About Us
Our Mission
The American Council on Exercise
® is a nonprofit organization committed to enriching quality of life through safe and effective exercise and physical activity. As America’s Authority on Fitness, ACE protects all segments of society against ineffective fitness products, programs and trends through its ongoing public education, outreach and research. ACE further protects the public by setting certification and continuing education standards for fitness professionals.
Background
Founded in 1985, today ACE is one of the largest fitness certification, education and training organizations in the world. We currently have more than 40,000 certified fitness professionals in 107 countries. ACE certification, continuing education and training are among the most respected in the fitness industry.
Since the beginning, our comprehensive programming has enabled fitness professionals to take advantage of the most current research available today.
ACE publications, study materials and courses have successfully prepared thousands of candidates to become certified including the ACE Personal Trainer, Advanced Health + Fitness Specialist, Group Fitness Instructor and Lifestyle + Weight Management Consultant.
Professional Standards
In 2003, ACE was granted
accreditation by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) for its
Personal Trainer,
Group Fitness Instructor and
Lifestyle + Weight Management Consultant certification programs. It remains today the only fitness certification organization to offer an accredited certification for Group Fitness Instructor and Lifestyle & Weight Management Consultant.
The NCCA is an independent non-governmental agency that accredits certifications in a variety of professions, including nursing and athletic training. NCCA reviews the certification organization’s procedures, protocols and operations, and determines if the certification properly discriminates between those who are qualified and those who are not qualified to be awarded the respective credential.
The fitness industry stands behind accreditation. The International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) and Medical Fitness Association (MFA) both recommend that club owners and medical fitness facility operators only hire fitness professionals with certifications from agencies accredited through NCCA or an equivalent accrediting organization.
Community Outreach
Because ACE is dedicated to improving the professional standards of the fitness industry and encourages all segments of society to enjoy the benefits of exercise, its mission also extends beyond fitness professionals. ACE believes consumers play an important role in taking an initiative to ensure their fitness trainers are certified by a reputable organization with a track record of meeting the highest academic and professional criteria.
ACE has earned the reputation of consumer advocate through university-based research and testing that targets fitness products and trends. ACE promotes the benefits of physical activity and protects the public against unqualified fitness professionals, and unsafe and ineffective products, programs and instruction.
Youth Outreach
Dedicated to promoting safe, effective exercise and physical activity programs to help get kids moving, ACE offers the
Operation FitKids® curriculum. designed for educators looking to integrate health and fitness into classroom learning.
Media Outreach
Through more than 450 million media impressions per year, ACE advocates the benefits of safe and effective exercise by continually educating the public and fitness professionals on relevant updates in the fitness industry related to trends, products, personnel, studies and consumer advice.
Tradeshows and Exhibiting Events
In addition to hosting our own annual Fitness Symposium, ACE participates in many tradeshows, conferences and events across the United States throughout the year. Participation includes informational exhibit displays, sponsored educational sessions, demonstrations, certification exam delivery, speaking engagements and/or focus groups. Stop by to see us when we come to your town!
View tradeshow & event calendar
Grassroots Advocacy
In a position to affect national and state initiatives that promote more active lifestyles for all
Americans, ACE is mobilizing its base of more than 40,000 professionals to work to pass laws that will help affect societal changes toward a more fit America. ACE is instituting powerful tools through its Legislative Action Center that allow our professionals to monitor legislative issues that affect them, easily voice their opinions and speak to their elected officials on important issues. The initiative is focused on establishing and enhancing an influential, powerful and unified political voice for the fitness industry while strengthening ACE's commitment to public outreach and increasing the number of ACE-certified fitness professionals who actively participate in grassroots advocacy.
Collaborative Partnerships
ACE works with many other organizations to help get the message out about the benefits of exercise and an active lifestyle. Examples include our work with the American Heart Association and AARP. ACE joined with the American Heart Association to enable fitness professionals to create a safer fitness environment and teach the invaluable skills of saving a life. The result is the
Heartsaver First Aid with CPR and AED Live Workshop and the home study program,
AED Anytime. Additionally, ACE teamed with AARP on a program to provide information, resources and services to help America's fastest growing population segment lead active, healthier lifestyles. A population greatly underserved by the fitness industry, people age 50 and over are redefining our expectations on age, vitality and life. Now, specially trained ACE-certified professionals are promoting a healthy and fit America at every age by providing personal training services to AARP members nationwide.