Prerequisites:
Prerequisites, ACE Personal Trainer:
There are no prerequisites to complete this course. However, there are prerequisites to registering for the NCCA-accredited Certification Exam.
Certification Requirements:
To register for the Certification Exam:
- You must be at least 18 years of age.
- You must hold a current adult cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED) certificate with hands-on (in-person or virtual) skills check.*
- You must have completed high school (or the equivalent).
*CPR and AED are both required in the U.S. and Canada. Candidates outside the U.S. and Canada are required to hold only current CPR due to differing laws regarding AED use by non-medical professionals in some countries. Candidates taking an ACE exam via computer-based testing must hold a current CPR/AED certificate prior to registration.
To renew your Certification:
- Complete at least 20 hours of ACE-approved CECs (2.0 CECs) every two years.
- Renew your cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED) certificate(s), which must include a hands-on (in-person or virtual) skills check. You must be current at time of renewal. *AED only required in USA and Canada.
- Submit your renewal online with appropriate renewal payment prior to the expiration date for the certification.
For complete details about renewing your NCCA-accredited ACE Certification, download our Certification and Renewal Handbook.
Prerequisites, ACE Medical Exercise Specialist:
There are no prerequisites to complete this course. However, there are prerequisites to registering for the NCCA-accredited Certification Exam.
Certification Requirements:
To register for the Certification Exam:
- You must be at least 18 years of age.
- You must hold a current adult cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED) certificate with hands-on (in-person or virtual) skills check.*
- You must have completed high school (or the equivalent).
- You must submit supporting documentation for each of the following prior to exam registration:
- A four-year (bachelor's) degree in exercise science or a related field
- 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
*CPR and AED are both required in the U.S. and Canada. Candidates outside the U.S. and Canada are required to hold only current CPR due to differing laws regarding AED use by non-medical professionals in some countries. Candidates taking an ACE exam via computer-based testing must hold a current CPR/AED certificate prior to registration.
To renew your Certification:
- Complete at least 20 hours of ACE-approved CECs (2.0 CECs) every two years.
- Renew your cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED) certificate(s), which must include a hands-on (in-person or virtual) skills check. You must be current at time of renewal. *AED only required in USA and Canada.
- Submit your renewal online with appropriate renewal payment prior to the expiration date for the certification.
For complete details about renewing your NCCA-accredited ACE Certification, download our Certification and Renewal Handbook.