ACE CPT
ACE Certified Personal Trainer (NCCA-accredited) Exam
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ExploreAbout this exam
The ACE Certified Personal Trainer exam is the NCCA-accredited credential exam administered by the American Council on Exercise, and it is the more rigorous of the two personal training exams ACE offers. It is designed for candidates who intend to make personal training a career and who need a credential employers and facilities recognize, rather than the open-book, non-accredited ACE Personal Training Certificate. The proctored exam is 150 multiple-choice questions delivered in three hours, and a scaled score of 500 or greater is required to pass. Questions test applied decision-making across the trainer's professional scope: the role and ethics of a personal trainer within the healthcare continuum, client-centered communication, behavior-change coaching and goal setting, health and fitness assessments such as heart rate, blood pressure and circumference measurements, program design and progression through the ACE Integrated Fitness Training (IFT) Model, modifications for clients with special conditions or at different life stages, and professional, legal and risk-management responsibilities. Candidates must be at least 18, hold a high school diploma or equivalent, and hold a current adult CPR/AED certificate with a hands-on skills check. Most candidates spend three to six months preparing using the textbook, practice tests, and video and lecture resources.
What you'll study
About ACE CPT preparation
How is the NCCA-accredited exam different from the ACE Certificate exam?
They are separate exams. The ACE Personal Training Certificate Exam is non-proctored, open-book, 100 questions, 3 hours, unlimited attempts, and requires 70% or greater; it is a non-accredited certificate program. The NCCA-accredited exam is proctored, 150 questions, 3 hours, requires 500 or greater, and is offered as a $99 optional add-on with study programs.
What are the eligibility requirements to sit for the exam?
You must be at least 18 years old, have completed a high school diploma or the equivalent, hold a current adult CPR and AED certificate with hands-on (in-person or virtual) skills check, and present a current government-issued photo ID with signature. CPR/AED courses without a skills check are not accepted, and AED is only required in the US, Canada and Mexico.
What is the exam format and time limit?
It is 150 multiple-choice questions with 3 hours to complete. You can choose an in-person proctored exam at a testing location or an online exam with a Live Remote Proctor. Exam results and digital certificate delivery are instant.
Can I take the exam from home?
Yes, through Live Remote Proctoring, which is administered in English only. After registering you have 60 days to complete the exam, and you must test in a private room with a table or desk and chair, with your back to the door, using a webcam. Breaks, including restroom breaks, are not permitted, and iPads, Chromebooks, tablets and work- or school-issued devices are not accepted.
How long should I plan to study before testing?
ACE reports that most candidates finish the study program within three to six months, though timing depends on your chosen exam type, study habits and schedule. Build in time for practice tests and review of incorrect answers, since the feedback on those items shows exactly where to redirect your studying.
What score do I need, and what happens if I fall short?
You need a scaled score of 500 or greater. A retake is available. When scheduling it, allow approximately one week of review time for every ten points below the passing score, so a 480 (20 points below 500) calls for about two weeks of review. ACE also recommends comparing your score report by domain against the Exam Content Outline.
What is the most common way candidates underprepare?
Skipping the domain-level review. ACE's retake guidance tells candidates to review the score report and compare performance in each domain to the Exam Content Outline, then target the weak areas. Reading the textbook cover to cover without taking practice tests, or ignoring feedback on missed practice items, leaves those gaps intact on exam day.
Is the exam fee included in the study program?
No. ACE lists the NCCA-accredited exam as an optional add-on available for $99.00 with all study programs, and states that the exam fee is not included in the study program price. Register and pay through your My ACE Account.
Do I have to retake the exam to renew my certification?
No, provided you stay current on continuing education credits and renew on time. That means completing 20 hours of ACE-Approved CECs (2.0 CECs) during your two-year certification renewal cycle, or about 10 hours (1.0 CECs) per year. If your certification expires, you must retake the exam.
How much time do I have per question?
With 150 questions in 3 hours, you average about 72 seconds per question. That is tight enough that guessing and returning is usually better than stalling on a single item; flag hard questions, answer everything, and use remaining time to revisit flagged items.