Compare
ACE-GFI vs IPTA CPT
ACE Certified Group Fitness Instructor from American Council on Exercise and Certified Personal Trainer from International Personal Trainer Academy, side by side: accreditation, eligibility, exam, cost and renewal, each fact from its cited source.
Key differences
- ACE-GFI requires 2 continuing-education units per cycle versus 24 for CPT — 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
2029-11-30
Target professional
Group fitness instructors
Entry-level personal fitness trainers working in gyms, health clubs, fitness studios, health care facilities and private studios
Minimum age
18
18
Education requirement
Must have completed high school (or the equivalent)
High school diploma or GED
Degree required
no
unknown
Experience requirement
unknown
unknown
CPR/AED to enroll
yes
yes
Other prerequisites
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).
unknown
Exam format
In-person proctored exam at a testing location or online via Live Remote Proctor (Meazure Learning/ProctorU); multiple choice
135 multiple-choice questions (110 scored, 25 non-scored pretest), computer-based
Question count
150
unknown
Time limit
180 minutes
180 minutes
Passing score
Score of 500 or greater (scaled)
unknown
Retake policy
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.
May take the exam up to three times in a one-year period; after a failed third attempt, must wait one year to retake.
Exam / application fees
unknown
unknown
Renewal required
yes
yes
Renewal cycle
2 years
2 years
CEUs per cycle
2
24
CEU unit system
ACE CEC (0.1 CEC = 1 hour of structured learning; 2.0 CECs = 20 hours)
CEU
Renewal fees
$129 standard
unknown
Ethics requirement
yes
unknown
CPR/AED at renewal
yes
unknown
Renewal deadline rule
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.
unknown
Reinstatement
unknown
unknown
Credential status
active
active
Last verified
2026-09-03
2026-09-12
CEU recognition
American Council on Exercise (ACE) (petition accepted) · ACE-Approved Continuing Education Providers (ACE Pre-Approved Course Directory) (approved ceu provider)
unknown
Categories
Personal Training
Personal Training, Movement Assessment, Professional Development
Compare something else
Related comparisons
ACE-CPT vs ACE-GFIACE-CPT vs IPTA CPTACE-GFI vs AFAA-CGFIACE-GFI vs IFPA-CPFTACE-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-GFIACSM-CPT vs IPTA CPT
Full records: ACE Certified Group Fitness Instructor · Certified Personal Trainer
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