NASM and AFAA Recertification: How Many CEUs Do You Actually Need?
The short answer: 2.0 CEUs every two years for NASM-CPT, and 1.5 CEUs for AFAA. Both require a current CPR and AED certification. For NASM that counts as 0.1 CEU toward the 2.0, so the practical target is 1.9 CEUs from approved courses.
Requirements at a glance
| Credential | CEUs required | In hours | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| NASM-CPT | 2.0 (1.9 from courses + 0.1 CPR/AED) | 20 | 2 years |
| AFAA-CGFI | 1.5 | 15 | 2 years |
| Other AFAA certifications | 1.5 | 15 | 2 years |
What a CEU is worth
One contact hour equals 0.1 CEU. The 2.0 CEUs NASM asks for is about twenty hours across your two-year cycle, and a course advertising 0.5 CEUs represents roughly five hours. Since CPR/AED covers 0.1 of it, the practical target is 1.9 CEUs from courses. This is what people get wrong when comparing courses: a $99 course awarding 0.2 CEUs costs far more per credit than a $35 course awarding 0.5. Compare price against credits.
Where your CEUs have to come from
They must come from an approved provider. NASM and AFAA both maintain lists of approved continuing education providers, and each approved course states the CEUs it awards. A course from an unapproved source will not count, however good it is.
What your certificate of completion must show
- Your name
- The provider name and provider number
- The awarding organization, NASM and/or AFAA
- The course title
- The date of completion
- The number of CEUs awarded
- The location, or the format for an online course
Keep your copy. Providers must retain participation records for four years and can reissue a lost certificate, but submitting your own is quicker than requesting a replacement against a deadline.
How to submit
Both NASM and AFAA accept recertification documents through their own online portals, where you upload certificates along with proof of current CPR and AED. Fees and deadlines change, so confirm current requirements in your own portal.
A course that counts toward this
StayPrime is recognized by the National Academy of Sports Medicine as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, and by the Athletics and Fitness Association of America as an Approved Continuing Education Provider. Approved Provider No. PRO-014617.
Our course, The Online Trainer Business Specialist, awards 0.5 NASM CEUs and 0.5 AFAA CEUs for $35. To be clear about what that covers: 0.5 of the 2.0 NASM requires, so it is part of a recertification cycle rather than all of it.
See the course | Browse StayPrime trainers
Common questions
How many CEUs do I need to recertify my NASM-CPT?
NASM requires 2.0 CEUs, which is 20 contact hours, every two years. Of that, 0.1 CEU comes from your CPR/AED certification, so you need 1.9 CEUs from approved continuing education courses. Documents are submitted through the NASM online Recertification Portal.
How many CEUs does AFAA require?
AFAA requires 1.5 CEUs, which is 15 hours, over a two-year period. That applies to the AFAA-CGFI and to other AFAA certifications, and a current CPR and AED certification is required as well.
What is a CEU worth in hours?
One contact hour equals 0.1 CEU. A course awarding 0.5 CEUs represents about five hours of study, and the 2.0 CEUs NASM requires represents about twenty hours.
Do CPR and AED count toward my CEUs?
For NASM, yes. Your CPR/AED certification is worth 0.1 CEU toward the 2.0 total, which is why the requirement is often written as 1.9 CEUs from courses. It must be current at recertification and NASM requires a hands-on component. AFAA also requires a current CPR/AED card.
Where do CEUs have to come from?
They must come from an approved provider. NASM and AFAA maintain lists of approved continuing education providers, and each approved course states the number of CEUs it awards.
What must a certificate of completion show?
Your name, the provider name and provider number, the awarding organization, the course title, the completion date, the number of CEUs awarded, and the location or format.
What is the cheapest way to earn NASM CEUs?
Self-paced online courses are usually least expensive because there is no travel or live attendance. Compare price against the CEUs awarded rather than the sticker price, and confirm the provider is approved before buying.
Requirements are drawn from the NASM and AFAA continuing education provider policies. StayPrime is an approved continuing education provider, not NASM or AFAA. Confirm current requirements, fees and deadlines in your own recertification portal.