NSCA’s Essentials of Tactical Strength and Conditioning is a NSCA resource developed for those seeking the TSAC-F certification and for strength and conditioning coaches or personal trainers who work with tactical populations such as military, law enforcement, and fire and rescue personnel.

The purpose of this article is to provide information about the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) certification exams that were administered during 2024.

Learn how the NSCA and APTA joint principles statement supports the advancement of athlete health, performance, and safety through evidence-based collaboration.

The NSCA certification exams are based on the analysis of tasks needed to be competent in a specified job or role. The exams measure a candidate’s knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) compared to a predetermined level of competence. It is not a test that recalls information from a textbook like a college course. Before you start preparing ensure you have chosen the right certification for you.

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Joe Denk, a strength and conditioning instructor for the Navy SHAPE Program, discusses ways to integrate autoregulatory training and recovery systems into your training programs.

Nutrition and dietary intake are key factors for exercise and sport performance. While a substantial body of research highlights the impact of nutrition on exercise, many dietary and nutrient recommendations are based on research studies only conducted in men. However, the distinct physiological, neurological, and hormonal changes across a woman’s life cycle significantly affect nutritional needs. This narrative review explores key recommendations for calories, carbohydrates, fats, proteins, and select supplements, highlighting the absence of sex-specific guidelines in current dietary frameworks for strength and conditioning female athletes. The review synthesizes current literature to provide practical guidance for coaches, sport dietitians, and health practitioners to optimize both performance and health outcomes for female athletes.

The National Strength and Conditioning Association is proud to work with our outstanding partners and thank them for their continued support.

Expectations for strength and conditioning coaches now extend far beyond the weight room. Athletes and sport coaches demand better data, deeper insight, and stronger performance. Faith Brown, Associate Director of Strength and Conditioning at George Mason University, supports women’s basketball and volleyball while collaborating with the Patriot Performance Lab. Brown describes balancing teams, testing, and athlete monitoring as a “circus act.” At the heart of her coaching is one goal: be the coach she wishes she had as a college track athlete. She demonstrates ways strength and conditioning coaches can contribute as scientists, creating impact and value outside the weight room walls. Brown shares how GPS, heart rate monitoring, and force plates support workload monitoring. However, she believes that technology should only be used when it answers a real question. Learn how to turn data into better training decisions, translate sport science so sport coaches buy in, and reach out to other coaches to refine your program. Connect with Faith on Instagram: @faithsabrown, LinkedIn: @faith-brown, or by email: fbrown20@gmu.edu | Find Eric on Instagram: @ericmcmahoncscs and LinkedIn: @ericmcmahoncscs From the Episode: Explore NSCA’s Essentials of Sport Science, a foundational text defining the field and the role of sport scientists in high-performance environments. It also supports preparation for the Certified Performance and Sport Scientist® (CPSS®) certification exam.

Held annually, NSCA Conferences are an exceptional way to learn the latest research, techniques, and breakthrough performance methods used by top professionals around the world. Learn from the best and grow your network! All of our conferences provide CSCS® and NSCA-CPT® Continuing Education Unit (CEU) opportunities.