I became a CSCS in August 2011 but my interest in strength and conditioning principles started back in high school. As a competitive high school and club soccer player I quickly learned the value of sports performance training. Competing in some of the top soccer tournaments around the country made me realize how important building my speed and strength were to be successful. I trained in multiple speed programs, agility and jumping programs, and “injury prevention” programs, all while lifting weights. Looking back on it, none of the programs had any structure to them. Luckily I had a gym teacher my senior year that was a CSCS/ATC who taught me the principles and got me interested in becoming a strength and conditioning specialist.
How has my CSCS helped me? First and foremost, I really enjoy sports performance training and I pursued the CSCS to have the opportunity to train high-level athletes. I have structured evaluations, performance enhancement programs (speed, agility, plyometrics, power), and taught proper weight training techniques for multiple athletes at both the collegiate and high school levels. It has been a very rewarding experience working with these high level athletes and I continue to learn more about strength and conditioning everyday. From a physical therapy aspect, I have benefited tremendously. During my clinical rotations I have never failed to give more challenging exercises to my patients. I think the biggest benefit is understanding how and when to effectively change the intensity of the rehabilitation program. Unfortunately, physical therapy curriculum is so dense that it’s almost impossible to teach all the different types of exercises out there and how to effectively change intensity (sets, reps, type of contraction, speed of reps, rest time, etc) in a program. Overall, my experience as a CSCS has been wonderful from both a physical therapy and strength & conditioning aspect. I can confidently say that I understand dosage and exercise prescription better than most of my peers because of the additional knowledge I’ve gained. If you are interested in pursuing a strength and conditioning job on the side from physical therapy, the CSCS certification is the one to start with. Right or wrong, it is still considered the “gold standard” in the industry (although there are some definite gaps in the CSCS test). For those who aren’t interested in becoming a CSCS but would like to learn the principles, the Essentials of Strength and Conditioning book is a must read starting point (I don’t agree with all of their principles-namely the periodization principles but for beginners it’s a great resource!). Please leave a comment if you would like any additional posts on anything to do with the CSCS, whether its study tips for the exam, any other strength and conditioning certifications, or just general questions! -Brian
14 Comments
Tom
11/25/2012 11:07:00 pm
Brian, I am a first year a first year PT student and I was thinking about getting CSCS certified. I don't know what I want to specialize in yet but figured it would still be good to have the cert. Is it worth getting even though I might not go into sports care? Do you recommend or think it is possible to get it completed while in school?
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Brian
12/1/2012 07:34:57 am
Tom,
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Brian
11/26/2012 09:35:35 am
Tom,
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Nick
1/28/2013 01:07:51 am
Hi guys I just wanted to add my two cents on this. I am a first year DPT student and I received my CSCS about a month prior the beginning of my program. Overall I think that if you plan on working with athletes it would be a solid choice. You do receive some good information about programming from a basic level. I agree with the previous post in that I do not share the same beliefs on periodization. It's just important to understand that the NSCA has an agenda and they have their own opinions to the manipulations of a training program. I worked under one of the country's best strength coaches and he does not agree with many things the NSCA states. Enough of the soapbox though. I plan on possibly specializing in neuro post grad so I think that the CSCS could benefit all therapists.
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Rex
6/1/2014 02:39:07 pm
Brian, I am going to PT school in fall 2014, and want to take the CSCS however I am wondering if it is worth it since I won't take advantage of having this certification until after I get my DPT. By then I believe I would have to re-new it. Do you think it is still worth it to try to get it within the next couple months before school starts.
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Brian
6/23/2014 02:11:37 am
Rex,
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Cristina
3/2/2016 11:06:08 am
Brian,
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Brian
3/2/2016 11:51:10 pm
Cristina,
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Sona
12/8/2017 09:00:17 am
Hey Brian! I ran across this post while searching the web regarding CSCS benefits for a PT. I am a first year PT student, and I am potentially interested in working with athletes once I graduate. However, I come from a psychology background. I have trained in dancing for 8 years, but do not have any background in sports or training. Being in PT school has made me realize that working with athletes would be an incredible opportunity, but I definitely lack the background that many other students came in with. I know this exam will definitely set me aside from the other students, but I was wondering if it was at all possible to even pass this exam within 2-3 months. I have a break/rotations coming up so I will have time to study a lot, but I didn't want to spend money on an exam that might not give me the results I need. Please let me know what your opinion is on this matter. I would also prefer to continue this conversation over email. Thanks, and gave a great day!
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Brian
12/16/2017 06:53:04 pm
Hi Sona,
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Samuel TeBos
7/13/2018 06:51:46 pm
Does CSCS certification increase your chances of getting into DPT school? I am looking at getting certified during my gap year.
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TSPT
7/13/2018 09:03:37 pm
It should help! Good luck!
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Hi Brian. Thank you for the article. I am a graduate student and will obtain my FMS and CSCS before graduation. I enjoy training athletes and love assisting in getting stronger and teaching the correct techniques. I am wanting to obtain my DPT and wondered how the process works work coming from a trainer standpoint?
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4/25/2019 02:43:18 am
Thanks by the way with your post, very informative and helpful!
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AuthorsJames Heafner DPT, Chris Fox DPT, and Brian Schwabe DPT, CSCS are recent graduates of Saint Louis University's Program in Physical Therapy. Archives
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