I never used to think of myself a superstitious person, but I’m beginning to think that I am.
This morning, when I got dressed for the day, I made sure to wear my turquoise sparkly BIC Band. I wore it during the Savannah Rock ‘n’ Roll half marathon when I broke two hours for the first time and I wore it again two weeks ago when I achieved a PR during the ZOOMA half marathon. Now I feel like it might be a little lucky, so I figured why not wear it today when I headed off to take my NASM exam?
Yep, today I took the NASM Certified Personal Trainer examination late this morning and I have some good news to share!
I passed! Woo!
I guess sparkly BIC Bands may be a little lucky after all. 
At around 8:30 a.m., I drove to a tiny airport in Crystal River, Florida that served as the testing facility for my exam. I checked in and went over my study guide and note cards for another 30 minutes before I was escorted into the testing room.
One hundred and twenty questions and a little more than an hour later, I was done!
When the man who ran the testing facility informed me that I passed, I felt awfully excited! (Unfortunately NASM doesn’t reveal your exact score after you take the exam and and you’re simply awarded “Pass” or “Fail.”)
I plan to do a whole post about my experience with NASM since I’ve already received a handful of emails from you guys with lots of questions, so stay tuned for that next week. If you have any questions you’d like to see addressed, feel free to ask away in the comments section of this post. I know I had a million questions when I began researching personal training certifications and then once I had my study materials, I felt a little overwhelmed, so I’d love to help those of you interested in any way that I can.
As for what exactly I plan to do with this certification, I’m not 100 percent sure. My main motivation for obtaining the certification was to possibly teach group exercise classes. While I know you don’t necessarily need a personal training certification to teach group exercise, I love it when group exercise instructors seem to have a greater knowledge of muscles and exercises and wanted to have that knowledge. While teaching group exercise still intrigues me, I have a few other ideas floating around in my mind and have some opportunities on the backburner that I may be interested in pursuing. I’ll be sure to take you guys along for the ride!
Lunch
When I arrived home, I was awfully hungry and immediately grabbed a pear to eat.
As I ate my pear, I made myself a chicken salad sandwich on 5-grain sub bread from the Publix bakery.
Dessert was a couple of small handfuls of peanut M&Ms.
So good!
Nine Years
Today is actually a rather special day for me and Ryan. It’s our nine-year dating anniversary!
(Kappa Delta camo social, 2006 – Just lil’ babies!)
Ryan told me this morning that he has a surprise date planned for us tonight. (He later told me that if I didn’t pass my test and didn’t feel like going out to celebrate, his alternate idea was an “eat ice cream on the couch date night” which sounded awfully fabulous, too.) I’m not sure what’s on the agenda, but I’ll be sure to report back in the morning.
I hope you’re having a fabulous Friday and enjoy your weekend!
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CONGRATULATIONS Julie! This is so exciting and inspiring! Totally deserved:)
Hope Sadie is feel well!
Congratulations!! I just ordered my CPT course through NASM yesterday!! I am so excited!
And congrates on the dating anniversary. It is just one pretty darn special day for you huh? 🙂
haha…. oops, *congrats* 🙂
CONGRATS! YAHOO! We are all so proud of you!
Congrats Julie! It’s always a great feeling to know hard work is well rewarded, especially when studying for a test is always challenging. Enjoy your date/happy anniversary!
Congratulations and a very happy Anniversary to you and Ryan! Have a great night!
Congrats! This is awesome & can’t wait to hear more about your journey through NASM studying! I scheduled my exam for end of February & am super-nervous. I can’t imagine how excited you are. Happy Friday!
you will do well, don’t worry!! i would definitely focus on postural imbalances and that big chart on page 183.
Awesome news!! Congratulations on your certification!!
Congrats on passing the test! Happy Dateiversary!
Congrats, Julie! Can’t wait to read about the new adventures that this brings! And happy anniversary to you and Ryan!
Congrats!!!! yay!
Congratulations on both accounts! Hope you have a fun night celebrating!
Congratulations! I am thisclose to signing up to get my CPT through NASM (I currently teach BODYPUMP), and I’m curious to hear about your experiences. I’d love to know what “package” you chose and whether you used all of the materials in it.
Congrats on passing!
Congrats Julie!! On NASM and 9 years! 9 years is a looooong time. You guys are the cutest!
Congrats! Does the certification require any kind of classes or physical/hands on test? Or is it just a teach yourself and take the test kind of thing? Thanks!
I now expect you to be my personal trainer…I’m adding that to “maid” duties…
Mazel Tov! xoxo
Yay congrats on passing and the anniversary!!
Congrats & Happy Dating Anniversary! We celebrate ours too 🙂
You’re amazing! If you do become a group exercise instructor, I’d love to come to one of your classes someday. :’)
Congrats Julie!
congrats! You guys look adorable in that last pic.
Way to go girly! And happy 9 years!
congratulations on passing! that is so exciting – i can’t wait to see where you go from here!
and happy 9 years – have a wonderful time tonight!
Congrats! Wish I lived in Florida so you could be my personal trainer! Love the workouts you post 🙂
Congrats on passing and congrats on 9 years! Exciting times!
Awe, so much happy news on this blog today! Congratulations on passing your exam – you totally earned it! Enjoy your date-iversary tonight, I’m so glad you still celebrate it, despite being married 🙂
Congrats on everything!! I like it when the instructors knows a little bit more about human kinetics too!
Congrats on passing! That test is no joke. 😉 I’m curious toif you plan on getting some sort of group exercise instructor cert too? I have my nasm pt cert but am also considering teaching group fitness and trying to decide what (if any) group cert to get.
Way to go!!! I love hearing good news like that after a great deal of hard work!! Congrats, Pro Trainer Julie!
What an exciting day for you!! Nine years-that’s crazy! So happy for you that you passed your test. I agree that it definitely adds to the class when the instructors know their stuff. Hope you have a great night!!
Awww I love that he has surprise plans, what a good guy! And congrats on passing the exam! I’ve considered doing something similar, mostly for a knowledge base and in case I want to do something fitness oriented, but law school is enough studying, I don’t think my brain could handle much more!
Congrats on passing!! I think you should start your very own bootcamp! I would totally sign up! (I live in Kansas so working out with you in Florida is not an option :))
What a great day! Congrats and happy anniversary! <3
Way to go, that’s awesome news! I’m planning to take mine during the summer.
This is wonderful!! I can’t wait to learn more about your NASM journey. I’m glad you have that giant stress off of your back now. And I’m sure that if the couch and ice cream was the back up, this date will be even better. Can’t wait to hear all about it 🙂
congrats julie!! and happy dating anniversary! I try to get my boyfriend to celebrate our anniversaries and the says they don’t count until we’re married haha
After all of this H&D pear talk lately on the blog, I want to try one of those things!
Congrats Julie! You will be an AWESOME group intructor! If you were at my gym, I’d go to the classes 😉 I’m interested to see what you do with your newly earned title!
First- congratulations!!
Second- us there one topic you wish you had studied more than another? I am working on mine and feel there is just so much!!
Third- i have found I cant work anywhere with just a cert in personal training here in illinois
Most places want a degree. Also, group classes you are required to have a primary group cert- which I am doing next week- have you found the same issues?
Lastly- was the time limit hard? I read slow!!
Thanks! Melissa
Congratulations!!!! Yay for you!!!!
A little off topic… How is it that you and Ryan look the same today as you did in 2006??? How can it be possible? ….. really, I’ve seen many pictures of you guys and you don’t seem to age…at all….how is that possible???!??? Congrats on your date anniversary!!! 🙂
Awesome job! I totally am superstitous when it comes to things as well. I’m excited to hear about the process.
p.s. Peanut M&Ms are one of the best food combos. Ever. 🙂
Congrats on passing! I’ve been thinking about looking into getting certified. I would love to teach group exercise classes someday. I feel like it’s a great way to get a good workout in while inspiring others. I’ll be looking forward to that post you do about it because I am kind of confused as to what the process is!
9 years, though… wow! I hope you have an amazing date night. Although ice cream on the couch sounds pretty awesome too, not gonna lie.
Congratulations! That’s awesome! Have fun on your date 🙂
YAY! Congratulations! It’s is so exciting. Personal training is a great business to be in, as well as teaching group exercise classes 🙂 That picture of you guys is so cute! Have an awesome night tonight.
Congrats on passing and enjoy your date night! It’s girls night around here so I am looking forward to that!
Congrats on passing the exam!!! You ROCK 🙂 Hope you two have a fabulous date night ~ that is so sweet that you guys are celebrating your 9 year dating anniversary. ENJOY 🙂
Oh my god…I think I just fell in love with your husband 🙂
Your last paragraph there with the date, but the alternative of slump on couch with ice cream = love 🙂
I need to find myself a “Ryan” 🙂
Happy 9 years and infinite ones to go!
Congrats on your certification! And happy dating anniversary!
I agree with instructors being knowledge about muscle groups and everything. I have my group exercise certification and will be working on my personal training certification!
congratulations!!! 🙂