Certified Physical Preparation Specialist (CPPS)
The Certification Trusted by 4,000+ Coaches From Over 30 Different Countries!
The Certified Physical Preparation Specialist (CPPS) Certification was created by Joe DeFranco and Jim “Smitty” Smith to help fitness professionals become better coaches and get better results.
Built from more than 60 years of combined coaching experience, CPPS provides a practical, real-world system for assessing clients, improving movement quality, building strength, enhancing athletic performance and designing programs that actually work.
Unlike certifications that focus primarily on theory, CPPS was designed to help coaches immediately apply what they learn in the gym.
Whether you work with athletes, general fitness clients, rehabilitation populations or yourself, the CPPS system provides a proven framework that can elevate your coaching and your results.
LEARN MORE ABOUT CPPS
Named “One of the 3 Best Training Certifications in the World” by Muscle & Fitness!
Read Why CPPS Made the List
Spending a weekend with Joe D. & Smitty was the most valuable thing I’ve done for my own professional development. I learned more in one weekend than I learned through both of my previous certs combined!
-Matt Tuthill Deputy Editor of Muscle & Fitness
What Makes CPPS Different?
Most certifications teach information.
CPPS teaches application.
Every lesson, video and assignment was designed to answer one question:
“How can I use this with my clients tomorrow?”
Instead of overwhelming you with textbook science and information you’ll never use, CPPS focuses on practical coaching strategies that have been tested and refined with thousands of athletes and clients over the past three decades.
You’ll learn how to identify weaknesses, improve movement quality, select the right exercises, coach more effectively and build programs that help people perform at a higher level while reducing unnecessary wear and tear on the body.
What You’ll Learn
- Assessment & Movement Evaluation Learn how to identify limitations, weak links and movement inefficiencies that impact performance and increase injury risk.
- Strength & Performance Training Discover proven methods for developing strength, power, speed and athletic performance.
- Program Design Learn how to structure effective training programs for athletes and general population clients alike.
- Coaching & Cueing Improve your ability to teach, communicate and help clients perform exercises safely and effectively.
- Exercise Selection & Progressions/Regressions Master the art of choosing the right exercise at the right time while utilizing smart progressions and regressions.
Why Over 4000 Coaches Have Chosen CPPS
- Practical, real-world coaching education
- Learn directly from Joe DeFranco & Jim Smith
- Self-paced online curriculum
- Lifetime access to course materials
- 28 comprehensive learning modules
- 59+ instructional videos
- 160+ page student workbook
- Immediately applicable coaching systems
- Trusted by trainers, strength coaches, physical therapists and gym owners worldwide
Who Is CPPS For?
CPPS was created for:
- Personal Trainers
- Strength & Conditioning Coaches
- Physical Therapists
- Sports Performance Coaches
- Gym Owners
- Fitness Enthusiasts
Whether you’re just beginning your coaching journey or you’ve been coaching for decades, CPPS provides practical tools and systems that can immediately improve the way you assess, coach and program.
Real Coaches. Real Results.
For more than a decade, coaches from around the world have used the CPPS system to improve their knowledge, increase their confidence and deliver better results for their clients and athletes.
I am a gym owner and have been personal training clients for 30 years and I can honestly say that the CPPS certification is the most comprehensive course that I have ever taken. Most important, it is immediately transferable to the gym floor.
-JJ Miller Gym Owner
The CPPS Certification is by far one of the best learning and teaching experiences of my career. Joe and Smitty do a great job of making sure that their coaches are able to COACH…and that’s where I think this certification sets itself apart from others.
-Sean Hayes Director of Performance, UFL
CPPS isn’t just another cert you get and hang up on the wall. You’re getting the knowledge and experience of two guys who have been in this industry longer than I’ve been alive…and the respect that comes with it.
-Matthew Ennis Personal Trainer
Trusted by teams, coaches and athletes within the following organizations:
Learn From Two of the Industry’s Most Trusted Coaches
Joe DeFranco and Jim Smith have spent decades helping athletes, coaches and fitness professionals achieve extraordinary results.
Together, they’ve worked with everyone from high school athletes and everyday gym members to NFL players, WWE superstars, UFC fighters and elite tactical operators.
The CPPS Certification represents the systems, coaching principles and practical lessons they’ve developed and refined throughout their careers.
Ready to Become a Better Coach?
If you’re looking for a practical certification that can immediately improve the way you coach, assess and program, CPPS is for you.
Join the 4,000+ coaches worldwide who have trusted the CPPS system to advance their careers and improve their results.
GET CPPS CERTIFIED