American Council on Exercise (ACE)
Information
Verification Partner
| About | ACE is the largest nonprofit fitness certification, education and training organization in the world with nearly 50,000 certified professionals who hold more than 55,000 ACE certifications. With a long heritage in certification, education, training and public outreach, we are among the most respected fitness organizations in the industry and a resource consumers have come to trust for health and fitness education. |
| Website | www.ACEfitness.org |
| Address | 4851 Paramount Dr San Diego, CA 92123 |
| Phone Number | 888-825-3636 |
Certification/Training Types
NCCA-Accredited Cert.
| Description | Earning the advanced-level ACE Health Coach Certification demonstrates that you have the knowledge to develop sound, balanced weight-management programs that bring together the three critical components for long-term weight management success: nutrition, exercise and lifestyle change. Learn more about how to advance your career with a Health Coach certification from the American Council on Exercise. |
| Accreditation | NCCA |
| Course Material Price | $64.95 |
| Exam Price | $399.00 |
| Exam Delivery Method | Proctored Online, Proctored In Person |
| Practical Exam Required | No |
| Prerequisite | You must be at least 18 years of age. You must hold a current adult CPR and AED certificate. Adtl requirements on ACEfitness.org |
| Renewal Period | 2 years |
| CECs/CEUs per renewal period | 2 |
| Renewal Fee | 129 |
| Term Used for Continuing Education | Continuing Education Credit (CEC) |
| One Hour of Continuing Education Equals | 0.1 CEC |
| Category | Life & Wellness Coaching, Personal Trainer, Special Populations |
NCCA-Accredited Cert.
| Description | With the first NCCA accredited group fitness certification, ACE's group fitness instructor certification has led the industry in educating fitness professionals. The ACE GFI certification provides background on various group fitness modalities, like Pilates and step, while also providing a strong foundation on techniques necessary for all group fitness instructors. Learn more about how to launch your career with a group fitness instructor certification from the American Council on Exercise. ![]() |
| Accreditation | NCCA |
| Course Material Price | $49.95 |
| Exam Price | $249.00 |
| Exam Delivery Method | Proctored Online, Proctored In Person |
| Practical Exam Required | No |
| Prerequisite | You must be at least 18 years of age. You must hold a current adult CPR and AED certificate. |
| Renewal Period | 2 years |
| CECs/CEUs per renewal period | 2 |
| Renewal Fee | |
| Term Used for Continuing Education | Continuing Education Credit (CEC) |
| One Hour of Continuing Education Equals | 0.1 CEC |
| Category | Group Fitness |
| Description | The job of fighting fires and responding to emergency situations is one of the most dangerous and physically demanding professions. To help improve the safety, performance and quality of life of uniformed personnel in the fire service, the Peer Fitness Trainer (PFT) Certification was developed by the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and the American Council on Exercise. Learn more about how to become a peer fitness trainer with the American Council on Exercise. |
| Course Material Price | $99.95 |
| Exam Price | $249.00 |
| Exam Delivery Method | Proctored Online, Proctored In Person |
| Practical Exam Required | No |
| Prerequisite | You must be at least 18 years of age. You must hold a current adult CPR and AED certificate. |
| Renewal Period | 2 years |
| CECs/CEUs per renewal period | 2 |
| Renewal Fee | |
| Term Used for Continuing Education | Continuing Education Credit (CEC) |
| One Hour of Continuing Education Equals | 0.1 CEC |
| Category | Special Populations |
NCCA-Accredited Cert.
| Description | The ACE Advanced Health & Fitness Specialist certification is unparalleled in the industry providing unique career development opportunities. Earning the ACE® Advanced Health & Fitness Specialist Certification demonstrates that you have the knowledge to provide in-depth preventative and post rehabilitative fitness programming for individuals who are at risk for or are recovering from a variety of cardiovascular, pulmonary, metabolic and musculoskeletal issues. Learn more about how to advance your career with a advanced health and fitness specialist certification from the American Council on Exercise. Learn more about how to advance your career with a advanced health and fitness specialist certification from the American Council on Exercise. |
| Accreditation | NCCA |
| Course Material Price | $69.95 |
| Exam Price | $399.00 |
| Exam Delivery Method | Proctored Online, Proctored In Person |
| Practical Exam Required | No |
| Prerequisite | You must be at least 18 years of age. You must hold a current adult CPR and AED certificate. Adtl requirements on ACEfitness.org |
| Renewal Period | 2 years |
| CECs/CEUs per renewal period | 2 |
| Renewal Fee | |
| Term Used for Continuing Education | Continuing Education Credit (CEC) |
| One Hour of Continuing Education Equals | 0.1 CEC |
| Category | Personal Trainer, Special Populations |
| Description | As a Weight Management Specialist, you’ll increase your market value to the 67 percent of U.S. adults classified as either overweight or obese, and the thousands of athletes who need help managing their weight for performance reasons. Building your expertise in proper nutrition and hydration strategies will help you connect with people who want to lose weight, build muscle, decrease their body fat, improve their overall health and achieve long-term success, no matter where they are on their fitness journey. |
| Course Material Price | $399.00 |
| Exam Price | $0.00 |
| Exam Delivery Method | |
| Practical Exam Required | |
| Prerequisite | |
| Renewal Period | No renewal period |
| CECs/CEUs per renewal period | 0 |
| Renewal Fee | |
| One Hour of Continuing Education Equals | 0.1 |
| Category | Life & Wellness Coaching, Nutrition, Personal Trainer |
| Description | With 31 percent of American adults who take part in at least one sport or physical activity, an expertise in sports conditioning will help you with a wide range of clients. Earning a Sports Conditioning Specialty Certification will increase your marketability to elite athletes, fitness enthusiasts training for an event or young competitors who need to increase their balance, strength, agility and speed. |
| Course Material Price | $399.00 |
| Exam Price | $0.00 |
| Exam Delivery Method | |
| Practical Exam Required | |
| Prerequisite | |
| Renewal Period | No renewal period |
| CECs/CEUs per renewal period | 0 |
| Renewal Fee | |
| One Hour of Continuing Education Equals | 0.1 |
| Category | Group Fitness, Personal Trainer, Sports Conditioning |
| Description | With a versatility that ranges from competitive athletes to rehabilitation patients, and everyday people who need to improve their balance and joint stability, expertise in functional training can be applied to a wide range of clients. As a Functional Training Specialist, you’ll be able to help people move more efficiently, prevent injury, improve their balance and flexibility, build strength, and improve their overall quality of life. |
| Course Material Price | $399.00 |
| Exam Price | $0.00 |
| Exam Delivery Method | |
| Practical Exam Required | |
| Prerequisite | |
| Renewal Period | No renewal period |
| CECs/CEUs per renewal period | 0 |
| Renewal Fee | |
| One Hour of Continuing Education Equals | 0.1 |
| Category | Personal Trainer |
| Description | With the number of yoga and Pilates participants soaring to 22.9 million in the past decade, specializing in mind body exercise can help you deliver holistic programs to the growing number of people searching for a more balanced approach to health and wellness. Become an expert in yoga and Pilates to improve posture, reduce stress, strengthen the core, build muscle, and fuel an internal connection with one’s self. |
| Course Material Price | $399.00 |
| Exam Price | $0.00 |
| Exam Delivery Method | |
| Practical Exam Required | |
| Prerequisite | |
| Renewal Period | No renewal period |
| CECs/CEUs per renewal period | 0 |
| Renewal Fee | |
| One Hour of Continuing Education Equals | 0.1 |
| Category | Group Fitness, Mind Body, Personal Trainer, Yoga |
| Description | With 22.1 million people each year turning to group exercise as a fun way to lose weight and improve their health, there’s a growing need in the fitness industry to ensure instructors deliver the safest and most effective classes possible. Designed to complement the foundational education received by teachers of modality-specific and pre-choreographed classes, the Group Exercise Leadership Specialty Certification provides knowledge of the essentials of exercise and movement science, how to apply that science for appropriate class design, and how to use it to ensure participant safety. |
| Course Material Price | $159.00 |
| Exam Price | $0.00 |
| Exam Delivery Method | |
| Practical Exam Required | |
| Prerequisite | |
| Renewal Period | No renewal period |
| CECs/CEUs per renewal period | 0 |
| Renewal Fee | |
| One Hour of Continuing Education Equals | 0.1 |
| Category | Aqua, Boxing/Kickboxing/Martial Arts, Dance, Group Fitness, Indoor Cycling, Mind Body, Personal Trainer, Pilates, Yoga |
| Description | s an Orthopedic Exercise Specialist, you’ll have the expertise to help the 33 percent of Americans who report being affected by knee pain, and all other clients or patients hindered by muscle imbalances or musculoskeletal disorders. Expand your marketability by becoming an expert in restoring function in people following orthopedic rehabilitation. Learn to design exercise programs that incorporate appropriate progressions and strategies to improve movement, avoid injury and boost function. |
| Course Material Price | $399.00 |
| Exam Price | $0.00 |
| Exam Delivery Method | |
| Practical Exam Required | |
| Prerequisite | |
| Renewal Period | No renewal period |
| CECs/CEUs per renewal period | 0 |
| Renewal Fee | |
| One Hour of Continuing Education Equals | 0.1 |
| Category | Personal Trainer, Special Populations, Athletic Trainer |
| Description | Becoming a Therapeutic Exercise Specialist will help you develop exercise programs for people with a wide variety of special conditions – including the 43 million Americans who live with arthritis and the 4 million women who give birth annually in the United States. Learn to safely and effectively work with people who live with metabolic disease and various musculoskeletal disorders, and how you can use exercise to boost their quality of life. |
| Course Material Price | $399.00 |
| Exam Price | $0.00 |
| Exam Delivery Method | |
| Practical Exam Required | |
| Prerequisite | |
| Renewal Period | No renewal period |
| CECs/CEUs per renewal period | 0 |
| Renewal Fee | |
| One Hour of Continuing Education Equals | 0.1 |
| Category | Personal Trainer, Special Populations |
| Description | Becoming a Senior Fitness Specialist will give you the tools to safely and effectively train the millions of Americans currently over the age of 55. Aside from exploring how to connect with older adults, the expertise you’ll gain will help you incorporate appropriate modifications and techniques to prevent muscle deterioration, improve bone strength, and boost quality of life. |
| Course Material Price | $399.00 |
| Exam Price | $0.00 |
| Exam Delivery Method | |
| Practical Exam Required | |
| Prerequisite | |
| Renewal Period | No renewal period |
| CECs/CEUs per renewal period | 0 |
| Renewal Fee | |
| One Hour of Continuing Education Equals | 0.1 |
| Category | Personal Trainer, Special Populations |
Questions and Answers About American Council on Exercise (ACE)
IDEA Continuing Education Approved By ACE
![]() | ACE 0.40, and 25 other agencies |
![]() | ACE 0.30, and 21 other agencies |
![]() | ACE 0.10, and 6 other agencies |
![]() | ACE 0.20, and 14 other agencies |
Sort By: Date | Rating | Verified Pro
Reviews/Comments
I received my certification by ACE about 15yrs ago and am also very happy of the knowledge I have applied to training clients!
Verified ACE Pro
Excellent course that covers alot of ground. ACE is widely known and delivers a great set of study materials filled with in formation needed to help educate client's on proper form, importance of balance, ect. Highly recommend.
I carry a few certifications and I attend college for fitness and I have to say the knowledge I gained from studying and passing my ACE cert carried through so much so that I actually passed the ACSM HFS with one week study time. ACE already prepped me with all the knowledge I needed. I am so happy I chose ACE!
Verified ACE Pro
ACE is a widely recognized and accepted organization in the field for fitness certifications. I have the group fitness instructor certification and am proud to say that I am ACE-GFI certified!
I have been certified by ACE for 11 years and never have a problem or a complain. I also got the PT job I want it in the place I wanted because I was certify by ACE.
Verified ACE Pro
I have been CPT and GFI certified four year's and yes i will say it's the best investment i have made in my life because i can train a client even if i am 70yr's old, this field is a long term career and i respect all my fellow trainer's for their hard work in educating themselfs and keeping up with important information. It take dedication and discipline in any field or career but as a personal trainer we must have plenty of patience and motivation its not the training of a persons body that's the challenge its the re-educating of their minds that determines the progress, therefore we as trainers must keep feeding or brain and ace has all the mental food we need , try it you will like it....
Verified ACE Pro
I have been a certified trainer since 1998 and a LSWM Coach since 2003. To this day, I am still as proud as the day I received my exam results to say the I'm ACE certified!
ACE is an organization that fosters professional trainers that care about their clients. The support and motivation we get from this organization inspires us to become the best trainers in the industry!
Kim Hellyar
ACE is an organization that fosters professional trainers that care about their clients. The support and motivation we get from this organization inspires us to become the best trainers in the industry!
Kim Hellyar
The new updated ACE IFT model is probably the best system on the market and the exercise science in the study materials is the same information that I covered while working towards my B.S.. There is no lack of information and it can be overwhelming, but you won't go wrong with this certification, I feel like the new updated ACE is leading the industry right now. I recommend this certification to anybody who is thinking about a career in personal training.
If you have seen the old manual and were disappointed with it (as I was), its time to take another look at ACE because they set the bar with this new updated course and I can't say enough good about it.
If you have seen the old manual and were disappointed with it (as I was), its time to take another look at ACE because they set the bar with this new updated course and I can't say enough good about it.
Verified ACE Pro
I v'e been certified by ACE for nearly 10 years. I'm proud of the work they have done to stay current with thelatset research. The exam isn't easy & it shouldn't be. We have a responsibility to the buying public, to make sure we train correctly & efficiently. I think the nest step would be to be licensed by every state to practice personal training. The hair & massage industry is required to be licensed.. So should we.
I have been certified through ACE for group exercise since the early 1990's. I attend the World IDEA conference each year to earn my CEC's, and have met some awesome people there! I feel it is the best organization to be certified through, as it is recognized worldwide. I have had other certifications through other agencies which closed up shop, and I feel confident that ACE wi9ll always be around.














