Your ACE personal trainer certification has enabled you to pursue and obtain your dream job. You’ve been crushing it in the fitness community. But your certification is approaching expiration, which has you wondering, “How do I renew my ACE certification?” We’ve done the research so you don’t have to.
Frequently Asked Questions About ACE Renewal
Before we move on to the steps you’ll need to take to renew your ACE certification, we’ll answer some of your burning questions:
When Do I Have to Renew My ACE Certification?
You have to renew your ACE certification every two years. Ideally, you’ll renew it before the expiration date, so that you can do so without incurring additional charges. However, it’s possible to renew your certification even if it has already expired.
Do I Have to Retake the Exam to Renew My ACE Certification?
No, you won’t have to retake the exam. However, you will have to earn 2.0 continuing education credits by taking CEC online courses. Each course is attributed to a certain amount of points (as low as 0.1 or as high as 1.5).
My CPR/AED Certification Expired. Do I Have to Renew It Before Renewing My ACE Certification?
You have to be CPR/AED certified in order to hold an ACE certification. Not only does this apply to when you first become a personal trainer. It also applies to when you renew your certification. If your CPR/AED certification has expired, you’ll have to renew that before you can renew your ACE certification.
How Much Does It Cost to Renew My ACE Certification?
It pays to renew your certification on time or early. While it is possible to renew your certification late, you’ll incur an additional charge. To renew one certification, the on-time charge is $129. If you have multiple certifications through ACE, don’t panic yet — they give you a discount depending on how many certifications you hold with them. To renew two certifications, it’s $69 each; to renew three, it’s $59 each; to renew four, it’s $49 each.
If you’re three to five months late renewing, you’ll be charged for $169 per certification. If you’re six month late or more, it’s $199 each.
Steps to Renew Your ACE Certification
All that being said though, it’s actually pretty easy to renew your ACE certification — considerably easier than getting it in the first place. You don’t have to retake the exam or pay for expensive study materials. Here are the four easy steps to take to renew your certification.
Step 1: Sign in to Your My ACE Account
Easy peasy. Start by signing in to your My ACE Account to gain access to your renewal requirements. You’ll be able to browse continuing education courses through this portal. If you can’t remember your login information, there are links on the sign in page that can help you. Click “forgot email address” if you don’t even know where to start with your login. If you know your email, but none of your usual password variations are working, click “forgot password.” You’ll be back in your account in no time.
Step 2: Renew Your CPR Certification If It Has Expired
If your CPR certification has expired, then you’ll have to renew it before you can renew your ACE certification. The process for renewing your CPR certification will depend on where you were certified, but if you got it through Red Cross, you’ll need to find a class near you. You can complete the renewal course online but only partially; even if you’re supplementing your renewal course digitally, you’ll still have to go to an in-person class on occasion.
Step 3: Earn 2.0 Continuing Education Credits
Instead of taking an exam, this time you’ll just take some online courses to ensure your knowledge of fitness, nutrition, and any other relevant subject matter stays fresh. You’ll have to pay a fee to take each course. Some courses are fairly cheap (starting at $19.95), but they won’t earn you very many credits. Remember, you have to earn 2.0 credits in order to be eligible to renew your certification.
Topics you can study:
- Active Aging
- Behavior Change
- Business
- Cardiovascular Training
- Corrective Exercise
- Disease Considerations
- Exercise Science
- Group Fitness
- Lifestyle Medicine
- Weight Management
- Nutrition
- Program Design
- Strength Training
- Women’s Health
- Youth
Step 4: Complete RECERTIFY NOW Online Form
Once you’ve completed your continuing education courses and accrued 2.0 credits, you’re basically in the clear. All that’s left to do is complete the RECERTIFY NOW online form, which is when you’ll pay the renewal fee(s).
Congrats on Your ACE Certification Renewal! Now What?
Renewing your certification is a great opportunity for you to reflect on your career. Don’t think of this process as just returning to baseline. This is your chance to scan your skills and certifications and see if you can grow your credentials. How else can you set yourself apart as a personal trainer? What can you do to help even more people become the healthiest version of themselves?
Courses you can take through Strong Education
- Level 1 Special Needs Personal Trainer Certification: This course helps you learn the underlying causes of emotional meltdowns in your clients. Understanding the causes can help you devise a workout program that can quell your clients’ anxiety, making meltdowns less likely.
- Level 2 Special Needs Personal Trainer Certification: Exercise is a major component in neuroplasticity. When you help people with special needs attain their fitness goals, you’re also helping them grow and improve cognitive function.
- Special Needs Group Fitness Instructor Certification: If you want to be able to help more than one special needs client at a time, then get certified in as a group fitness instructor. We’ll cover different workouts that would be beneficial to this new clientele.
Strong Education teaches personal trainers and service providers on how to adapt fitness and nutrition for children, adolescents, and adults with autism, Down Syndrome, and other disabilities through our online adaptive special needs certification course.