Compare
AFAA-CGFI vs W.I.T.S. CPT
AFAA Certified Group Fitness Instructor from Athletics and Fitness Association of America and Certified Personal Trainer Level I from World Instructor Training Schools, 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 10 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
2027-09-30
Target professional
Group fitness instructors
Entry-level 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
Minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent (e.g., 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
Two-part: 100 multiple-choice written exam plus a performance-based (practical) exam
Question count
120
unknown
Time limit
120 minutes
120 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 retake a failed exam (written or practical) a maximum of two times in a 12-month period.
Exam / application fees
unknown
$450 exam fee
Renewal required
yes
yes
Renewal cycle
2 years
2 years
CEUs per cycle
1.5
10
CEU unit system
AFAA CEU (contact-hour based: 1 contact hour = 0.1 CEU; 1.5 CEUs = 15 contact hours)
CEC
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, Exercise Physiology, Movement Assessment
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Related comparisons
ACE-CPT vs AFAA-CGFIACE-CPT vs W.I.T.S. CPTACE-GFI vs AFAA-CGFIACE-GFI vs W.I.T.S. CPTACSM-CPT vs AFAA-CGFIACSM-CPT vs W.I.T.S. CPTACTION-CPT vs AFAA-CGFIACTION-CPT vs W.I.T.S. CPTAFAA-CGFI vs IFPA-CPFTAFAA-CGFI vs IPTA CPTAFAA-CGFI vs NASM-CPTAFAA-CGFI vs NCCPT-CPTAFAA-CGFI vs NCSF-CPTAFAA-CGFI vs NESTA PFTAFAA-CGFI vs NETA-CGEIAFAA-CGFI vs NETA-CPT
Full records: AFAA Certified Group Fitness Instructor · Certified Personal Trainer Level I
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