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What ACE Pros are saying...

"ACE Certifications are unmatched! I've been proudly certified as an ACE Group Fitness Instructor for over 8 years. The study program is extremely helpful to succeed in your learning and work with clients. I highly recommend ACE to anyone just getting started or looking to take their career to the next level!"

"ACE is a highly reputable, accredited organization in group fitness, and I wanted the best certification around. I knew holding an ACE Certification would open important doors in my career. Getting certified with ACE is one of the best professional decisions I have ever made."

"ACE is the organization that everyone knows and respects and I wanted a certification that is both accredited and held in the highest regard. I can go anywhere and people in the industry know and respect my ACE Certification."

Master the skills that top group fitness instructors use

Group Fitness Fundamentals

  • Instructor role and exercise principles
  • Movement basics and healthy eating

Preparation & Design

  • Choreography, class basics, gear/music
  • Program design, sequencing, blueprints, duties

Leading Classes

  • Participant-focused instruction, cueing, leadership
  • Outdoor/online considerations, multilevel strategies
  • Health needs: cardiac to low-back pain

Professional & Legal

  • Injury prevention and emergencies
  • Legal and professional guidelines

ACE RRAMP Approach

  • ACE RRAMP for success-focused environment
  • Apply respect, recognition, alignment, support
  • Guide on usage to boost motivation and adherence.

Get qualified to coach clients

The most recognized and rewarding certification

90,000+ ACE
Certified Pros

Join the largest certifier in health & fitness for over 40 years.

NCCA
Accreditation

Stand out to employers with the most trusted credential.

Do what you love,
get paid

ACE Certified Group Fitness Instructors earn up to $100/hr

In-demand
profession

Expected increase in employment of 12% between 2022-2034

Proof that movement changes everything

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

  • ACE Certified Trainers led 8.9 million training sessions last year Real clients, real results, not just test prep.
  • 1.2 million+ group fitness classes led by ACE instructors That's one every 25 seconds around the clock.
  • 344,000+ health coaching sessions delivered by ACE-certified coaches Bringing behavior change to life across communities.
  • 50,000 new professionals certified in 2024-2025 alone The largest single-year class in ACE's 40-year history.
  • 17,000 professionals working across 134 countries Proving ACE isn't just U.S.-based; it's a global movement in motion.
  • 22 new education programs launched in last 12 months Including "AI in Fitness," "Training Clients on Obesity Medications," and "Longevity Through Movement." No other cert provider moves that fast to keep you current.
  • Social engagement doubled year over year ACE professionals are building brands and visibility, not just careers.

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.

Title

The core of your study program where you will receive step-by-step guidance from start to finish, moving from learning to applying. With an intuitive learning platform, compatible on any device, learning is at your fingertips. ACE U helps you plan, manage and track your course syllabus and offers engaging videos, ACE in Action demonstrations, helpful quizzes and learning activities, and your first practice test.

ACE Certified Group Fitness Instructor Exam (NCCA-accredited) — choose from an in-person proctored exam at a location near you, or an online exam through a Live Remote Proctor.

Learn more about Live Remote Proctor here.

Test your readiness to take the ACE Group Fitness Instructor Certification Exam. Number of tests vary based on your Study Program from one (1) to four (4). Each test is unique and can be taken as many times as you like.

Includes the latest research and packed with time-tested strategies, The Exercise Professional's Guide to Group Fitness Instruction delivers everything you'll need to create a dynamic class environment that is full of highly engaged participants—no matter the setting or type of class.

Enhance your learning and be confident in your readiness to take the ACE Certification Exam with on-demand study support from ACE Answers.

All Study Programs include access to:

  • Answers to common study questions
  • Video demonstrations and lectures
  • Exam preparation articles
  • ACE Exercise Library
  • Tools & calculators
  • Career forms

Additional ACE Answers study support is available based on the Study Program you choose.

Enjoy free shipping with the Plus and Advantage Study Programs (only available in the U.S.)

Quizzes help reinforce the course material from each section of the study program—so you can easily identify the topics you've already mastered and which to revisit before your exam.

This is a supplemental course designed to support your understanding of the anatomy and physiology concepts that serve as foundational knowledge for your career. The course is divided into convenient modules, so you can study more efficiently and effectively. It includes video lectures that will clarify more complex topics and learning activities that will help you practice these concepts in real time. A quiz is also included to help you test your knowledge.

Group Fitness Instructor Requirements

To be eligible for the ACE Group Fitness Instructor Certification Exam, you must:

  • Be at least 18 years old.
  • Have completed high school (or the equivalent).
  • Hold a current CPR/AED certification with a live skills check.
  • Present a current government-issued photo ID with signature (driver's license, passport, military ID).

Questions? Contact us at (888) 825-3636.

Get certified online with Live Remote Proctoring

Take your exam from the comfort of your home! We are pleased to offer you the option to take your ACE Certification Exam through a Live Remote Proctor.