CPT Certification Study Plan

Certified Personal Trainer

Human Movement Specialist

Integrated Manual Therapist

Strength and Performance Coach

Study plan for accredited CPT Exam. Comprehensively evidence-based, outcome-driven, 3rd-party-approved.

Performance Program Design

This is a description for the subcategory Introduction to Functional Anatomy.

Introduction to Functional Anatomy

This is a description for the subcategory Strength and Power Progressions.

Strength and Power Progressions

This is a description for the subcategory Core Progressions.

Core Progressions

This is a description for the subcategory Exercise Physiology.

Exercise Physiology

Training Goals

Acute Variables

Learn anatomical position and anatomical directional terms. Essential knowledge for fitness, healthcare, and sports medicine professionals to improve anatomical accuracy.

Lesson 1: Anatomical Position & Anatomical Directions.

Learn the sagittal, frontal, and transverse planes of motion—essential knowledge for exercise analysis, program design, and movement assessment in healthcare and fitness.

Lesson 2: Planes of Motion

This course introduces the joint actions of the human body and discusses the joint actions possible for each of the large joints. For example, the hip joint can perform flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, internal rotation, external rotation, horizontal adduction, and horizontal abduction. These joint actions are then used to describe the motions of various common exercises. 

Lesson 3: Joint Actions

Synovial joints are designed for motion. They include hinge joints, ball-and-socket joints, facet joints, pivot joints, gliding joints, saddle joints, and condyloid joints. 

Lesson 4: Synovial Joints

This course defines the study of the human movement systems, including the skeletal, fascial, nervous, and muscular systems. The function, organization, and physiology of the four systems of the body are described. Further, a detailed look at human movement, sports science, and the bones (skeletal system), muscles (muscular system), and nerves (nervous systems) that produce movement during physical activity. 

Lesson 5: Basics of the Human Movement Systems

Joints and joint actions of the scapula and shoulder girdle. Description of the scapulothoracic (ST), sternoclavicular (SC), and acromioclavicular (AC) joints and the scapula, joint actions/motions of retraction, protraction, elevation, depression, and upward and downward rotation. 

Lesson 6: Joints of the Shoulder Girdle and Scapular Motion

Leg strength exercise variations, progressions, regressions, and leg exercise myths: squats, step-ups, lunges, and more.

Leg Exercise Progressions

Back strength training exercises - best progressions for barbell rows, dumbbell rows, pulldowns, pull-ups, cable rows, TRX rows, and band rows. Back movements for endurance, stability, hypertrophy, and strength, and a sample back routine.

Back Exercise and Pulling Progressions

Explore top shoulder strength exercises: barbell press, dumbbell press, bands, cables. Enhance endurance, stability, hypertrophy, and strength with our routine.

Shoulder Exercise and Shoulder Pressing Progressions

Lower body power and high velocity exercises - best progressions for box jumps, depth jumps, long jumps, bodyweight jumps, and a sample lower body power routine.

Lower Body Power Exercises

Functional strength training exercises - best progressions for subsystem integration movements, total body endurance, stability, hypertrophy, and strength, and a sample total body routine.

Total Body Exercises and Functional Exercise Progressions

Chest strength training exercises - best progressions for bench press, barbell press, dumbbell press, push-ups, bands, cables, and bodyweight. Chest movements for endurance, stability, hypertrophy, and strength, and a sample routine. 

Chest Exercises and Pushing Progressions

TVA strength training exercises - best progressions for transverse abdominis (TVA) activation, quadrupeds, and bear crawls. Core movements for endurance, stability, hypertrophy, and strength, and a sample abdominal, core, and anti-extension routine. 

Transverse Abdominis (TVA) Activation: Quadruped Exercise and Progressions

Glute/hip bridge strength training exercises - best progressions for barbell, dumbbell, and band resisted glute/hip bridges. Core and glute focused movements for endurance, stability, hypertrophy, and strength, and a sample core exercise and glute exercise routine.

Bridge and Progressions

Plank and side plank strength training exercises - best progressions for planks and side planks. Core movements for endurance, stability, hypertrophy, and strength, and a sample core/abdominal routine. 

Plank Exercise and Side Plank Exercise Progressions

Wood chop strength training exercises - best progressions for wood chops, cable chops, band chops, and anti-rotation core movements. Core movements for endurance, stability, hypertrophy, and strength and a sample core/oblique routine.

Wood Chop Exercise and Progressions

Defining trigger points (knots), fibromyalgia, referred pain, tender points, whiplash, chronic low back pain, and postural dysfunction. Review of trigger point development, the impact of trauma and pain, posture, and eccentric loading, and prevalence. Muscle fiber changes, adaptations, soreness development from repetitive stress, muscular contractions, and myalgia. 

Muscle Fiber Dysfunction and Trigger Points

Physiology and anatomy of muscle fiber types, differences in structure, adaptations, and contribution to human movement and performance. Detailed description of Type 1 (slow twitch), Type 2a, and Type 2b/2x (fast twitch) fibers. 

Muscle Fiber Types

Muscle cells, also known as myocytes, are specialized cells designed for contraction and force production. This course covers structure, excitation-contraction coupling, sliding filament theory, motor unit recruitment, connective tissue layers, and more.

Muscle Cell Structure and Function

Hypertrophy is one of the most common goals in resistance training, yet most hypertrophy models are based on expert opinion, mechanistic hypotheses, or partial readings of the literature. This is the first comprehensively evidence-based model. 

Hypertrophy Training: Evidence-based Model

Strength is one of the most common goals in resistance training, yet most strength-training models rely heavily on expert opinion, mechanistic hypotheses, or incomplete readings of the literature. This is the first comprehensively evidence-based model. 

Strength Training: Evidence-based Model

Muscular endurance, often labeled “strength endurance,” is a common goal in resistance training, yet most endurance-training models rely heavily on expert opinion, mechanistic hypotheses, or incomplete readings of the literature. This is the first comprehensively evidence-based model. 

Endurance Training: Evidence-based Model

This course was developed to answer a simple but surprisingly unsettled question: What does the total body of research actually say about training for power? Rather than relying on expert opinion, mechanistic hypotheses, traditional coaching models, or trending “guru” beliefs, this course integrates hundreds of peer-reviewed and published studies to develop evidence-based, best-practice recommendations for improving power-related outcomes.

Power Training: Evidence-based Model

This course presents the first comprehensively evidence-based resistance training model for endurance, hypertrophy, strength, and power. The goal for developing this model was an unprecedented level of accuracy and effectiveness. This course consolidates the Brookbush Institute’s systematic reviews of every modifiable acute variable and the four goal-specific models derived from them into a single practical resistance training model.

Evidence-based Resistance Training Model (EBRTM)

Repetition and exercise tempos for stability, muscle endurance, hypertrophy, strength and power. Effects of training to failure, super slow tempos, tempo vs load, and physiology of tempo training. 

Acute Variables: Repetition Tempo

Repetition ranges per set for stability, muscle endurance, hypertrophy, maximal strength, and power. Effects of repetition range on hormones, muscle size, performance, and upper limits.

Acute Variables: Repetition Range

The advantage of circuit training protocols is a reduction in session time by 35 - 60 %. This is especially true when attempting to allow for an ideal amount of rest between sets for similar muscle groups (2-3 minutes).

Acute Variables: Circuit Training

How long should you rest between sets to optimize set performance and maximally improve strength, hypertrophy, and power?

Acute Variables: Rest Between Sets

One-set per muscle group (2 sets/lower body muscle group) is recommended during an initial training period (6-12 weeks), followed by a progressive increase up to 3 - 4 sets per muscle group. Individuals with the goal of optimizing hypertrophy, strength, and/or power should likely not exceed 5-6 sets/muscle group. 

Acute Variables: Sets Per Muscle Group

Acute Variables: Training Frequency and Recovery Between Sessions

The Brookbush Institute optimizes the delivery of human movement science education by integrating technology, student-centered learning, and evidence-based, practical education.

CPT Certification Study Plan

Practice Exam

CPT Certification Examination

1. Introduction to Functional Anatomy

Lesson 1: Anatomical Position & Anatomical Directions.

Lesson 1: Anatomical Position & Anatomical Directions.

Lesson 2: Planes of Motion

Lesson 2: Planes of Motion

Lesson 3: Joint Actions

Lesson 3: Joint Actions

Lesson 4: Synovial Joints

Lesson 4: Synovial Joints

Lesson 5: Basics of the Human Movement Systems

Lesson 5: Basics of the Human Movement Systems

Lesson 6: Joints of the Shoulder Girdle and Scapular Motion

Lesson 6: Joints of the Shoulder Girdle and Scapular Motion

Lesson 7: Scapular Muscles

Lesson 7: Scapular Muscles

Lesson 8: Introduction To Deltoids

Lesson 8: Introduction To Deltoids

Lesson 9: Rotator Cuff

Lesson 9: Rotator Cuff

Lesson 10: Pectoralis Major, Latissimus Dorsi, and Teres Major

Lesson 10: Pectoralis Major, Latissimus Dorsi, and Teres Major

Lesson 13: Hip Flexors and Anterior Thigh Muscles

Lesson 13: Hip Flexors and Anterior Thigh Muscles

Lesson 14: The Gluteus Maximus, Gluteus Medius, Gluteus Minimus, and Piriformis

Lesson 14: The Gluteus Maximus, Gluteus Medius, Gluteus Minimus, and Piriformis

Lesson 18: The Spine and Trunk Muscles

Lesson 18: The Spine and Trunk Muscles

2. Strength and Power Progressions

Deadlift Exercises and Deadlift Progressions

Deadlift Exercises and Deadlift Progressions

Chest Exercises and Pushing Progressions

Chest Exercises and Pushing Progressions

Shoulder Exercise and Shoulder Pressing Progressions

Shoulder Exercise and Shoulder Pressing Progressions

Back Exercise and Pulling Progressions

Back Exercise and Pulling Progressions

Leg Exercise Progressions

Leg Exercise Progressions

3. Core Progressions

Bridge and Progressions

Bridge and Progressions

Plank Exercise and Side Plank Exercise Progressions

Plank Exercise and Side Plank Exercise Progressions

Transverse Abdominis (TVA) Activation: Quadruped Exercise and Progressions

Transverse Abdominis (TVA) Activation: Quadruped Exercise and Progressions

4. Exercise Physiology

Muscle Fiber Types

Muscle Fiber Types

5. Training Goals

Stability Training

Stability Training

Power (High-velocity) Training: Introduction

Power (High-velocity) Training: Introduction

6. Acute Variables

Acute Variables: Repetition Range

Acute Variables: Repetition Range

Acute Variables: Training Load (Weight and Resistance)

Acute Variables: Training Load (Weight and Resistance)

Acute Variables: Rest Between Sets

Acute Variables: Rest Between Sets

Acute Variables: Sets Per Muscle Group

Acute Variables: Sets Per Muscle Group

Acute Variables: Circuit Training

Acute Variables: Circuit Training