Compare
AFAA-CGFI vs IPTA CPT
AFAA Certified Group Fitness Instructor from Athletics and Fitness Association of America 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
- AFAA-CGFI requires 1.5 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
2030-12-31
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
unknown
18
Education requirement
High school diploma or equivalent (or within no more than 90 days of completing all requirements for a high school diploma/GED or recognized equivalency); candidates under 18 must present the NASM|AFAA Academic Partner High School Verification form or their GED/diploma to the proctor at testing
High school diploma or GED
Degree required
no
unknown
Experience requirement
None – "You do not need prior experience before taking the CGFI course."
unknown
CPR/AED to enroll
yes
yes
Other prerequisites
Current Adult CPR and AED certification from an approved provider (e.g., American Heart Association, American Red Cross, American Safety and Health Institute) with a hands-on component; proof required prior to sitting for the exam. May enroll in the course before obtaining CPR/AED but must have it before the final exam. Valid government-issued photo ID required at the exam.
unknown
Exam format
Closed-book, 3rd-party (PSI) proctored exam; administered in-person at a testing center or via live remote online proctoring
135 multiple-choice questions (110 scored, 25 non-scored pretest), computer-based
Question count
120
unknown
Time limit
120 minutes
180 minutes
Passing score
Scaled score of 70 or better
unknown
Retake policy
Candidates who fail are subject to a retest wait period: 30 days after the first and/or second failed attempt; 1 year for each repeated failure after the 3rd attempt. A retest must be purchased (or a retest voucher activated) by calling Member Services.
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
1.5
24
CEU unit system
AFAA CEU (contact-hour based: 1 contact hour = 0.1 CEU; 1.5 CEUs = 15 contact hours)
CEU
Renewal fees
$99 standard
unknown
Ethics requirement
no
unknown
CPR/AED at renewal
yes
unknown
Renewal deadline rule
All requirements must be met by the certification expiration date (materials mailed/submitted prior to expiration). Recertification applications may be submitted up to one year late provided all continuing education was completed before or within 90 days of the expiration date; late fees apply ($30 up to 90 days post-expiration, $50 after the grace period and before one year post-expiration).
unknown
Reinstatement
unknown
unknown
Credential status
active
active
Last verified
2026-09-03
2026-09-12
CEU recognition
Colleges/universities (post-certification collegiate coursework) (accepts ceus from) · American Heart Association, American Red Cross, American Safety and Health Institute, National Safety Council, St. John Ambulance, EMT programs (accepts ceus from) · AFAA-Approved Continuing Education Providers (accepts ceus from) · Non-AFAA-approved continuing education providers/courses (petition accepted)
unknown
Categories
Personal Training
Personal Training, Movement Assessment, Professional Development
Compare something else
Related comparisons
ACE-CPT vs AFAA-CGFIACE-CPT vs IPTA CPTACE-GFI vs AFAA-CGFIACE-GFI vs IPTA CPTACSM-CPT vs AFAA-CGFIACSM-CPT vs IPTA CPTACTION-CPT vs AFAA-CGFIACTION-CPT vs IPTA CPTAFAA-CGFI vs IFPA-CPFTAFAA-CGFI vs NASM-CPTAFAA-CGFI vs NCCPT-CPTAFAA-CGFI vs NCSF-CPTAFAA-CGFI vs NESTA PFTAFAA-CGFI vs NETA-CGEIAFAA-CGFI vs NETA-CPTAFAA-CGFI vs NFPT-CPT
Full records: AFAA Certified Group Fitness Instructor · Certified Personal Trainer
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