Credentials / American Council on Exercise

ACE Certified Health Coach

ACE-CHCcertificationverifiedby American Council on Exercise· Compare

Verified: this record was checked against its official source and the accreditor’s directory. Last verified 2026-09-03.

At a glance

Credential type

certification

Status

active

Target professional

Health coaches

Country

Official page

https://www.acefitness.org/fitness-certifications/default.aspx

Recertification page

unknown

Accreditation

accreditedNCCAaccredited through 2029-03-31

Confirmed against NCCA Accredited Program Directory (full listing) on 2026-09-03: American Council on Exercise | ACE Health Coach Certification | Health Coach Certification | NCCA | Accredited through 3/31/2029

Renewal & CEU requirements

2 yr

renewal cycle

CEUs per cycle

$129

renewal

Recertification required

yes

CEU unit system

ACE CEC (0.1 CEC = 1 hour of structured learning; 2.0 CECs = 20 hours)

Ethics requirement

yes

CPR/AED at renewal

yes

Deadline rule

Credential must be renewed every two years; all CECs must be completed between the start and end dates of the two-year renewal cycle shown in the My ACE account. Late renewal is possible up to 3 months ($169) and up to 6 months ($199) past expiration; more than 6 months past expiration requires contacting ACE support. Excess CECs do not roll over, and if the certification expires without completing CECs the exam must be retaken.

Four steps: (1) earn 20 hours (2.0 CECs) of ACE-approved continuing education within the two-year cycle, including at least 1 hour (0.1 CEC) in the Professional Conduct & Ethics category (required for renewals after 9/13/2023); (2) enter CECs in My ACE (ACE course CEP/CP/CA/CS/CL numbers auto-post or are manually entered); (3) maintain and update a current adult CPR/AED certificate (AED required in U.S./Canada; CPR, AED and First Aid each worth 0.2 CEC, up to 0.4 CECs noted for CPR/AED); (4) submit renewal in My ACE and pay the renewal fee. Courses cannot be repeated for credit; CECs count only in the cycle completed. Holders of multiple ACE credentials may apply the same CECs to each credential if completed within each credential's cycle, but each credential requires its own renewal fee. CEC Power Pass offers unlimited CECs and free credential renewal.

CEU recognition

American Council on Exercise (ACE) — petition accepted
Non-ACE-approved courses already completed may be petitioned for CECs via My ACE ($25 non-refundable fee per course, reviewed within 30 days). Course must be within the ACE Scope of Practice, taken within the current renewal cycle, and taught by instructors meeting credential qualifications. Education from another licensed field (e.g., dietetics, PT) outside ACE scope is not accepted. Petitions also accepted for Professional Conduct & Ethics courses.
Accredited colleges/universities (college coursework) — accepts ceus from
College course completed within the renewal cycle with grade of 'C' or higher and within ACE Scope of Practice may be petitioned; maximum 2.0 CECs (certification prep college course max 0.5 CEC). One semester hour = 1.0 CEC; one quarter hour = 0.8 CEC. Only one submission reviewed.
ACE-Approved Continuing Education Providers (voluntary ACE approval program) — approved ceu provider
ACE approves individual courses from third-party providers; approved courses carry an ACE course code (CEP/CP/CA/CS/CL) and are listed in the ACE Pre-Approved Course Directory. Instructors must hold a relevant degree or a current NCCA-accredited exercise/health coach certification (ACE, AAPTE, ACTION, ACSM, AFAA-CGFI, CSCCa, IFPA, NASM, NCCPT, NCSF, NESTA, NETA, NFPT, NSCA, PMA, PTAG, WITS), E-RYT (yoga only), or a license/NCCA-accredited certification in a health-related profession.

Sources (7)

https://www.acefitness.org/fitness-certifications/recertification/tier 1 primary
official recertification handbook · retrieved 2026-09-03
Schedule Your ACE Certification Examtier 1 primary
official provider page · retrieved 2026-09-02
https://www.acefitness.org/about-ace/press-room/press-releases/8266/ace-elevates-standards-for-certified-professionals-through-new-recertification-requirement/tier 1 primary
official recertification handbook · retrieved 2026-09-03
Best Certifications Onlinetier 1 primary
official provider page · retrieved 2026-09-02
https://www.acefitness.org/faqs/tier 1 primary
official recertification handbook · retrieved 2026-09-03
https://www.acefitness.org/fitness-certifications/health-coach-certification/default.aspxtier 1 primary
official recertification handbook · retrieved 2026-09-03
NCCA Accredited Certification Programs Directory — full listing (311 programs), Institute for Credentialing Excellencetier 2 authoritative registry
accreditation directory · retrieved 2026-09-03

Latest verification activity: initial verification → confirmed (2026-09-03) · reverification → confirmed (2026-09-03) · reverification → confirmed (2026-09-03) · initial verification → confirmed (2026-09-02)