official transcripts for the following courses (5 total):
-Anatomy & Physiology (2 courses)**
-Exercise Physiology (1 course)
-Biomechanics or Kinesiology (1 course)
-Nutrition (Sports Nutrition preferred) (1 course)

Note: Classes titled as "Introductory" will not be accepted unless they are worth 3+ credit hours; standalone labs do not count as one of the required classes, and acceptable courses must be worth 3+ credit hours.
**Example: Anatomy and Physiology I and II (Both Classes), or Human Anatomy (One Class) and Human Physiology (Another Class)
Alternatively, candidates that have a bachelor's degree in Exercise Science or Kinesiology from a CAAHEP or CASCE accredited institutions meet the education eligibility requirements.

CPR/AED/First Aid Card

A copy of the front and back of CPR, First Aid, and AED certification card issued only by the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association, and valid on the date of the exam, must be emailed to the national office at cert@cscca.org. While First Aid courses may be completed entirely online, we cannot accept any CPR, and AED card obtained solely online. We do strongly recommend, however, that the First Aid portion include an in-person skills assessment if at all possible. Additionally, CPR/First Aid/AED Courses must meet AHA requirements.
Deadline: March 13, 2026

Program Design**
Submission of a program design to the CSCCa National Office via email. Template and instructions will be emailed to registered candidates in early March.
Deadline: March 27, 2026

Pass Written Certification Examination
A passing score on the written certification exam must be obtained.

Pass Practical Certification Examination*
Passing score on both stations of the CSCCa Practical Certification Examination, administered by a panel of Master Strength and Conditioning Coaches. This includes providing a reasonable rationale for a strength and conditioning program design by the candidate for a specified sport.

Refund and Cancellation Policy

Below is a table outlining the cancellation/refund policy for the next two scheduled SCCC Certification Exams. Please note that refunds are subject to a processing time and may take up to three weeks after the completion of the scheduled testing window.

*Cancellation Note: In order to receive a refund or to have payment applied to a later exam, the SCCC Candidate must request a cancellation in writing. Appeals for refunds after the established deadlines due to extenuating circumstances may be submitted by email to the CSCCa National Office. Please be aware, however, that appeals will not be accepted more than two weeks after the applicable testing window closes.

December 2025 Exam Cancellation Received By:	Spring 2026 Certification Exam Cancellation Received By:	Terms of Cancellation
Before October 18, 2025	Before February 6, 2026	Full refund provided*
October 18, 2025 - November 1, 2025	February 6, 2025 - March 4, 2026	$25 Non-refundable cancellation fee*
November 2, 2025 - November 30, 2025	March 5, 2025 - March 29, 2026	$100 Non-refundable cancellation fee*
After November 30, 2025	After March 29, 2026	No refund provided*