The American Council on Exercise, or ACE, is an organization that certifies fitness instructors across the United States. ACE is nationally recognized and offers certifications in personal training, group fitness instruction, lifestyle and weight-management coaching, and an advanced certification in health and fitness. To become certified with ACE, you choose your program and work at your own pace. You must pass an examination to become certified in the field.
Personal Trainer Certification
The ACE personal trainer certification prepares individuals to work in gym and health care settings to design and implement fitness programs for individuals at all levels. The personal trainer curriculum includes risk fact screenings, fitness assessments, nutrition, exercise science, program design, exercise progressions, instructional techniques, spotting techniques, lifestyle modification and career advancement. To be eligible to take the ACE personal trainer examination, you must be age 18 or older and hold a current CPR and first aid certification. Upon signing up for the course, you will receive study materials. You then sign up for and take the personal trainer examination. You will need to complete the test with a score of 75 percent or higher to be certified as a personal trainer.
Group Fitness Instructors
Group fitness instructors are certified to teach and effectively communicate with group exercise classes. You study a variety of fitness class techniques. ACE will instruct you on how to effectively engage and build enthusiasm in your classes. You learn anatomy, kinesiology, exercise physiology, instructional techniques, class designs, cueing and injury prevention. To sit for the ACE Group Fitness Instructor Certification exam, you need current CPR and first aid certification, and you must be at least 18 years old. You start by purchasing your study materials -- books, DVDs and online access. You must score at least 500 points on the exam to earn certification.
Lifestyle and Weight-Management Coach
Lifestyle and weight-management coach certification enables you to successfully engage clients in physical activity as well as nutrition. You will be able to assess, recognize your client's behaviors and offer advice in motivation on how your clients can safely achieve their fitness goals. This program will teach the psychological aspects of weight management, biomechanical and physiological impacts of obesity, lifestyle coaching techniques, relationship between exercise and nutrition, exercise programming and weight-management strategies. To take the exam, you must be age 18 or older, hold a current CPR and first aid certification and be a current certified personal trainer, group fitness instructor or health and fitness specialist. You may also register for the ACE Certified Lifestyle and Weight Management Coach program if you can provide proof of a four-year degree in exercise science or a related field. You register for the course, study at your own pace and take the exam. You need to score 500 points or higher to receive certification.
Advanced Health and Fitness Specialist
The ACE Advanced Health and Fitness Specialist Certification focuses on preventive and post-rehabilitative fitness programing. This certification will allow you to rehab individuals from injury as well as deal with clients who suffer from a variety of medical conditions, including cardiovascular, pulmonary, metabolic and musculoskeletal disorders. The course focuses on major cardiovascular and pulmonary conditions, metabolic diseases, musculoskeletal disorders and working with older adults, youths and prenatal and postnatal clients. You must be 18 years old and hold a current CPR and first aid certification. You must also have an ACE personal trainer or lifestyle coach certification. A bachelor's degree in exercise science is also acceptable. You must also have 300 hours of work in the exercise science field. You register, study and take the examination. A score of 500 points or more is required for certification.
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