CI-CPT Certification Renewal

Certification renewal is required ONLY for The Cooper Institute Certified Personal Trainer (CI-CPT) credential. The CI-CPT credential was first offered in January 2006.

If the certificate you have was earned prior to 2006:

Click here for information on the Physical Fitness Specialist certificate.
Click here for reprint information on all other Cooper certificates.

The information contained within this section is solely for those persons holding The Cooper Institute Certified Personal Trainer (CI-CPT) credential.

Apply for Certificate Renewal

To apply for Certificate Renewal, simply fill out the form provided below and send it along with a copy of your original certificate, verification of 30 contact hours and the appropriate fees (the fees are listed in the document). Please make sure you retain the original documentation and a copy of this form for your records.

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CI-CPT Certificate Renewal Application Form	225K	Adobe PDF

What is the purpose of the CI-CPT certificate renewal program?

The Cooper Institute Certification Board (CI-CB) is committed to providing an avenue for its credentialed professionals to build upon and/or enhance expertise in Personal Trainer core competencies through a formal program of continuing education. The CI-CPT Renewal Program encourages professionals to stay up-to-date with research, health and medical guidelines, and to offer programs that are safe, effective, and motivational to their clients.

How do I renew my CI-CPT certificate?

When you earn a CI-CPT certification, the three year valid period is printed on the certificate. To renew your certificate, you are required to participate in continuing education opportunities or options that serve to build upon or enhance Personal Trainer core competencies (CE options) during those three years. The certification exam performance domains reflect the Personal Trainer core competencies. You will need to accrue 30 contact hours over a three-year period. One contact hour is defined as one clock hour of professional educational programming or hands-on application. We will only accept contact hours that are earned between the date the certificate was issued and renewal date. For example, if you received your original certificate on January 1, 2006 we will only recognize CEUs earned between January 1, 2006 and your renewal date of January 1, 2009.
You must also provide proof of current CPR in order to renew your certificate. Only CPR courses including a hands-on component will be accepted. Correspondence or on-line courses are not accepted for certification or certificate renewal.

Who is eligible to renew a CI-CPT certificate?

Certification renewal is available only to those CI-CPT certificate holders classified as Currently Certified and in good standing with The Cooper Institute; and to those who previously met the above classification and have obtained a 6 month extension for renewal within the allowable time period. It is your responsibility to monitor your certificate expiration date. Certificates expired for a period longer than 6 months are not renewable; the certification process will need to be repeated to earn a valid certification.

What are some of the contact hour options available?

Please see Continuing Education Options and Contact Hours document below for examples of each category. You do not need to obtain your contact hours through The Cooper Institute. For a list of approved continuing education providers, please contact one of our Course Coordinators for the most recent list. Please note that some educational options offered by these providers may not fall within the guidelines of building or enhancing Personal Trainer core competencies, and therefore may not be applied toward CI-CPT renewal.

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Continuing Education Options & Contact Hours	104K	Adobe PDF

Why are some contact hour options not available for CI-CPT renewal?

The Cooper Institute Certification Board (CI-CB) is responsible for establishing renewal requirements for the CI-CPT. Contact hour options which do not meet the purpose for CI-CPT certificate renewal (i.e., the option does not build upon or enhance current capabilities) are not allowed to count toward required contact hours.

Will Cooper accept other organizations as providers for their continuing education options?

Yes. The Cooper Institute works with a number of organizations to ensure that continuing education is easily accessible. If you choose to attend an event that is not sponsored by The Cooper Institute, be sure to ask if they provide Cooper credits. If not, you will need a letter of verification as proof of your attendance. At the appropriate time for your renewal, you will submit the letter of verification to the Renewal Program Manager at The Cooper Institute along with your other renewal information. It will be reviewed and awarded credits if found to meet certification renewal guidelines.

What if I do not renew my certificate on time?

A three month extension is available for a fee of $100.00. An extension will give you a period of six months from your renewal date to complete your renewal requirements. If you complete all the necessary requirements during that six-month extension period, your certificate will be renewed for an additional three years based on the original three-year cycle (not from the date you completed the forms). If you are not able to complete all the requirements within the time frame, and still wish to obtain the CI-CPT Credential, you will need to earn the CI-CPT again by taking the exam.

What are the costs?

Certificate renewal fee: $49
Extension fee: $100
(You have 3 months from the certificate expiration date to complete the renewal process. This extension fee will be added at the time that you submit your renewal.) Payment is due at the time of renewal, purchase orders may not be used as payment.

How do I document my educational options?

Documentation or proof of participation in educational programming must be provided for each educational option. The following are examples of acceptable forms of documentation:

Photocopies of a professional certificate (Indicating CEU’s or contact hours)
Certificate of attendance (Indicating CEU’s or contact hours)
A copy of college/university course grades or transcripts that indicate the course has been passed
CPR card (required)
Copy of an authored or co-authored published article, abstract or book (photocopied title page)
A brochure or catalog to indicate professional teaching or presentations
Confirmation letters for self-tests for professional CEU/CEC/CME.

Do I need to send CI documentation after I complete each CE option?

No. To make it a little easier for yourself, we encourage you to create a file folder to store all of your documentation. Remember that you need to provide proof of participation for each educational option. We will attempt to contact you via email within 6 months prior to your renewal date; however, it is ultimately your responsibility to contact CI for your renewal forms. You may renew your certificate any time within 6 months prior to the certificate expiration date. After you send in the forms and CI reviews them, if you have not accumulated enough approved contact hours or your forms are incomplete in any way, you will be notified and informed of the next step.

For Continuing Education Providers:

Do you offer continuing education programs? Apply for Provider Approval Guidelines to Become a Continuing Education Provider

A Continuing Education Provider is an individual or organization that has been recognized and approved by The Cooper Institute to provide continuing education (contact hours) for CI-CPT certification renewal. In order for your educational opportunity to be approved, it must meet the guideline of building upon or enhancing Personal Trainer core competencies. We will work with one contact person from your organization who will be responsible and accountable for providing documentation of appropriate educational experiences for CI-CPT certification renewal.

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Provider Application Form	117K	Adobe PDF

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