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ACSM-CPT vs ACE-GFI
ACSM Certified Personal Trainer from American College of Sports Medicine and ACE Certified Group Fitness Instructor from American Council on Exercise, side by side: accreditation, eligibility, exam, cost and renewal, each fact from its cited source.
Key differences
- ACSM-CPT renews on a 3-year cycle; ACE-GFI on a 2-year cycle.
- ACSM-CPT requires 45 continuing-education units per cycle versus 2 for ACE-GFI — note the providers use different CEU unit systems, so these figures are not directly comparable.
- The renewal fee differs: $60 for ACSM-CPT versus $129 for ACE-GFI.
- ACE-GFI carries an ethics requirement at renewal; ACSM-CPT does not.
Differences are stated only where both credentials have a known value on record — never inferred against an unknown. No winner is declared; which credential fits depends on your goals. Methodology
Credential type
certification
certification
Verification
verified
verified
Accreditation
accreditedNCCA(directory-confirmed)
accreditedNCCA(directory-confirmed)
Accredited through
2031-08-31
2029-03-31
Target professional
Personal trainers
Group fitness instructors
Minimum age
18
18
Education requirement
Minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent
Must have completed high school (or the equivalent)
Degree required
no
no
Experience requirement
unknown
unknown
CPR/AED to enroll
yes
yes
Other prerequisites
Possess current adult CPR/AED certification that has a live/in-person practical skills examination component (e.g., American Heart Association or American Red Cross); First Aid required beginning 2027. Candidates must submit an application with supporting documents via the MyACSM portal.
Hold a current adult CPR/AED certification with a hands-on (in-person or virtual) live skills check (CPR/AED courses without skills check not accepted; AED only required in USA and Canada); present a current government-issued photo ID with signature (driver's license, passport, military ID).
Exam format
Computer-based multiple-choice exam delivered by Pearson VUE; may be taken live remote-proctored online (OnVUE) or at an in-person Pearson VUE testing center
In-person proctored exam at a testing location or online via Live Remote Proctor (Meazure Learning/ProctorU); multiple choice
Question count
unknown
150
Time limit
unknown
180 minutes
Passing score
Scaled score of 550 on a 200–800 scale (criterion-referenced, modified Angoff standard setting)
Score of 500 or greater (scaled)
Retake policy
A retest fee applies for retaking the exam ($205); candidates whose online exam is terminated forfeit their registration and must reschedule, including retest fees.
Retake available. Candidates may have a retake voucher in their MyACE account; otherwise an additional exam can be purchased at a discounted retake fee, valid for one year after the initial test date. Exam voucher has a 6-month redemption period; after registering for a Live Remote Proctored exam, candidates have 60 days to complete it.
Exam / application fees
$410 exam fee nonmember · $50 application fee · $310 exam fee member
unknown
Renewal required
yes
yes
Renewal cycle
3 years
2 years
CEUs per cycle
45
2
CEU unit system
ACSM CEC (Continuing Education Credit; ACSM recognizes 1 CEC per contact hour of education)
ACE CEC (0.1 CEC = 1 hour of structured learning; 2.0 CECs = 20 hours)
Renewal fees
$60 standard
$129 standard
Ethics requirement
no
yes
CPR/AED at renewal
yes
yes
Renewal deadline rule
Certification valid 3 years. Certificants certified prior to 2025 expire Dec 31; those newly certified in 2025 expire three years from date of initial certification. Recertification must be completed by 11:59 p.m. EST on the expiration date to avoid the $80 late fee; an automatic six-month grace period follows (certification inactive during grace period), after which the credential lapses and only reinstatement ($225) or re-examination is available.
Credential must be renewed every two years; CECs must be completed between the start and end dates of the renewal cycle shown in the My ACE profile. Late renewal permitted up to 3 months and up to 6 months past expiration at higher fees; more than 6 months past expiration requires contacting ACE support. If 2.0 CECs are not completed and the certification expires, the exam must be retaken.
Reinstatement
unknown
unknown
Credential status
active
active
Last verified
2026-09-03
2026-09-03
CEU recognition
Other certifying organizations' certifications (not recognized) · American Council on Exercise (ACE) (accepts ceus from) · National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) (accepts ceus from) · National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) (accepts ceus from) · AFAA (accepts ceus from) · ACSM Approved CEC Providers (100+ organizations reviewed by ACSM's Education Department) (approved ceu provider)
American Council on Exercise (ACE) (petition accepted) · ACE-Approved Continuing Education Providers (ACE Pre-Approved Course Directory) (approved ceu provider)
Categories
Personal Training
Personal Training
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ACE-CPT vs ACE-GFIACE-GFI vs AFAA-CGFIACE-GFI vs IFPA-CPFTACE-GFI vs IPTA CPTACE-GFI vs NASM-CPTACE-GFI vs NCCPT-CPTACE-GFI vs NCSF-CPTACE-GFI vs NESTA PFTACE-GFI vs NETA-CGEIACE-GFI vs NETA-CPTACE-GFI vs NFPT-CPTACE-GFI vs NPCP NCPTACE-GFI vs NSCA-CPTACE-GFI vs W.I.T.S. CPTACSM-CPT vs ACE-CPTACSM-CPT vs AFAA-CGFI
Full records: ACSM Certified Personal Trainer · ACE Certified Group Fitness Instructor
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