Credentials / Athletics and Fitness Association of America

AFAA Personal Fitness Trainer Certification

AFAA-PFTcertificationverifiedby Athletics and Fitness Association of America· Compare
Verified: this record was checked against its official source. Last verified 2026-09-03. 7 sources on file.

At a glance

Credential type
certification
Status
active
Target professional
Personal fitness trainers
Country
US
Official page
https://www.afaa.com/courses/personal-fitness-trainer
Recertification page
unknown
Categories
Personal Training

Accreditation

No accreditation on record — status unknown. Absence of a claim is recorded honestly rather than guessed.

Eligibility & examination

Eligibility

Minimum age
unknown
Education
unknown
Degree required
unknown
Experience
unknown
CPR/AED
yes
Other prerequisites
A valid photo ID and current CPR/AED certification are required at the time of the exam; certification is awarded upon passing the online exam and providing proof of current CPR/AED certification. Program must be completed within one (1) year of enrollment date. Testing equipment: webcam, microphone, internet connection.

The AFAA exam-information page eligibility statements (high school diploma or equivalent; current CPR/AED) are stated for the Group Fitness Instructor exam, not explicitly for the PFT.

Examination

Format
Independently monitored and authenticated online exam, 120 multiple-choice questions; normally taken at an in-person proctoring location, with an online at-home option offered under a pilot program (described as NCCA-accredited)
Online exam
yes
Testing center
yes
Length
unknown
Questions
120
Passing score
unknown
Attempts included
unknown
Retake policy
unknown

Initial certification costs

  • $499 — Personal Fitness Trainer Certification program (textbook not included)
  • $79 — Personal Fitness Trainer textbook (Personal Fitness Training: Theory & Practice) - sold separately

Renewal & CEU requirements

2 yr
renewal cycle
15
CEUs per cycle
$99
renewal
Recertification required
yes
CEU unit system
AFAA contact hours ("A minimum 15 contact hours is required for recertification"; 2 contact hours = 0.2 CEUs, i.e. 1.0 CEU = 10 contact hours)
Ethics requirement
unknown
CPR/AED at renewal
yes
Deadline rule
Contact hours/CEUs must be completed within 2 years (24 months) of the certificate date / application date; renewal application due by certificate expiration date, with a late fee for applications received 1-180 days after expiration.

Two-year renewal cycle. AFAA PGE/PFT renewal applications require a minimum of 15 contact hours earned within 24 months, of which 2 contact hours must come from an AFAA or NASM course. Hands-on CPR/AED certification is mandatory (Category D; worth 1-2 contact hours depending on form version) and a copy of the front and back of the card must be submitted. CEU categories: A (AFAA workshops/courses and authorized CE providers), B (industry contributions), C (accredited onsite college/university coursework in accepted subjects, credited at 2x college credit), D (CPR/AED). Current AFAA site states "at least 1.5 approved hours of continuing education during each of your two-year certification renewal cycles" (apparently 1.5 CEUs = 15 contact hours) and directs users to the NASM-AFAA Recertification Handbook and the online Recertification Portal, where fees are paid. Non-payment/"Not in Good Standing" status blocks recertification.

CEU recognition

  • AFAA authorized Continuing Education Providers (Category A) — approved ceu provider
    AFAA workshops/courses and authorized CE providers count as Category A; certificate of completion required
  • NASM — accepts ceus from
    At least 2 contact hours of the 15 must be from an AFAA or NASM course; NASM/AFAA courses auto-populate in the Recertification Portal
  • Accredited colleges and universities (Category C) — accepts ceus from
    Onsite accredited college/university courses in Anatomy, Exercise Physiology, Sports Psychology, Nutrition, Kinesiology and/or Physical Therapy; AFAA units equal 2x the college credit; official transcript required
  • AFAA (CEU Petition Application for activities outside Categories A-D) — petition accepted
    CEU credits not fitting the listed categories require completion of the AFAA CEU Petition Application
  • CPR/AED providers (American Heart Association, American Red Cross, American Safety and Health Institute; ASTI, Emergency Care & Safety Institute) — accepts ceus from
    Mandatory hands-on CPR/AED certification counted as Category D contact hours

Sources (7)

Latest verification activity: initial verification → confirmed (2026-09-07) · reverification → confirmed (2026-09-06) · initial verification → confirmed (2026-09-06) · initial verification → confirmed (2026-09-04) · reverification → confirmed (2026-09-03)

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