Different testing locations have different schedules. For most locations, the earliest you can register for an exam is 10 days prior to your chosen exam date. Please keep in mind that date frequency and availability may differ from site to site.

Candidates with a special testing need will be accommodated as best as possible. Candidates requesting testing accommodations may not register online. All Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) candidates must submit proper documentation to support ADA requests. This documentation must be submitted, along with a completed registration form, at least 15-30 days prior to the requested exam date. Please contact ACE Exam Registration at 800.825.3636, Ext. 783 for further assistance. The confirmation process for CBT exam registrations with special accommodations.

Requires approval through the third-party contracted testing centers. The confirmation process for these types of registrations results in a confirmation email to be received roughly 24 to 72 hours after the registration is initially processed. On occasion, special accommodations cannot be made on the requested exam date or at a specific location. In this instance, a member of the ACE Exam Registration Department will contact the candidate for alternate testing locations, dates, and/or times.

Vouchers must be redeemed within six months of the purchased date and cannot be extended. Note that this six-month timeframe is a redemption deadline, not an exam completion date.

All four ACE Certification programs have competency-based assessments comprised of multiple-choice exams, with 125 scored items and 25 experimental items that make up the entire credentialing exam. Candidates are given three hours to complete an ACE Certification Exam.

Exam content outlines for ACE Certification programs are updated each time ACE conducts a role delineation study for the certification program, which occurs on a five-year rotating basis for the ACE Personal Trainer, Group Fitness Instructor and Health Coach Certification programs and every five to seven years for the ACE Medical Exercise Specialist Certification program. This is a critical step to ensure that professional certification programs stay relevant and current, with examinations that reflect the composition and focus as established and validated through the role delineation study.

Exam content outlines serve as blueprints for the development of each exam for a given certification program. ACE Certification Exam content outlines are typically divided into major areas of responsibility called Domains. Each Domain represents a logical grouping of Task Statements that detail the job-related functions under each domain. Each Task Statement has associated knowledge and skills deemed necessary to perform the task in a practical setting. Detailed exam content outlines with complete knowledge and skill statements for each ACE Certification program can be found in Appendix B of the manual for that program and at: ACEfitness.org/fitness-certifications/certification-exam-content.

All four ACE certification programs have competency-based assessments comprised of multiple-choice exams with 125 scored items and 25 experimental items that make up the entire credentialing exam. Candidates are given three hours to complete an ACE multiple choice exam for any of the four ACE certification programs.

ACE Certification Exams are scored according to procedures accepted by the American Psychological Association, the American Educational Research Association and the National Council on Measurement in Education. The candidate's score is derived from the number of questions answered correctly and is then converted to a scaled score ranging from 200 to 800 points, with the passing point set at a scaled score of 500 points. Candidates who earn a scaled score of 500 or more points will be awarded the ACE Certification for which they tested.

For more information, please review the Certification Exam Candidate Handbook.

You may reschedule your ACE exam up to 11:59 p.m. PT the day before your exam date for a rescheduling fee of $149 US/Canada and $299 for International exam sites. The rescheduling fee applies to changes in the date, time or location. Candidates that "no show" and do not reschedule prior to the given deadline will be subject to first-time exam fees for a new testing date.

To reschedule your exam, login to your My ACE Account, select My Scheduled Exams and Results link found under the My Exam Information area. Click on "Reschedule Exam Date." Proceed through the online registration process, paying the fee upon check out. You are only eligible to reschedule once. Candidates that have special testing accommodations, may not reschedule online and must contact ACE Exam Registration examregistration@acefitness.org or 888.825.3636, Ext. 783 to reschedule.

Exceptions to the reschedule fee will be considered on a case-by-case basis for documented serious illness or bereavement of immediate family member, natural disasters, military obligations (with orders), jury duty and other emergencies that coincide with the scheduled exam date.

Please note: Work conflicts, child care issues, failure to have transportation and lack of readiness to take the exam do not fall under the above exceptions.

In these instances, candidates must contact ACE Exam Registration prior to the day of their exam and provide supporting documentation for review. examregistration@acefitness.org or by calling 888.825.3636, Ext. 783 to reschedule.

Exam cancellations must be made outside of 30 days from your confirmed testing date for a 50% refund of the exam fee paid. Rescheduled exams or exams placed with an exam voucher are not eligible for refund. Registrations placed for exams within 30 days of the testing date cannot be refunded.