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Exam Review

Key Facts: ACSM EP-C Exam

70%

First-Attempt Pass Rate

ACSM (2025)

550/800

Passing Score

ACSM

80-120 hrs

Study Time

Recommended

3.5 hrs

Exam Duration

Pearson VUE

$350-460

Exam Fee

ACSM

Bachelor's

Degree Required

ACSM

The ACSM EP-C exam has approximately 100 scored questions in 2.5 hours, requiring a scaled score of 550/800. The exam covers exercise prescription (30%), health/fitness assessment (25%), exercise physiology (20%), and behavioral coaching (15%).

Sample ACSM EP-C Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the ACSM EP-C exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 200+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1According to ACSM guidelines, which document should be obtained from all clients before conducting fitness assessments?
A.Medical diagnosis report
B.Written informed consent
C.Previous exercise logs
D.Insurance verification
Explanation: Written informed consent is required before conducting any fitness assessments. This document ensures the client understands the purpose, procedures, potential risks, and benefits of the testing. It also serves as a legal protection for both the client and the exercise physiologist.
2A 45-year-old male with no known cardiovascular, metabolic, or renal disease and no signs or symptoms wishes to begin light walking. According to ACSM preparticipation screening guidelines, what is the appropriate recommendation?
A.Medical clearance is required before any activity
B.He may begin light-to-moderate physical activity without medical clearance
C.He must complete a maximal exercise test first
D.He should wait 30 days before starting
Explanation: ACSM guidelines state that apparently healthy individuals without signs or symptoms can begin light-to-moderate intensity physical activity without medical clearance. This approach reduces unnecessary barriers to exercise while maintaining safety for higher-risk individuals.
3Which of the following is classified as a "sign or symptom" requiring medical evaluation prior to exercise testing?
A.Body mass index of 32 kg/m²
B.Dyspnea at rest
C.Age of 55 years
D.Sedentary lifestyle
Explanation: Dyspnea (shortness of breath) at rest is a significant cardiovascular sign/symptom that warrants medical evaluation before exercise testing. While BMI, age, and sedentary lifestyle are risk factors, they are not acute warning signs that require immediate medical evaluation.
4What is the primary purpose of the ACSM preparticipation health screening process?
A.To diagnose cardiovascular disease
B.To determine maximal aerobic capacity
C.To identify individuals who should receive medical clearance before exercise
D.To prescribe specific exercise programs
Explanation: The primary purpose of ACSM preparticipation screening is to identify individuals who should receive medical clearance from a health care provider before beginning or progressing an exercise program. In the current (11th edition) algorithm this decision is based on the person's current exercise habits, known cardiovascular/metabolic/renal disease or signs/symptoms, and desired exercise intensity - not on counting CVD risk factors. It is a safety-screening process, not a diagnostic or prescriptive one.
5Which cardiovascular risk factor is defined as HDL cholesterol less than 40 mg/dL in men?
A.Hypertension
B.Dyslipidemia
C.Impaired fasting glucose
D.Obesity
Explanation: Dyslipidemia is defined as HDL cholesterol <40 mg/dL in men or <50 mg/dL in women, OR LDL cholesterol >=130 mg/dL, OR total cholesterol >=200 mg/dL (or use of lipid-lowering medication). It is one of the atherosclerotic CVD risk factors. Note that in the current ACSM preparticipation algorithm, the CVD risk-factor profile is no longer used to decide whether medical clearance is needed before exercise; it remains useful for overall health appraisal.
6What is the formula for calculating Body Mass Index (BMI)?
A.Weight (kg) / Height (m)²
B.Weight (kg) × Height (m)
C.Weight (lb) / Height (in) × 703
D.Height (m)² / Weight (kg)
Explanation: BMI is calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared (kg/m²). This formula provides a standardized measure for classifying weight status, though it does not distinguish between fat mass and lean body mass.
7A client weighs 70 kg and is 1.75 m tall. What is their BMI?
A.22.9 kg/m²
B.24.5 kg/m²
C.26.2 kg/m²
D.28.0 kg/m²
Explanation: BMI = 70 kg / (1.75 m)² = 70 / 3.0625 = 22.9 kg/m². This falls within the normal weight category (18.5-24.9 kg/m²) according to standard BMI classifications.
8According to ACSM, which BMI range is classified as "overweight"?
A.18.5-24.9 kg/m²
B.25.0-29.9 kg/m²
C.30.0-34.9 kg/m²
D.35.0-39.9 kg/m²
Explanation: The BMI classification for overweight is 25.0-29.9 kg/m². Underweight is <18.5, normal is 18.5-24.9, obese class I is 30.0-34.9, obese class II is 35.0-39.9, and obese class III is ≥40 kg/m².
9What is the standard site for measuring resting heart rate via palpation?
A.Temporal artery
B.Carotid or radial artery
C.Femoral artery
D.Brachial artery
Explanation: The carotid (neck) or radial (wrist) arteries are the standard sites for palpating resting heart rate. The radial artery is preferred for routine assessment as it is easily accessible and applying pressure to the carotid can potentially affect heart rate.
10What is the normal range for resting blood pressure in adults according to ACSM?
A.<90/60 mmHg
B.<120/80 mmHg
C.120-139/80-89 mmHg
D.140-159/90-99 mmHg
Explanation: Normal blood pressure is defined as systolic <120 mmHg and diastolic <80 mmHg. Elevated is 120-129/<80, Stage 1 hypertension is 130-139/80-89, and Stage 2 hypertension is ≥140/≥90 mmHg.

About the ACSM EP-C Exam

The ACSM Certified Exercise Physiologist (EP-C) credential validates competence in exercise prescription, fitness assessment, and health behavior counseling for apparently healthy individuals and those with controlled chronic diseases.

Exam sponsor: American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) / Pearson VUE. The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Questions

140 questions

Time Limit

3 hours 30 minutes (210 minutes)

Passing Score

550/800 (scaled)

Exam / Certification Fees

$350 member / $460 nonmember

Exam sponsor website

Reported exam pass rate: 70% first-attempt. 2025, ACSM certification pass-rate page This describes exam candidates, not OpenExamPrep users or results from using our resources. Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

Our practice resources: topics covered

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

30%

Exercise Prescription

FITT-VP principles, cardiorespiratory programming, resistance training, flexibility, and special population modifications

25%

Health & Fitness Assessment

Pre-participation screening, body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength/endurance testing

20%

Exercise Physiology

Cardiovascular, pulmonary, metabolic, and musculoskeletal physiology; biomechanics and kinesiology

15%

Behavioral Coaching

Health behavior change models, motivational interviewing, goal setting, adherence strategies

10%

Safety & Emergency

Risk stratification, emergency action plans, injury prevention, AED/CPR protocols

Preparing for the ACSM EP-C Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 550/800 (scaled)
  • Exam length: 140 questions
  • Time limit: 3 hours 30 minutes (210 minutes)
  • Exam / certification fees: $350 member / $460 nonmember Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

  • Work through all 200 available questions
  • Review every answer and explanation
  • Track weak areas and revisit them
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

ACSM EP-C: Suggested Study Strategy

1Master FITT-VP principles for all exercise modalities
2Know ACSM risk stratification categories and pre-participation screening algorithms
3Study metabolic calculations (METs, VO2, caloric expenditure)
4Understand exercise modifications for controlled chronic diseases
5Review body composition assessment methods and their limitations
6Practice interpreting graded exercise test data

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the ACSM EP-C passing score?

The ACSM EP-C exam requires a scaled score of 550 out of 800 to pass, with approximately 100 scored multiple-choice questions in 2.5 hours.

What are the prerequisites?

Candidates must hold a bachelor's degree in exercise science, kinesiology, or related field, plus current CPR/AED certification.

How hard is the ACSM EP-C?

Moderately difficult with a first-attempt pass rate around 70% (2025, ACSM). The exam emphasizes applied knowledge including exercise prescription and risk stratification.

How long should I study?

Most candidates study 8-12 weeks, investing 80-120 hours. Use ACSM's Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription as primary resource.