ACE TRAINER PROGRAM FOR AARP MEMBERS FAQ



What is the ACE Trainer Program for AARP Members?

ACE has been selected by AARP as the provider of personal training services for its members under a new AARP fitness program, launching this summer. Focused on prevention, this program will provide information, resources and services to help AARP members lead active, healthier lifestyles.

Why did ACE Pursue this Opportunity?

With shared missions, both ACE and AARP were interested in providing a service to a population that has been underserved by the fitness industry as a whole and who have the means, motivation and desire to enhance their quality of life through physical activity. In addition, ACE is committed to creating opportunities for the fitness professional that will allow them to earn the professional respect and compensation they deserve. We believe that our relationship with AARP will assist us in both of those areas.

Who is AARP?

AARP is the leading nonprofit, non-partisan membership organization for people age 50 and over in the United States. With over 39 million active and affluent members, the group is known for providing a host of services to an ever-growing segment of the population by:
  • • Informing members and the public on issues important to this age group
  • • Advocating on legislative, consumer and legal issues
  • • Promoting community service
  • • Offering a wide range of special products and services to members
AARP is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life as people age, leading positive social change and delivering value to members through information, advocacy and service. Membership in AARP is open to any person age 50 or above. For more information on AARP, visit www.aarp.org.

Are AARP Member's Seeking Personal Training Services?

Yes! AARP has 39 million members between the ages of 50-75. Twenty-five percent of those members have specifically expressed an interest in learning more about health and fitness. This led AARP to develop a comprehensive health and fitness program offering discounted services to their members including access to health clubs and personal training.

Why would an ACE-certified Fitness Professional Want to Be Involved?

This incredible opportunity gives ACE-certified Fitness Professionals access to America's fastest growing population segment. Today, the 50+ market makes up 35% of the U.S. population and controls 75% of the nation's wealth. This is an ACE-certified Professional's opportunity to share their passion and knowledge with individuals that are redefining expectations on age, vitality and life. Through the program, ACE professionals will have their services communicated to current and potential AARP members leveraging the powerful brand awareness of AARP.

Program advantages include:
  • • Privilege…A measure of exclusivity for the ACE professional.
  • • Access… 39 million members of one of the most respected membership organizations in the world will have access to ACE-certified professionals.
  • • Focus…Allows the trainer to focus on what they enjoy most and are best at without worrying about marketing, sales or managing transaction/training fees.
  • • Connection…Assistance in connecting the ACE-certified Professional directly with consumers who are looking for their services (one of the most frequently requested services from our professionals).
  • • Value…The ability to start a valuable new fitness business with a low start-up cost


Who is Eligible to Participate?

The program is available only to enrolled fitness professionals holding a current ACE Personal Trainer or Advanced Health + Fitness Specialist certification and a current CPR certificate. (Note: Effective January 1, 2009 all new and renewing ACE-certified professionals in the U.S. and Canada must hold both a current CPR and AED card to sit for or renew an ACE certification.) Once enrolled, to activate your AARP profile listing, you must complete your two free 0.1 CEC online courses and present proof of a $1 million liability insurance umbrella policy.

What if an ACE-certified Fitness Professional Needs to Purchase Liability Insurance?

Fitness professionals receive discounted liability insurance as a benefit of being ACE certified. See Discount Liability Insurance Program Rates & Details.

How Does the Program Work?

There is an annual $50 enrollment fee to join the program. With this small fee, ACE-certified Fitness Professionals can be accessed by AARP members nationwide through an extended profile listing on AARP's website viewed by millions of consumers each day. In addition, ACE-certified Professionals who join in the first year of the program receive two FREE continuing education courses focusing on older adult fitness (0.2 CEC, worth nearly $40). The ACE Trainer program will be promoted to AARP members through a variety of public relations efforts and print and online advertising via a Co-op Marketing Fund.

What will My Profile Listing Contain?

The profile listing accesible through aarp.org, provides the opportunity for ACE-certified Fitness Professionals to list their certifications, specialties, years of experience, languages spoken, a short biography and a photo. The listing provides a unique chance to market skills, knowledge, experience and background, making it easy for an AARP member to quickly match their needs to your experience and qualifications.

How Does an ACE-certified Fitness Professional Get Contacted for Services?

Once an AARP member selects a trainer from the profile listing, AARP will contact the trainer via email notifying him/her of the request. The trainer will then contact the AARP member directly to discuss fitness goals, schedule and the appropriate training package for the member. When both the AARP member and trainer agree to the fitness plan, the AARP member completes the payment process online or through AARP customer service.

When Can an ACE-certified Professional Start Training an AARP Client?

Once all requirements are completed and the ACE-certified Professional is contacted by AARP with an interested member, sessions can be scheduled.

Where Does an ACE-certified Fitness Professional Train an AARP Client?

Trainers will want to be prepared to train in a variety of settings - in homes, outside, or through contracted space in a studio or health club.



With respect to "gym fees" or rent, ACE recognizes that there are still facilities that allow independent contractors to utilize their clubs for a fee (although it is far less common for a number of business, tax law and liability reasons that it has been in the past). Each individual working in that role will need to determine if an AARP client will be financially feasible for their given situation. ACE believes that the program will provide a significant number of ACE-certified professionals with the opportunity to build their training business and fully expects that many of them will provide the majority of their services to AARP Members outside of the traditional gym setting.

How does an ACE-certified Fitness Professional Enroll?

Enrollment is done online at www.acefitness.org/aarp. If you have questions, please contact ACE Professional Services at 800-825-3636 ext 781.

How does an ACE-certified Professional get paid?

Once sessions are completed and logged, ACE will pay the trainer directly via direct deposit. Checks will be deposited into the ACE-certified Professional's bank account the second Friday of each month for training services rendered the prior month.

What are the Training Packages available to AARP Members?

There are three personal training packages available to AARP Members:

2 Week Package: All sessions must be completed within 4 weeks of the first session
4 Week Package: All sessions must be completed within 5 weeks of the first session
8 Week Package: All sessions must be completed within 10 weeks of the first session
12 Week Package: All sessions must be completed within 15 weeks of the first session

Each package is based on completing two 1-hour sessions per week and pricing is based on region.

What is the Pricing and Compensation for this Program?

Select your state to view the training package pricing available to AARP Members along with the compensation you will receive.



How were the Training Packages and Pricing Decided?

All training options and package pricing are based on fitness industry compensation research and a negotiated discount for AARP members. The fees were based on survey data collected by IDEA, the International Health Racquet and Sports Club Association (IHRSA) and the Medical Fitness Association (MFA) and American Sports Data. Both front line pricing for personal training sessions and personal training compensation were analyzed by region to determine the rates.

Pricing and package options have been set and are non-negotiable; therefore, we recognize that not all ACE trainers will be interested in, or able to take advantage of the program. This is particularly true for those that are in affluent, major metropolitan areas where training fees can, and often do, exceed industry averages - sometimes significantly. Each of our professionals will have to evaluate the business opportunity and make an individual determination if the program is the right fit for them.

How Much Can an ACE-certified Fitness Professional Make in this Program?

The ACE-certified Professional receives a percentage of the retail training package price, depending on the personal training option selected by the AARP member.

It's important to note that the income potential for an ACE professional is ONLY limited by his/her participation in the program. The more you train, the more you make.

EXAMPLE:
Sally Mitchell lives in California and, upon discussion with Todd Armstrong (her chosen ACE-certified personal trainer), has purchased the 8 week training option. Sally pays $774 for this package. Todd and Sally agree to train two times a week, beginning July 9. At the end of July, Todd records a total of seven sessions with Sally on his AARP trainer page at aarp.org. Since payment is generated the second Friday of each month for services rendered the prior month, Todd receives $300.30 for his completed sessions with Sally (7 sessions @ $42.90 x 7). Todd will continue to be paid monthly for completed sessions until the end of the training package (in this case, 10 weeks.)

If Todd has chosen to work with three additional AARP members who purchased the same package as Sally and completed the same number of sessions, Todd would receive a total of $1,201.20.

Since ACE is collecting the money for my personal training services, where does that money go?

ACE has agreed to provide AARP members with discounted personal training services provided by you, the ACE-certified personal trainer. Our hope is that you will see the benefits of increased income and additional clients who need and want your services. The discount is 10, 12 and 15% off industry standard rates (i.e., $55 or $45) depending upon region and training package. An additional 10% is deducted from the training fee and split between AARP (96% for a co-op marketing fund to promote your services to AARP members) and ACE (4% to defray credit card transaction fees and payment processing costs through ADP).

EXAMPLE
An AARP member in California will pay $396 for a 4-week personal training package. This is 10% off the industry standard price of $440 ($55/session). The ACE personal trainer will receive $352 in revenue. The $44 difference is split between AARP and ACE. AARP receives $42.24 (to go into a co-op marketing fund to promote your services to their members) and ACE receives $1.76 (for credit card transaction and payment processing fees).

How Do I Track my Client Sessions and Who Do I Report them to?

Enrolled ACE-certified Professionals will have a log sheet to report completed sessions. Once the ACE professional has signed up for the program, they will be directed to their log in sheet.

Program Return Policy

Purchases for the ACE Trainer Program for AARP are non refundable.