Credentials / American Council on Exercise

ACE Certified Group Fitness Instructor

ACE-GFIcertificationverifiedby American Council on Exercise· Compare
Verified: this record was checked against its official source and the accreditor’s directory. Last verified 2026-09-03. 12 sources on file.

At a glance

Credential type
certification
Status
active
Target professional
Group fitness instructors
Country
US
Official page
https://www.acefitness.org/fitness-certifications/group-fitness-certification/default.aspx
Recertification page
unknown
Categories
Personal Training

Accreditation

accreditedNCCAaccredited through 2029-03-31· confirmed in the accreditor’s directory 2026-09-03
Confirmed against NCCA Accredited Program Directory (full listing) on 2026-09-03: American Council on Exercise | ACE-GFI | Group Fitness Instructor | NCCA | Accredited through 3/31/2029

Eligibility & examination

Eligibility

Minimum age
18
Education
Must have completed high school (or the equivalent)
Degree required
no
Experience
unknown
CPR/AED
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).

These are the prerequisites to sit for the NCCA-accredited ACE Group Fitness Instructor Certification Exam. There are no prerequisites to purchase a study program, and purchasing ACE study material is not required to register for the exam. (The separate, non-accredited ACE Group Fitness Instruction Certificate exam requires only age 16+ and current CPR/AED with live skills check.)

Examination

Format
In-person proctored exam at a testing location or online via Live Remote Proctor (Meazure Learning/ProctorU); multiple choice
Online exam
yes
Testing center
yes
Length
180 minutes
Questions
150
Passing score
Score of 500 or greater (scaled)
Attempts included
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.

Initial certification costs

  • $479 — Basic Study Program (list price)
  • $239.50 — Basic Study Program (50% off promotional price)
  • $639 — Plus Study Program (list price)
  • $319.50 — Plus Study Program (promotional price)
  • $839 — Advantage Study Program (list price)
  • $419.50 — Advantage Study Program (promotional price)

Renewal & CEU requirements

2 yr
renewal cycle
2
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; 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.

Renewal requires 20 hours (2.0 CECs) of ACE-Approved continuing education per two-year cycle, including at least 1 hour (0.1 CEC) in the Professional Conduct & Ethics category (effective 9/13/23), a current adult CPR/AED certificate (AED required in US/Canada), and payment of a renewal fee submitted via My ACE Account. Excess CECs do not roll over; the same course cannot be repeated for credit. CECs may be applied across multiple ACE credentials if completed while each credential's cycle is current, but each credential requires its own renewal fee. CPR/AED/First Aid renewal earns 0.2 CEC each (up to 0.4 CECs noted on renewal page). CEC Power Pass advertised as including unlimited CECs and free credential renewal.

CEU recognition

  • American Council on Exercise (ACE) — petition accepted
    Courses not yet ACE-Approved can be petitioned for CECs ($25 non-refundable fee per course, submitted via My ACE Account); must be within ACE Scope of Practice, taken within the current renewal cycle, and taught by instructors meeting credential qualifications. Accredited college/university courses may be petitioned (grade of 'C' or higher; max 2.0 CECs; cert-prep college course max 0.5 CEC). Petitions also accepted to satisfy the Professional Conduct & Ethics requirement.
  • ACE-Approved Continuing Education Providers (ACE Pre-Approved Course Directory) — approved ceu provider
    Pre-approved courses carry an ACE course number (CEP/CP/CA/CS/CL format) entered in My ACE Account; provider approval is voluntary and valid Jan 1–Dec 31 of the reviewed year.

Pathway

What this credential requires

All of:
  • AgeAt least 18 years old
  • EducationHigh school diploma or equivalent
  • CPR/AEDCurrent CPR/AED certification with a live skills check
  • OtherCurrent government-issued photo ID with signature

Open in Pathways →

Sources (12)

Latest verification activity: reverification → confirmed (2026-10-03) · reverification → confirmed (2026-10-03) · reverification → confirmed (2026-09-07) · initial verification → confirmed (2026-09-06) · reverification → confirmed (2026-09-06)

Look up a credential before you pay for it.

Browsing the register is free. Plans add tracking, alerts and team tools.

Search the registerSee pricing →