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Home / Education / Personal Trainer Certifications / ACE Certified Personal Trainer
8.8 Tested Aug 25, 2026 by Team RankingRight

ACE Certified Personal Trainer (Basic / Plus) review 2026

A nonprofit certification with strong behaviour-change coaching, wide employer acceptance and a lower price than NASM

PriceFrom $675 · checked Sep 11, 2026
Real cost to certify675 $
NCCAYes

Is the ACE Certified Personal Trainer Worth It?

Best value among the big names. ACE gets you the same doors as NASM for less money and teaches the part most new trainers are worst at — keeping clients. Its programming guidance is looser.

ACE Certified Personal Trainer Pros & Cons

Pros
  • $224 less than NASM and nearly as widely recognised
  • The behaviour-change material is the best here for real clients who do not turn up
  • Nonprofit; strong reputation with health systems and hospitals
  • Free study resources beyond the package
Cons
  • Programming material is less prescriptive than NASM's OPT model
  • Retake is $249 on the Basic package
  • Recertification costs more than NASM's

ACE Certified Personal Trainer at a Glance

8.8 Editor Score
Accreditation & employer recognitionWhether the certification is NCCA-accredited (what most US gyms require), and which employers list it by name in job postings.
29/30
Study materialDepth and currency of the textbook and course, practice questions, video, and how well it prepared us for the exam we sat.
22/25
Exam & supportProctoring options, retake cost and policy, published pass rates, tutor and mentor access.
13/15
Career supportJob boards, business training, insurance partnerships, continuing-education paths and specialisations.
9/10
ValueTotal real cost to become certified — package, exam fee, first recertification — not the headline price.
15/20
Reader ratingNo reader ratings yet — not part of the score
–
Own one? Rate it:

Rubric v1: Accreditation & employer recognition 30 · Study material 25 · Exam & support 15 · Career support 10 · Value 20. Score = Σ ÷ 10, locked Sep 11, 2026. How we rank.

Where to buy — prices checked Sep 11, 2026

ACE — $675

Best priceVisit Site

ACE Certified Personal Trainer specifications

NCCA accreditedYes
Entry package675 USD
Our real total to certify675 USD
Exam fee if bought alone499 USD
Retake$249 (free on Plus)
Prerequisites18+, high-school diploma, CPR/AED
Self-pacedYes
Recertification$129 + 2.0 CECs every 2 years
Valid for2 years

Why it scored 8.8

ACE gets you the same doors as NASM for less money and teaches the part most new trainers are worst at — keeping clients. Its programming guidance is looser.

Where it loses

Programming structure.

Still the right pick for

Trainers who will coach real, reluctant humans.

ACE Certified Personal Trainer8.8 · $675
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