Compare
ACE-CPT vs NPCP NCPT
ACE Certified Personal Trainer from American Council on Exercise and NCPT Comprehensive Certification from National Pilates Certification Program, side by side: accreditation, eligibility, exam, cost and renewal, each fact from its cited source.
Key differences
- ACE-CPT requires 2 continuing-education units per cycle versus 16 for NCPT — note the providers use different CEU unit systems, so these figures are not directly comparable.
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
2027-05-31
Target professional
Personal trainers
Pilates teachers who completed comprehensive Pilates education
Minimum age
18
18
Education requirement
Have completed high school diploma (or the equivalent)
Completion of Comprehensive Pilates education (program minimum 450 hours)
Degree required
no
unknown
Experience requirement
unknown
unknown
CPR/AED to enroll
yes
unknown
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).
unknown
Exam format
In-person proctored exam or online exam with a Live Remote Proctor (proctored through Meazure Learning/ProctorU); 150 multiple-choice questions
125 multiple-choice questions (100 scored)
Question count
150
unknown
Time limit
180 minutes
180 minutes
Passing score
Score of 500 or greater (out of 800)
78 out of 100 scored
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
$300 exam fee
Renewal required
yes
yes
Renewal cycle
2 years
2 years
CEUs per cycle
2
16
CEU unit system
ACE CEC (0.1 CEC = 1 hour of structured learning; 2.0 CECs = 20 hours per 2-year cycle)
CEC
Renewal fees
$129 standard
unknown
Ethics requirement
yes
unknown
CPR/AED at renewal
yes
unknown
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.
unknown
Reinstatement
unknown
unknown
Credential status
active
active
Last verified
2026-09-03
2026-09-12
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)
unknown
Categories
Personal Training
Personal Training, Mobility, Movement Assessment
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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-CGEIACE-CPT vs NETA-CPTACE-CPT vs NFPT-CPTACE-CPT vs NSCA-CPTACE-CPT vs W.I.T.S. CPTACE-GFI vs NPCP NCPTACSM-CPT vs ACE-CPTACSM-CPT vs NPCP NCPT
Full records: ACE Certified Personal Trainer · NCPT Comprehensive Certification
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