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Be a part of healthcare
as an ACE Certified
Medical Exercise
Specialist

Ready to get moving?

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Ready to get moving?

Compare Programs

Earn the most recognized
certification that opens doors

Just some of what you can do:

  • Partner with healthcare providers
  • Post-rehab exercise
  • Exercise prescription for clients with chronic disease
  • Corrective Exercise & Injury Prevention Specialist

Countless places you can work:

  • Hospitals/Clinics
  • Medical Fitness Facilities/Fitness Facilities
  • College/University Recreation Facilities
  • Assisted Living/Senior Care Communities

Get paid to do what you love!

$59,000

average annual income

with a range of $47K - $75K

according to Glassdoor.com

10%

Expected increase

in employment from 2022-2032

U.S. Department of Labor

Your path to a rewarding career

1

Choose your
Study Program

Compare Programs
2

Start your
online learning

3

Pass your
Certification Exam

View Prerequisites

If you have a background in health and fitness and are prepared to take the exam, you can register here.

90,000 ACE Certified Pros, 35 Million Lives Moved!

I've had multiple ACE Certifications through the years, and it's clear that ACE provides the best learning experience possible. The ACE Study Dashboard is very user-friendly and it's nice to have all the study tools and resources in one convenient place.

Ryan Vivar

ACE Certified Medical Exercise Specialist

In preparation for my ACE Certification Exam, I covered the whole gamut of emotions. From extreme excitement to fear of failure. However, in utilizing all of the great study materials from ACE, my nerves were calmed and I felt more than prepared and confident in passing my exam.

Hans Streckenbach

ACE Certified Medical Exercise Specialist

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Sale

Standard

$599 $419.30

 

Most Popular
Sale

Premium

$799 $559.30

Feature    
ACE University    
Assigned Readings
Additional Resources (Blogs)
Section Quizzes
Key Points Summary Downloadable PDFs
Exam Prep Strategies PDF
ACE Expert Video Series
Chapter "Think it Through" Activities
Key Points Summary Videos and Downloadable PDFs
Exam Prep Strategies Webinar, PDF & Case Studies
ACE Certification Exam
Practice Tests 1 2
ACE Medical Exercise Specialist Textbook    
Hardcopy
Digital
ACE Answers Study Support
Free Standard Shipping (USA Only)
ACE Exam Retest Voucher
Sale

Standard

$599 $419.30

 

What's Included
  • ACE University
    • Assigned Readings
    • Additional Resources (Blogs)
    • Section Quizzes
    • Key Points Summary Downloadable PDFs
    • Exam Prep Strategies PDF
  • ACE Certification Exam
  • Practice Test (1)
  • ACE Medical Exercise Specialist Textbook
    Hard Copy
  • ACE Answers
  • Free Standard Shipping (USA only)
Most Popular
Sale

Premium

$799 $559.30

What's Included
  • ACE University
    • Assigned Readings
    • Additional Resources (Blogs)
    • Section Quizzes
    • ACE Expert Video Series
    • Chapter "Think it Through" Activities
    • Key Points Summary Videos and Downloadable PDFs
    • Exam Prep Strategies Webinar, PDF & Case Studies
  • ACE Certification Exam
  • Practice Tests (2)
  • ACE Medical Exercise Specialist Textbook
    Hard Copy
    Digital
  • ACE Answers
  • Free Standard Shipping (USA only)
  • ACE Exam Retest Voucher

*Digital eBooks compatible with desktops (Mac & PC), tablets and smartphones (iOS & Android) only. Cannot be printed.

Accredited by the NCCA, the gold standard in health and fitness.

*Digital eBooks compatible with desktops (Mac & PC), tablets and smartphones (iOS & Android) only. Cannot be printed.

What you'll learn

The ACE Medical Exercise Specialist Study Program prepares exercise professionals to collaborate with the healthcare community to help individuals coping with one or more diseases or disorders, or following rehabilitation to reach their health and fitness goals.

The program blends evidence-based exercise science with signature, ACE behavior change philosophy, which will set you apart as a compassionate medical exercise specialist who empowers clients to take the lead in their own journey.

Group Fitness Instructor Study Materials
Recorded videos
Recorded videos
Recorded Webinars
Recorded Webinars
Practice Tests
Practice Tests
ACE Answers Study Help
ACE Answers Study Help
Expert Articles
Expert Articles

Gain an understanding of the medical exercise specialist responsibilities and standards of care as well as their role within the healthcare continuum. Learn how to apply the ACE Integrated Fitness Training® (ACE IFT®) Model and how to work with clients with health challenges, including exercise programming for special populations.

Learn the elements of working with special-population and at-risk clients, regardless of a client's individual challenges, including application-based communication strategies to better understand and motivate clients toward making positive behavior change. Learn how to communicate with healthcare professionals to best serve clients and build strong professional networks.

Gain an understanding of diseases and disorders, including coronary heart disease, blood lipid disorders, hypertension, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Obtain the practical tools needed to work with affected clients safely and effectively.

Gain an understanding of diseases and disorders, including overweight and obesity, the metabolic syndrome, and diabetes mellitus. Obtain the practical tools needed to work with affected clients safely and effectively.

Learn to conduct assessments and design exercise programs to help clients improve posture, movement, balance, and gait. Understand mobility and stability of the kinetic chain, and practical approaches for designing and implementing restorative exercise programs. Learn how to assess a client's balance and gait. Gain an understanding of common musculoskeletal diseases and disorders including arthritis, osteoporosis, and osteopenia, and how to design exercise programs tailored to the needs of clients with each condition. Learn about the most common types and causes of musculoskeletal injuries, and how to develop and implement post-rehabilitative exercise programs associated with each.

Learn about prenatal and postpartum exercise guidelines, as well as physiological changes and biomechanical considerations associated with pregnancy, including exercise techniques for pregnant women.

Get a FREE sneak peek!

Preview the course with a free chapter from the textbook.

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Make sure to check your email for a special message from ACE along with a copy of your course preview.

FAQs

That's up to you! Most people study for around 3-6 months, though many study for longer. One thing to keep in mind is that your exam voucher has a redemption period of 6-months. While you can choose an exam date that's outside of the 6-month redemption period, you'll have to register for the exam before your voucher expires. Most exam sites and online proctoring may post available dates approximately 60 days in advance

While there are no prerequisites to purchase the study program, to sit for the ACE Medical Exercise Specialist certification you must:

  • Be at least 18 years of age
  • Hold a current adult CPR and AED certificate with hands-on (in-person or virtual) skills check.* CPR/AED courses without skills check not accepted. See our approved CPR/AED certification training here.
    • *AED only required in USA and Canada
  • Present a current government-issued photo ID with signature (driver's license, passport, military ID)
  • Submit BOTH of the following documents:
    1. Proof of a four-year (bachelor's) degree in exercise science or a related field.
    2. Proof of 500 hours of work experience designing and implementing exercise programs for apparently healthy individuals and/or high-risk individuals, as documented by a qualified professional (upload pre-approval form, as completed by a supervisor, below).

While most people do pass the exam on their first time, it's perfectly okay if you don't! Here are some steps you can take if you need to retake your certification exam:

  1. Determine if you have a retake voucher, which you can find in your MyACE Account. If you don't have one, you can purchase an additional exam at a discounted retake fee via MyACE or by contacting one of our ACE Advisors. This price is valid for one year after your initial test date.
  2. When choosing a date to retake the exam, we recommend giving yourself about one week of review time for every ten points you are away from a passing score. So if your score is 480 out of a possible 800, for example, (meaning you're 20 points away from the minimum passing score of 500), allow about two weeks of review before your next exam.
  3. Reflect on your performance and consider any exam topics you felt underprepared to tackle.
  4. Review your exam score report and compare your domain performance to the Exam Content Outline. Review each domain and determine what areas need improvement.
  5. Use all your study materials, including videos and exercises, to help build confidence for the exam. Because no two people learn alike, we've provided study material in many different formats, so be sure to use all the resources available to you!
  6. Consider what went well during your initial studies and what you might do differently.
  7. Create a game plan for everything you want to do before you retake the exam. Writing down your plan may help create accountability.
  8. Join the ACE Study Coaches for a live Q&A Webinar or Facilitated Study Group to get your specific questions answered.

CELEBRATE! You've now joined the highly respected ranks of 90,000+ ACE Certified Pros and hold the most recognized certification in the industry. Plus, we'll be providing support and guidance throughout your career, so you'll have access to the exclusive tools and resources you need to thrive as a health and fitness pro. Learn more about why it's great to be ACE Certified here.

No, provided you stay current on your continuing education credits (CECs) and renew on time. That means completing 20 hours of ACE-Approved CECs (2.0 CECs) during your two-year certification renewal cycles, or about 10 hours (1.0 CECs) per year. However, if you don't complete your 2.0 CECs and your certification expires, you will have to retake the exam. To avoid that scenario, check out our continuing education catalog and consider signing up for the CEC Power Pass.

Have questions?

Our ACE Advisors are ready to help you move forward.

ACE is with you every step of the way

Learn online at your own pace

Gain the knowledge to get certified in as few as 3-6 months with our flexible Study Programs.

Build in-demand skills

Learn the latest exercise science and behavior change methods that people everywhere are seeking.

Put your knowledge into action

Gain practical experience through interactive learning activities and real-world application.

Get on-demand study support

Succeed with the help of ACE Answers, Study Coaches, and live Q&A.

Access lifelong career resources

Get access to exclusive groups, networks and tools, like ACE® Pro Compass, ACE Pro Connect App and the ACE Job Board.

Get the recognition
you deserve

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American Council on Exercise reserves the right to discontinue the sale or support of any product at any time, to remove, correct, or update content based on current industry standards, guidelines, or technological advances. Notification will be given to those who have purchased such products six months prior to expiration. No refund will be given for expiring products.

Medical Exercise Specialist Exam Requirements

To sit for the ACE Medical Exercise Specialist certification you must:
  • Be at least 18 years of age
  • Hold a current CPR and AED certification with live skills check*
  • Present a current government-issued photo ID with signature (driver's license, passport, military ID)
You must also submit BOTH of the following documents:
  • Proof of a four-year (bachelor's) degree in exercise science or a related field (upload unofficial transcript below).
    • Click here to see a list of the most common degrees submitted for review. Note: This list is not all inclusive.
  • Proof of 500 hours of work experience designing and implementing exercise programs for apparently healthy individuals and/or high-risk individuals, as documented by a qualified professional (upload pre-approval form , as completed by a supervisor, below).

Want to know if you meet these requirements? Please submit your pre-approval documents here.
If you have any questions, please email us at credentialing@acefitness.org.

Our Collective Impact

When you choose ACE, you help fund research and initiatives to help educate and empower communities and organizations to get more people moving.

Decades of research show that weekly physical activity improves health, prevents diseases, and enhances well-being. For over 35 years, ACE has translated this evidence into practical measures that encourage physical activity.

Through partnerships with community organizations, we expand access to essential activities, promoting vibrant, healthy lifestyles for all. Our rigorous research and global insights promote community well-being. Alongside health advocates, we advocate for policies that promote healthier lifestyles globally.

Transparency is core to our values. That's why we publish our annual Impact Report–to showcase achievements, outline commitments, and reflect on lessons learned. It demonstrates the positive outcomes made possible by the support from ACE Pros like you!

Explore More About Our Impact

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