Compare
ACE-CPT vs NETA-CGEI
ACE Certified Personal Trainer from American Council on Exercise and NETA Group Exercise Instructor Certification from National Exercise Trainers Association, side by side: accreditation, eligibility, exam, cost and renewal, each fact from its cited source.
Key differences
- Both are accredited, but by different bodies: ACE-CPT by NCCA, NETA-CGEI by National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).
- ACE-CPT requires 2 continuing-education units per cycle versus 20 for NETA-CGEI — note the providers use different CEU unit systems, so these figures are not directly comparable.
- The renewal fee differs: $129 for ACE-CPT versus $75 for NETA-CGEI.
- ACE-CPT carries an ethics requirement at renewal; NETA-CGEI 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)
accreditedNational Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA)(directory-confirmed)
Accredited through
2029-03-31
2027-07-31
Target professional
Personal trainers
Group exercise / group fitness instructors
Minimum age
18
18
Education requirement
Have completed high school diploma (or the equivalent)
Candidates must be at least 18 years old or hold a high school diploma or GED. Candidates under 18 who hold a high school/GED diploma must complete a NETA-CB Minor Waiver and Permission Form.
Degree required
no
no
Experience requirement
unknown
None — "No prior fitness-related experience, training, formalized education, or certification is required." No college degree, science background, or prior teaching experience required.
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).
Group Exercise Instructor candidates must hold valid adult CPR certification from a nationally recognized provider (e.g., ARC, AHA, ASHI, NSC) that includes a live hands-on practical skills evaluation (fully online CPR not accepted); documentation (copy of card front & back or certificate) must be submitted to NETA prior to the exam. Signed Candidate Compliance Statement and registration form required. (AED is required only for the Personal Trainer credential.)
Exam format
In-person proctored exam or online exam with a Live Remote Proctor (proctored through Meazure Learning/ProctorU); 150 multiple-choice questions
120 multiple-choice questions (four options A–D); 100 scored plus 20 unscored experimental items. Delivered as paper/pencil at live review workshops with independent proctor, or computer-based online with live remote proctoring by ProctorU.
Question count
150
120
Time limit
180 minutes
120 minutes
Passing score
Score of 500 or greater (out of 800)
Minimum score of 67% of the 100 scored questions (exam forms administered on or after June 1, 2022)
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.
unknown
Exam / application fees
unknown
$249 exam fee
Renewal required
yes
yes
Renewal cycle
2 years
2 years
CEUs per cycle
2
20
CEU unit system
ACE CEC (0.1 CEC = 1 hour of structured learning; 2.0 CECs = 20 hours per 2-year cycle)
NETA CEC (1 hour of education contact time = 1 NETA CEC; 0.1 ACE CEC / 0.1 AFAA CEU / 0.1 NASM CEU = 1.0 NETA CEC)
Renewal fees
$129 standard
$75 standard
Ethics requirement
yes
no
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.
Certification valid 2 years from date of issue; renewal applications accepted up to 90 days before (not earlier than) the designated expiration date. NETA advises submitting ~2 months (at least 30 days) prior to expiration. Automatic 180-day reinstatement grace period after expiration with higher fees; beyond 180 days the exam must be retaken. Upon renewal the new expiration is 2 years from the previous expiration date.
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) (accepts ceus from) · National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) (accepts ceus from) · CPR/AED and First Aid course providers (not recognized) · Athletics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA) (accepts ceus from) · NETA Certification Board (non-preapproved providers / college courses) (petition accepted)
Categories
Personal Training
Personal Training, Conditioning, Professional Development
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ACE-CPT vs ACE-GFIACE-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-CPTACE-CPT vs NFPT-CPTACE-CPT vs NPCP NCPTACE-CPT vs NSCA-CPTACE-CPT vs W.I.T.S. CPTACE-GFI vs NETA-CGEIACSM-CPT vs ACE-CPTACSM-CPT vs NETA-CGEI
Full records: ACE Certified Personal Trainer · NETA Group Exercise Instructor Certification
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