The prerequisites to sit for the ACE Health Coach Certification exam are provided below. If you feel you meet one of the prerequisites, you may submit your pre-approval documents for review. Once your pre-approval documents are received, ACE will respond to your request within 5 business days.
To sit for the ACE Health Coach certification you must:
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Hold a current CPR and AED certification with a live skills check*
- Present a current government-issued photo ID with signature (driver's license, passport, military ID)
You must also SUBMIT proof of at least ONE of the following:
- Current NCCA-accredited certification† in fitness, nutrition, healthcare, wellness, human resources, or a related field
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An associate's degree or higher from an accredited college or university in fitness, exercise science, nutrition, healthcare, wellness, or a related field
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Click here to see a list of the most common degrees submitted for review. Note: This list is not all inclusive.
List of most common degrees submitted for review for the ACE Health Coach certification exam:
- Adaptive Physical Education
- Athletic Training
- Biomechanics
- Cardiac Rehabilitation
- Corporate Fitness / Wellness
- Counseling
- Exercise Physiology
- Exercise Science
- Health and Fitness
- Health Education
- Health Promotion
- Kinesiology/Applied Kinesiology
- Medical Doctor (MD)
- Movement Studies
- Nursing
- Nutrition/Dietetics
- Occupational Therapy
- Occupational Therapy Assistant
- Physical Education
- Physical Therapy
- Physical Therapy Assistant
- Physician Assistant
- Pre-Med
- Psychology
- Public Health
- Recreation / Recreational Therapy
- Social Work
- Sociology
- Sports Medicine
NOTE: This list is not all-inclusive
- You will also have the option to upload a professional license (e.g. RN, LCSW, etc.) if applicable.
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A completed health coach training and education program approved by the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaches (NBHWC)‡
- A minimum of two years of documented work experience in coaching, leading, designing, implementing, or facilitating one or more of the following: behavior or lifestyle change, exercise, wellness, nutrition, or physical activity
*CPR and AED certificates are both required in the U.S. and Canada. Candidates outside the U.S. and Canada are only required to hold a current CPR certificate due to differing international laws regarding AED use by non-medical professionals. Candidates taking an ACE exam must complete a CPR/AED course that includes a live skills check prior to registration.
†A list of NCCA-accredited certification programs can be found here.
‡A list of NBHWC-approved training and education programs can be found here.
Not sure if you are eligible to sit for this advanced certification exam? Click here for a decision tree. NOTE: The results of this decision tree DO NOT result in pre-approval. You will still need to upload pre-approval documents for review.
Not sure how to create a resume? Click here for a template.
Note: All candidates must submit appropriate required documentation prior to registering for the ACE Health Coach Certification exam.
Pre-approval Process