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ACE certification doesn't deserve a high rating

ACE certification isn't rated as "high" ...every club I worked at - ACE was frowned on and the people who held an ACE cert got bagged on a lot. Everyone was for ACSM, NSCA, NASM.

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Industry Recognition is not a measure of quality
by: Katie - Admin

Keep in mind that ACE getting a high rating in "industry recognition", does not necessarily mean that ACE is a highly respected personal trainer certification. It just means that having an ACE CPT certification will open doors for you and help you get the job.

Of course there are going to be better certifications...but some of the better certification are not widely known in the industry. NPTI is a good example of a great program that is still struggling to make a name for itself.

- Katie

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The ACE program is OK but it has a negative reputation
by: J.D.

When I got started, my trainer advised me to take the NASM CPT course instead of ACE. She said NASM was a little harder to study for, but the reputation in the business was higher. Indeed she was right. Since I've met a lot of trainers at the gyms and I have a chance to ask about their credentials, the ones who only have an ACE certification don't seem to be very proud of it. Many of them say, "Oh I just have ACE for now, but I plan to take ..." and they go on to mention some of the other certification programs. I'm not sure why this is, but it is true. I've read the ACE course material and it is every bit as good as NASM, and in some cases better. But the reputation ACE has in the industry is rather tainted for some reason.

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MY AREA'S EXPECTATION
by: LILA

I SPOKE TO SEVERAL PEOPLE IN THE INDUSTRY (GOLD'S GYM, FITNESS GEAR AND PRIVATE TRAINER) AND THEY SAID ACE OR NSCA IS THE RECOGNIZED CERTIFICATION HERE IN WASHINGTON

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Its What You Make of It
by: Kim

When I certified as a personal trainer in 1997, ACE was one of the most widely accepted in my area. I find it sad that there are ACE certified professionals who are not very proud of their certification.

I am gold certified(since 1999) as an ACE Advanced Health and Fitness Specialist(formerly Clinical Exercise Specialist)and I am proud to introduce myself as such. And if the ACE certification is so lacking, why was ACE chosen to partner with YogaFit or with IDEA for the new professional journal?

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ACE Isn't the Best or The Worst
by: Marie

While the American Council on Exercise is a great organization, it's personal trainer certification isn't respected by those who are knowledgeable in the fitness industry because you do not have to know much to get one. While it is certainly a step above the on-line certs, which are ridiculous and downright dangerous, it is not comparable to the personal trainer certifications from The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) or The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). These are the best and this is well known in the industry.

You have to know a lot to pass their test and that protects both the client and the trainer. Many YMCA's will only accept these two certifications now. Anyone who thinks an ACE personal trainer cert will gain them respect is out of touch with the fitness industry. A lot of gyms will hire people off the street and get them to take the ACE test because they can pass it and say they have a national cert. Not a good idea!

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ACE CPT here..
by: Anonymous

and at least here in florida ACE is definitely the preferred cert..

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only 54% pass
by: Anonymous

If ACE is so easy to get and is looked down on why do they only have a 54% pass rate

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college level recognition
by: Anonymous

If ACE is so frowned on then why have so many legitamate state colleges adopted there program? and offer it as proud partners for a real career? Generally its the acceptance of a profession at the state level that gets it that last jump to being a real career. Lets face it 10 years ago ANY personal trainer certification was half a joke, ACSM or any other. Until recently this CAREER has even been consisdered a joke. Most of the time its not the CPT that matters its the endorsments after that like SilverSneakers, Senior&Fit, even YogaFit that get you hired for actual work and taken seriously.

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Ace in Indiana
by: Anonymous

Most of us here in Indiana and throughout midwest are ACE certified and some people that have went to 4 year colleges feel they have wasted some time and money when they could just get a nice ACE cert.

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ACE is A good one to have
by: Anonymous

I have the accredited certs (ACSM, ACE, NASM, NSCA) and also ran large chain gyms before opening my own place. Of all the certs, I like ACE the best because it is user friendly for working with clients, makes my trainers really understand scope of practice and between the 4 options (personal trainer, health coach, group exercise and medical exercise specialist), they can find one that best suits the needs of what they will be doing. Honestly? a vast majority of trainers have NO certification. The main reason gym managers will hire and then ask for ACE isn't because it's the easier one but because the test is offered almost everywhere and as a business owner/manager you need to be able to have your trainers covered under insurance. It's also good to have all your trainers on the same page regarding basic training.

Any of the top 4 are pretty similar, but as someone hiring trainers I needed to get them myself in order to understand the background of my employees. There was a push by some states to license trainers as well as yoga instructors, pilates instructors etc which I would absolutely be in favor of but until then....

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ACE is good to me
by: Anonymous

ACE was my first personal trainer certification. When I first began a trainer in the early 2000’s, it was the one to get. Somewhere down the line people kind of start looking down on it. I have no idea why. I since let it expire when I got more advance certifications (NSCA CSCS, ACSM EP). I didn’t let it expire because I don’t think highly of ACE, I just thought it would be redundant to keep it. From a practical application stand point, I though ACE did a better job with study material and testing. Both the EP and CSCS exams were heavy on science, that you don’t use in real life in my opinion. I heard that ACE has since made their exam more exercise physiology heavy like the two certs I mentioned before. I am basis, because I was ACE certified before. But, I do have other certs and experience to compare it to.

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My ACE CPT
by: Robert

I find it troubling that the ACE CPT has been singled out as somehow being inferior. I have never had an employer or potential question my ACE CPT certification. It is just as respected as any in the industry. I'm proud of my ACE certification and for those who question it , well that's your problem!

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Ace Certified Personal Trainer

by Janice
(Massachusetts)

I think you should change the exam time to 4 hours for Ace. I was allowed 3 hours to take the first part of the exam, then there was the second part of the exam that I was allowed 1 hour to take. I changed careers and I am confident as a trainer after having studied over a year to understand the textbook. I would recommend Ace to everyone.
I have a question though, why does it not list CPT under Personal Trainer on the list as others do?

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ACE shouldn't take 4-6 months
by: Anonymous

I think that ACE should only take a couple of months and maybe just weeks. I can't imagine it taking anybody 4 to 6 months to get ACE certified.

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Looking for hands on training in Ohio
by: Anonymous

Does anybody know of any personal training schools or 8 to 12 week programs in the Cleveland or Akron Ohio area, besides the National Personal Training Institute in Richmond Heights? If so please email at clewis.23@hotmail.com.

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Time it Takes to Complete the Exam
by: Janice

Janice, I think you're right about the time it takes to complete the test. I came very close to running out of time myself. I studied for about 6 months and was still feeling like I didn't know enough when I sat for the exam. If there are others who feel that studying for the ACE exam should take less time, then they must be already familiar with the information or have a degree in Exercise Science or something. Personally, if someone only studied the material for a couple of months or less who had no prior knowledge of fitness training, I certainly wouldn't want them training me!

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Lifetime Fitness
by: Anonymous

Who would have thought a gym as well established as Lifetime Fitness would allow one of their HOSPITALITY workers train people at the gym. Paris Long of Lifetime Fitness in Columbus Ohio (Easton) has been training people for the last 7 years, I was one of them. I guess his great football career that ended at The Ohio State University, showed him how to be a personal trainer...NOT! But somehow folding those towels and cleaning those showers can enlighten you. I say beware and someone needs to put an end to this fraud! Hes a big guy because of genetics and his basic knowledge of working out. But dont let the brawn fool you, he is a joke! Beware Columbus and Lifetime Fitness get on the ball!

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ACE exam
by: c

Take as long as you can to prepare for the exam. it seems easy but is not as easy as some would think. know the material like a priest knows the bible. remember what you think i unimportant. the only answers to the test are the ones you get from the material.

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Paris Long
by: Anonymous

Those who choose to post on this sight should learn to get there facts straight before tarnishing someones good name. Paris Long is a wonderful trainer at urban active and has been for quite sometime. And in my opinion Lifetime lost a great person in Paris by not promoting him to a trainer if he had been certified that long. Paris held that place together. when he left things only went down hill. He puts that same passion into training me and without him i would not had gotten the results I have. Thank you ACE for training him to help me reach my goals

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Preparing for ACE Personal Trainer Cert Exam
by: Ms Toy

I'm a Certified Group Fitness Instructor in Chicago, IL. I've been teaching a little over 2yrs now. And I have just started studying for The ACE Personal Trainer Cert! I have been studying off & on for 2months! Some of the material is dry so sometimes it makes it boring for me. But I know I probably won't be ready to take the exam until around Summer! Trying to give myself enough time. I don't want to rush through the material. Can you guys that are ACE CPT's please give me some tips on your study methods!!!! I need this really bad!!!! Thank you in advance!

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My ACE CPT
by: Robert A. Booker

In some ways this is a nonsensical argument. I have a ACE CPT ranting and I have had no problems with it being looked down upon.

This entire discussion seems to come from a person with an axe to grind which benefits no one in our industry. I would hope that whoever is attacking ACE Certifications would at the least give reasons for their "OPINION" because that's all it is.

Someone mentioned that the YWCA doesn't accept the ACE Certification. That is simply not true, I was offered a job with a YMCA but chose not to take the job because the pay was lower than I was willing to accept.

The last thing that I would say is trying to dim the light of someone else doesn't make your light light shine any brighter.

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