Compare Certification Organizations

ACE vs. NASM? ACSM vs. ACE? To help you decide which organization to go with for your Personal Trainer Certification, we’ve decided to put all the information we could find on the table. Our goal is to help you make the smartest, most informed decision you can make. If you’re considering an organization that isn’t listed as a search option below, you should probably reconsider. Quality and reputation play a large part in how your certification will serve your career and how you’ll be able to serve your clients in the future.

Personal Training Certification Organizations

ACE
ACSM
NASM


COMPANY INFO
Founded	1985	1954	1987
Organizational Model	Non-Profit	Non-Profit	For Profit
Accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA)	Yes	Yes	Yes
Accredited by the European Health & Fitness Association (EHFA)	Yes	No	No
Currently Certified Personal Trainers	34,304	Not Publicly Known	22,000
Currently Certified Fitness Professionals ¹represents only NCCA Accredited certifications, ²includes non-NCCA Accredited certifications	50,000¹	25,000²	50,000²

EXAM INFORMATION
Eligibility Requirements
18 Years of Age or Older	Yes	Yes	Yes
CPR/AED ¹requires practical skills component	Yes¹	Yes¹	Yes
High School Diploma or GED	No	Yes	No
Exam Price ¹price dependent on exam method or member vs. non-member rate	$399	$219-$279¹	$599
Exam Format
Proctored by 3rd Party	Yes	Yes	Yes
Time Allowed	3 hours	2.5 Hours	2 Hours
Number of Questions	150	150	120
Computer-Based Exam Option	Yes	Yes	Yes
Paper-and-Pencil Exam Option	Yes	No	No

STUDY TOOLS
Study Material Packages
Price Range	$499-$799	$135.99- ˜$800	$599- $999
Option to Include Exam Voucher	Yes	Yes	Yes
Voucher Expiration ¹from purchase date unless otherwise stated	6 months	12 months	6 months
Study Assistance
Dedicated Student Resource Staff	Yes	No	Yes
Phone or Email Assistance	Yes	No	Yes
Study Model
Self-Study	Yes	Yes	Yes
Online Content	Yes	Yes	Yes
Live Workshops	No	Yes	Yes
Webinars	No	Yes	No
Interactive Study Guide	Yes	No	Yes
Additional Study Resources Available
Online Courses or Tools	Yes	Yes	Yes
Flash Cards	Yes	No	Yes
Practice Tests or Assessments	Yes	Yes	Yes
Standard Study Guide	Yes	No	Yes
DVD or CD Materials	Yes	No	No
Additional Reference Textbooks	Yes	Yes	No
Curriculum Taught at Colleges or Universities	Yes	No	Yes
Certification Widely Accepted by Fitness Facilities	Yes	Yes	Yes

Professional Benefits
Career Tools
Employment Listings Available	Yes	No	Yes
Client Search Feature	Yes	Yes	Yes
Client Resources	Yes	No	Yes
Business Forms or Documents	Yes	No	Yes
Career Development Resources	Yes	Yes	Yes
Discounts
Liability Insurance Discounts	Yes	Yes	Yes
Product Discounts	Yes	Yes	Yes
Industry Resources
Access to industry research	Yes	Yes	Yes
Expert Blog	Yes	No	No
Fitness News	Yes	Yes	Yes
Organization Conducts or Sponsors Industry Research	Yes	Yes	Yes

Continuing Education Information
Recertification
Recertification Fee ¹price dependent on recertification completed online or by mail and number of certifications held	$49- $139¹	$30	$99
Time Frame	2 years	3 years	2 years
Number of Hours Required	20	45	20
CECs From Other Providers Accepted	Yes	Yes	Yes
Additional Certifications
Group Exercise Certification	Yes	Yes	No
Advanced Certifications	Yes	Yes	Yes
Specialty Certifications	Yes	Yes	Yes
Available Course Formats
Self-paced/Home Study	Yes	Yes	Yes
Workshops	Yes	No	Yes
Live Webinars	Yes	Yes	No
Bundled Courses	Yes	No	Yes
Fitness Conferences	Yes	Yes	No

Notice something that needs changing or have something to add? Send an email to feedback@ACEfitness.org.

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Choose Your Study Bundle

Take the first step in becoming an ACE-certified Personal Trainer by choosing a bundle of study materials to help you prepare for the exam. Our three options feature a variety of study aids – from flashcards to ACE Academy Elite, our interactive, video-led study experience.
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