ISSA CPT · exam facts
The ISSA final exam, and the other ISSA exam
Format, passing score, retakes, CPR rules and renewal for both exams that come with the ISSA CPT course, kept in separate columns so the numbers never blur. Every row links the ISSA or NCCPT page it came from.
- ≤200course exam questions
- 70%course pass mark
- 140NCCPT-CPT items
- $79Prometric fee, NCCPT-CPT
Both exams at a glance
| Fact | ISSA CPT | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Accreditation | NCCA on the NCCPT-CPT exam only; the ISSA course exam is not accredited | IC · NF |
| Items on the exam | up to 200 · 140 (course exam · NCCPT-CPT, 125 scored + 15 pretest) | IF · NE |
| Time limit | untimed · 2 hours | IF · NE |
| Pass mark | course 70% (one ISSA FAQ answer says 75% on all sections) · NCCPT scaled score (cut score not published) | IF · NP |
| Score report | NCCPT: pass/fail at the end; a fail comes with a report by content area | NE · NP |
| Where you sit it | course: online, open-note, unproctored · NCCPT: Prometric center or live remote, closed-book | IF · NE |
| Eligibility | NCCPT: 18+, photo ID, valid CPR card (no digital certificates) · ISSA: current adult CPR/AED to certify | NE · IF |
| Retake | course: one free resubmission of a failed portion · NCCPT: $99, max 3 attempts in 12 months | IF · NM |
| Window to test | course 6 months · NCCPT 12 months from purchase (+ one free 6-month extension) | IF · NE |
| Renewal | every 2 yrs · 20 CEUs + CPR/AED · ISSA $99 / NCCPT $75 | IF · NF · NM |
The ISSA final exam: format
The ISSA final exam is the exam inside the course. It has up to 200 questions, the exact count depending on the course, and it is open-note, untimed and unproctored, taken online with no booking. You take it when you are ready, within the course window of 6 months.
Because it is open-note, the skill it rewards is finding things fast. Keep your notes organized by topic before you start, not by chapter order.
The NCCPT-CPT works nothing like it: 140 items in 2 hours, taken at a Prometric center or online, with no books or notes; scratch paper, a pencil and a basic calculator are allowed; no scheduled breaks, and the timer keeps running. NCCPT exam in detail.
Passing score
ISSA's passing-grade answer puts the CPT course exam at 70%. The NCCPT-CPT reports a scaled score against a passing standard NCCPT doesn't publish: raw scores are converted so every exam form is judged against the same standard. You get pass or fail as soon as you finish; a fail comes with a performance report for each content area.
70% or 75%? ISSA's own FAQ says both
ISSA's FAQ answer on passing grades sets the Personal Training exam at 70% and specialization exams at 75% in each section. Its answer on CPR documentation, though, lists "a score of 75% or better on all sections of the final examination" among the CPT requirements. Until ISSA reconciles the two, aim for the higher bar on every section, and ask ISSA support if your score lands in between.
Retakes
- Course exam: a failed portion can be resubmitted once free of charge (counted as your second attempt); each retest after that carries an unpublished admin fee.
- NCCPT-CPT: $99 per retake, 3 attempts in 12 months. You wait 14 days after the first attempt, 90 days after the second, 1 year after the third. The second attempt uses a different exam form.
The NCCPT eligibility window is 12 months from purchase, with one free 6-month extension; a second costs $99; after 2 years the exam has to be bought again.
Requirements and CPR/AED
For the ISSA credential you need a current adult CPR/AED certification, valid for at least 30 days past the date you submit, and every course section quiz submitted.
The NCCPT-CPT asks for: 18 or older, a government or school photo ID and a valid CPR card or certificate (digital CPR certificates aren't accepted). Have all of it before test day. If your CPR course issued only a digital certificate, sort out a card or printed certificate of completion first.
Renewal and continuing education
The two credentials renew separately.
- ISSA CPT: 20 CEUs and a $99 fee every 2 years, the fee waived if all 20 CEUs are ISSA courses.
- NCCPT-CPT: 20 CEUs (2.0 CEUs) plus current CPR every 2 years; the fee is $75 for one certification or $50 each for two or more, waived if the CE comes from ISSA or NCCPT. Late renewal costs +$25 up to 30 days after expiry.
Taking all your CEUs through ISSA waives both renewal fees, though the CE courses themselves are paid.
Practice before either exam
Keep practicing for the ISSA CPT in an app
More ISSA CPT practice questions with explanations, in a study app for your phone. Not affiliated with ISSA.
More on the ISSA exams
- ISSA CPTTwo exams under one name: format, cost, domains, sources
- ISSA CPT practice testQuestions sorted by the six NCCPT-CPT domains, every option explained
- ISSA CPT costCourse price, NCCPT exam and Prometric fees, retakes, renewal
- ISSA CPT accreditationIs ISSA NCCA accredited? Only the NCCPT-CPT exam is
- ISSA CPT NCCPT examThe NCCA-accredited ISSA exam: items, rules, fees, retakes
ISSA final exam, quick answers
How many questions are on the ISSA final exam?
The course exam has up to 200 questions, depending on the course. The separate NCCPT-CPT has 140 items.
Is the ISSA final exam open book?
Yes, it is open-note and untimed, and nobody proctors it. The NCCPT-CPT is closed-book and proctored.
What happens if I fail the ISSA final exam?
On the course exam you get one free resubmission of a failed portion; later retests carry an admin fee. For the NCCPT-CPT a retake costs $99 and you wait 14 days, then 90 days, then a year between attempts.
Does ISSA require CPR certification?
Yes, a current adult CPR/AED certification. The NCCPT-CPT also needs a valid CPR card before you test, and a digital CPR certificate is not accepted.
How many CEUs do I need to renew ISSA?
ISSA asks for 20 CEUs and $99 every 2 years. The NCCPT-CPT renews separately: 20 CEUs plus current CPR every 2 years, $75.