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ACE-CPT vs ACE-GFI
ACE Certified Personal Trainer from American Council on Exercise 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
No factual differences on the fields where both credentials have known values.
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
2029-03-31
2029-03-31
Target professional
Personal trainers
Group fitness instructors
Minimum age
18
18
Education requirement
Have completed high school diploma (or the 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
Hold a current adult CPR/AED certificate with 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); pay the exam/proctoring fee (not included in study program price).
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
In-person proctored exam or online exam with a Live Remote Proctor (proctored through Meazure Learning/ProctorU); 150 multiple-choice questions
In-person proctored exam at a testing location or online via Live Remote Proctor (Meazure Learning/ProctorU); multiple choice
Question count
150
150
Time limit
180 minutes
180 minutes
Passing score
Score of 500 or greater (out of 800)
Score of 500 or greater (scaled)
Retake policy
Retake available; ACE recommends allowing about one week of review for every 10 points below the passing score of 500 before rescheduling. After registering for a Live Remote Proctored exam, candidates have 60 days to complete it.
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
unknown
unknown
Renewal required
yes
yes
Renewal cycle
2 years
2 years
CEUs per cycle
2
2
CEU unit system
ACE CEC (0.1 CEC = 1 hour of structured learning; 2.0 CECs = 20 hours per 2-year cycle)
ACE CEC (0.1 CEC = 1 hour of structured learning; 2.0 CECs = 20 hours)
Renewal fees
$129 standard
$129 standard
Ethics requirement
yes
yes
CPR/AED at renewal
yes
yes
Renewal deadline rule
Credential valid 2 years; CECs must be completed between the start and end dates of the renewal cycle shown in My ACE, then submit renewal and pay fee before expiration. Late renewal permitted up to 6 months past expiration at higher fees; beyond 6 months requires contacting ACE support. Expired certifications without completed CECs require retaking the exam.
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
ACE-Approved Continuing Education Providers (ACE pre-approved course directory) (approved ceu provider) · Non-ACE-approved course providers (petition accepted) · Accredited colleges/universities (petition accepted)
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
Compare something else
Related comparisons
ACE-CPT vs AFAA-CGFIACE-CPT vs IFPA-CPFTACE-CPT vs IPTA CPTACE-CPT vs NASM-CPTACE-CPT vs NCCPT-CPTACE-CPT vs NCSF-CPTACE-CPT vs NESTA PFTACE-CPT vs NETA-CGEIACE-CPT vs NETA-CPTACE-CPT vs NFPT-CPTACE-CPT vs NPCP NCPTACE-CPT vs NSCA-CPTACE-CPT vs W.I.T.S. CPTACE-GFI vs AFAA-CGFIACE-GFI vs IFPA-CPFTACE-GFI vs IPTA CPT
Full records: ACE Certified Personal Trainer · ACE Certified Group Fitness Instructor
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