Obtaining certification is a critical step toward marketing yourself as a health and fitness professional. However, not all certifications are respected by the industry. The American Council on Exercise (ACE) is among only a handful of certification organizations recognized by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). The fitness industry's trade organization, known as the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA), recommends that gyms and health clubs only hire personal trainers certified through NCCA-accredited agencies.
Personal Trainer Career
Personal trainers work one-on-one or in small groups to help people reach fitness goals. Typically they are hired by health clubs and gyms but some work with clients through dance studios, hospitals, universities and school districts as well as in the home. Since many people tend to exercise before or after work, a personal trainer's schedule mainly consists of early morning, evening and weekend hours. Full-time employment is available for personal trainers, but most work on a part-time basis---sometimes at more than one location. About eight percent of fitness professionals were self employed in 2006.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook predicts the need for "fitness workers" to increase by 27 percent between 2009 and 2016. This is a "much faster" rate than the average for all occupations. The growing demand for personal trainers is due to more people taking an interest in fitness, greater recognition among businesses of financial benefits of a healthy workforce, an aging population and childhood obesity concerns.
Eligibility Requirements
Over 40,000 fitness professionals in 107 countries are certified through ACE. To be eligible for certification, you must be at least 18 years old and hold a current adult CPR and AED certificate. You also must pass a written exam; the first-time pass rate (of candidates not enrolled in a training course) is about 68 percent.
The Exam
The exam consists of 150 multiple choice questions and a written simulation test based on two client scenarios. Content covers anatomy, physiology and nutrition; screening, assessing and communicating with clients; exercise science, programming, instruction and spotting techniques; lifestyle modification and professional scope of practice. To better your odds of passing, you can enroll in a training program through ACE or another fitness education provider.
Maintaining Certification
ACE recognizes that professionals must stay on top of research to be credible in the industry. To maintain certification, you must complete continuing education credits every two years. These can be achieved through correspondence courses or live workshops/presentations. You also must maintain your CPR and AED certificate.
Benefits of ACE Certification
Aside from its recognized status, one of the biggest benefits of ACE certification is the organization's commitment to its professionals. Your contact information is included in an online database for those searching for personal trainers and you have access to gymjob.com, ACE's website for employment in the fitness industry. You can also receive discounts on liability insurance as well as apparel and other fitness products. ACE provides personal trainers with recent research findings and fitness trends through its publications "Certified News" and "Fitness Matters" and has taken steps toward impacting government by establishing the Legislative Action Center.
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