| I will say one thing about ACE, their website is a | | | | as the website tells my mac here..., it is only |
| difficult one to learn about their certifications. All of | | | | compatible with Windows. You get a sample of real |
| what is mentioned below is available on the ACE | | | | questions from old exams and I believe it gives a |
| website itself, but there is so much junk on their | | | | much better feeling for what the exam really will be |
| website that it's so much easier to just throw all the | | | | like on exam day. I don't know about you, but doing |
| important stuff into one page that you can just | | | | something once makes the second try - even if the |
| bookmark for quick reference. | | | | material is 100% different - so much less stressful |
| Is Ace NCCA Certified? | | | | and easier. |
| Yes, ACE is a well-respected personal training | | | | If there's anything I recommend doing before the |
| certification. It has quite a few certifications available, | | | | ACE certification, do the $30 Online Diagnostic Test! |
| including: | | | | Eligibility |
| Personal Trainer (PT) - standard | | | | There is a fairly short list of eligibility requirements for |
| Group Fitness Instructor (GFI) | | | | the ACE exams: |
| Lifestyle & Weight Management Consultant | | | | - You must be at least 18 years of age |
| (LWMC) | | | | - You must hold an adult CPR certification and it must |
| Clinical Exercise Specialist (CSE) | | | | be current at the time of the exam |
| | | | Cost |
| Exams | | | | There are two formats you can take the ACE |
| Let's talk about the serious stuff, the EXAM! Well, like | | | | certification exam in; good ol' fashioned |
| many certification organizations, ACE doesn't require | | | | pencil-and-paper or computer. Contrary to all that |
| that you actually show anyone that you know | | | | makes sense, the computer exam costs more than |
| anything about how to properly be a trainer in | | | | the pencil-and-paper exam. Well, whatever, right? I |
| person! | | | | guess getting the answer right away is worth the |
| All you have to do is sit and take a computer (or | | | | extra dough. |
| pencil) test. It's like taking a drivers test behind a | | | | Here are the current costs for taking an ACE exam: |
| computer...well, that's all that ACE requires. They | | | | Paper and Pencil Format (U.S. and Canada) |
| strongly recommend that you do 100 hours of | | | | First Time: PT - $219 |
| practical, hands on experience, but it's hardly a | | | | Retake: PT - $135 |
| requirement. | | | | 2nd ACE Certification: $150 for any certification. |
| So what do you need to know? Let's start with | | | | Computer Based Format (Only available in the U.S.) |
| where the exam comes from and how it's created. | | | | First Time: PT - $249 |
| Supposedly, a group of industry experts analyzes | | | | Retake: PT - $184 |
| personal training requirements to create an outline of | | | | 2nd ACE Certification: All are $199 |
| your average expected job tasks, knowledge and | | | | Continuing Education Credits |
| skill sets required to perform a personal training job | | | | Good ol' Continuing Education Credits (CEC), each |
| effectively. The results from this are then made into | | | | organization does it differently. ACE requires them, |
| a survey, which is sent to a random sample of | | | | but luckily you can apply them to all your |
| fitness professionals to, hopefully, validate the | | | | certifications if you have multiple ACE certifications. |
| presumptions. | | | | (Like Personal Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor) |
| Somehow from this, a set of questions are selected | | | | So there is no penalty for adding certifications. |
| to be approved by the "exam committee" that will | | | | (However you do have to pay to renew each |
| decide what are good questions and what go into | | | | certificate! What did you expect, a free lunch?) |
| the trash. And that's basically how these exams are | | | | Here's how ACE's CEC's work, first of all ACE |
| made! | | | | requires that you get 2.0 CEC's before your two |
| A "passing score" is determined by calculating | | | | year renewal period. What counts as a CEC credit? |
| (secretly, of course) the overall difficulty of the | | | | Well, 0.1 credit is one hour of instruction. That means |
| exam questions. Your goal is to get a passing score | | | | that for 2.0 CEC's, you need 20 hours of structured |
| the first time. | | | | "ACE learning" before your renewal period. |
| There are 150 questions on each certification exam, | | | | ACE offers their own CEC's or you can get a variety |
| and you have three hours to complete the exam. | | | | of credits from other organizations. Sometimes |
| The Personal Trainer exam even mixes it up and | | | | college credit counts, CPR recertification counts, etc. |
| adds two written simulation questions. | | | | Basically what you need to calculate into your |
| A simulation question checks your ability to recognize | | | | certification is the fact that you'll have to pay over |
| and use information you can expect on a real job. | | | | the two-year life of your certification for at least 20 |
| These are probably so ACE feels better about itself | | | | hours of additional instruction or recertification classes. |
| when it doesn't require you to show some practical | | | | CEC's are such a great way to add a bit of skills to |
| skills. For example: | | | | your repertoire. (Who expected me to use that |
| You have a new client fill out an introductory form | | | | word?) Maybe add Yoga Instructor or Pilates and not |
| and get the following information: Age: 39 Height: | | | | only will you get your CEC credits, you'll open up |
| 5253 Weight: 135 lbs. Lean body mass: 103 lbs. | | | | many new opportunities for your career. Plus it can |
| Triceps measurement: 15 mm Suprailium | | | | be fun and a great networking opportunity. |
| measurement: 25 mm Thigh: 34 mm. What is this | | | | Renewal |
| clients body fat percentage? | | | | As stated earlier, your certification is valid for a |
| The ACE exam isn't the easiest, it isn't the hardest, | | | | two-year period. During that two years, you need to |
| and there's plenty of material on the web about | | | | complete 2.0 CEC's and then and submit your renewal |
| sample exam questions. | | | | application(s) and fee(s) to ACE before your |
| Exam Materials | | | | certification expires. |
| ACE sells its own study materials. (That's my guess | | | | Each certification has a $69 renewal fee. Luckily, you |
| as to where the real money is made...) | | | | can renew at any time during your certification |
| They break it into "Study Material", "Study Aids", and | | | | period, so you don't run the risk of being uncertified |
| then practice exams. The Study Materials is what | | | | while waiting for all the processing. Even better, |
| you'd expect; books, instructions, etc. The Study | | | | renewing early does not change your two-year |
| Aids are live workshops and online courses. Finally | | | | certification period. |
| there are practice exams given online. | | | | If you're a procrastinator, then you're going to pay |
| The prices vary whether you get the Premier, | | | | for it...ACE certification renewals up to two months |
| Deluxe, or Standard package. Basically it'll run you | | | | after your expiration date have a renewal fee of |
| between $300-$400 for the exam materials. The | | | | $89. For renewals between two and six months, the |
| difference between the three is minor, so check their | | | | fee is $109. |
| recent offerings to see if you really need the Premier | | | | If you're really late, like after six months, you may |
| for the extra $100. | | | | be required to take the certification exam again. That |
| Every three months or so, the ACE certification | | | | would not be a smart move! |
| group runs an Exam Review course in major cities in | | | | Summary |
| the US. For a mere $220 (plus travel, hotel, etc) you | | | | The ACE certification is well recognized in the |
| can get two days of asking questions about things | | | | industry and well respected. It's testing format does |
| that concern you. (It can also count as 1.6 CEC's | | | | allow for a significant amount of really bad trainers to |
| towards your 2.0 CEC requirement, see below for | | | | get 'certified' and tarnish our image with our |
| more on CEC's) | | | | customers. Obviously, I feel strongly that ACE let's us |
| I don't know, but all that money to ask a few | | | | down with it's lax exam and experience requirements |
| questions...seems like the local ACE certified trainer at | | | | for PT's. |
| my gym should be able to explain it to me for the | | | | However, there are many good trainers with the |
| price of a latte. Up to you how you want to learn! | | | | ACE certification that the number of bad trainers |
| But if you need help before you sit for the exam, | | | | that have your certification won't affect your career |
| this is an option. | | | | in the slightest. |
| Also every three months, ACE runs a 2 day Practical | | | | My suggestion is to work at a gym part-time while |
| Training Program. This 15-hour course is supposed to | | | | you're studying for your ACE certification exam to |
| give you insight into critical areas such as | | | | get the practical skills that ACE ignores. This will also |
| Assessment, Program Design, and Strength Training. | | | | get your network going, get you comfortable |
| This runs about $300 and can be counted as 1.5 | | | | working with clients, and show you if it's really the |
| CEC's. Again, if you need help before the exam, this | | | | career for you before you plunk down hundreds of |
| is an option. | | | | bucks. |
| The Online Diagnostic Test costs about $30 and, but | | | | |