Compare
AFAA-CGFI vs NCCPT-CPT
AFAA Certified Group Fitness Instructor from Athletics and Fitness Association of America and NCCPT Certified Personal Trainer from National Council for Certified Personal Trainers, 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 2 for NCCPT-CPT — note the providers use different CEU unit systems, so these figures are not directly comparable.
- The renewal fee differs: $99 for AFAA-CGFI versus $75 for NCCPT-CPT.
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
NCCPT Certified Personal Trainer
NCCPT-CPT
Provider
Credential type
certification
certification
Verification
verified
verified
Accreditation
accreditedNCCA(directory-confirmed)
accreditedNCCA(directory-confirmed)
Accredited through
2030-12-31
2031-05-31
Target professional
Group fitness instructors
Personal trainers
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
unknown
Degree required
no
no
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.
Valid, unexpired photo ID with signature (driver's license, state/government-issued ID, passport, school ID, or military ID — military ID for in-person testing only); valid CPR card or certificate of completion (digital CPR certificate not accepted); name on ID and CPR proof must exactly match the student account. No prerequisite courses; purchase of exam preparation materials not required.
Exam format
Closed-book, 3rd-party (PSI) proctored exam; administered in-person at a testing center or via live remote online proctoring
Proctored multiple-choice exam administered by Prometric; not open book/open note; offered at a Prometric testing center or via remote online proctoring
Question count
120
140
Time limit
120 minutes
120 minutes
Passing score
Scaled score of 70 or better
Scaled score; candidate whose scaled score equals or exceeds the passing standard passes (125 of 140 items scored; 15 unscored pre-test items)
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.
Retakes must occur within the 12-month testing window; waiting periods of 14 days after the first attempt, 90 days after the second, and one year after the third. A retake fee must be purchased to retest. Free six-month extension available if waiting period extends beyond the 12-month window; a further six-month extension can be purchased for a fee.
Exam / application fees
unknown
$79 exam fee
Renewal required
yes
yes
Renewal cycle
2 years
2 years
CEUs per cycle
1.5
2
CEU unit system
AFAA CEU (contact-hour based: 1 contact hour = 0.1 CEU; 1.5 CEUs = 15 contact hours)
NCCPT CEU — "20 continuing education units, which equates to 2.0 CEUs at a rate of one hour per 0.1 CEU" (1 contact hour = 0.1 CEU)
Renewal fees
$99 standard
$75 standard
Ethics requirement
no
no
CPR/AED at renewal
yes
yes
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).
Renew every 2 years by the certification expiration date; initial renewal applications accepted starting one year before expiration. CEUs must be earned within the credential's original two-year cycle (no carryover, no repeated courses). A 30-day grace period after expiration is allowed with a late fee; renewal dates remain fixed to the original certification date. After the 30-day grace period the credential expires and reinstatement requires retaking the certification exam.
Reinstatement
unknown
unknown
Credential status
active
active
Last verified
2026-09-03
2026-09-03
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)
NCCPT (own courses) (accepts ceus from) · International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) (accepts ceus from) · Third-party / non-NCCPT, non-ISSA CEU providers (petition accepted)
Categories
Personal Training
Personal Training
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ACE-CPT vs AFAA-CGFIACE-CPT vs NCCPT-CPTACE-GFI vs AFAA-CGFIACE-GFI vs NCCPT-CPTACSM-CPT vs AFAA-CGFIACSM-CPT vs NCCPT-CPTACTION-CPT vs AFAA-CGFIACTION-CPT vs NCCPT-CPTAFAA-CGFI vs IFPA-CPFTAFAA-CGFI vs IPTA CPTAFAA-CGFI vs NASM-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 · NCCPT Certified Personal Trainer
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