ACE/AFAA Group Ex and Personal Trainer Certs?

[amybatt]

Hey all,

I haven't been able to find an answer to this, but if you were to need Group Ex and Personal Trainer certifications, which would you get from either ACE or AFAA? I'm not concerned about cost or how easy one is over the other, but in terms of learning the most. I am thinking about this both in terms of possibly going for ACE's Clinical Exercise Specialist cert, (so I'd probably need the ACE PT cert anyway) and in case my club heads in the direction of needing one or both. I know from my searches here that a lot of you have already done these, so I'm just looking to see what you learned from each all in order to make a better decision. (ie -- what was the better experience?)

Thanks!

[yvonne]

FWIW, i'm going thru the CES course right now .. i've been ACE PT cert for 6 years. Technically, to get the cert you have to have a few prerequisites, like 115 hours of PT under your belt. Not sure how strictly they adhere to that policy.

There are a lot of good certificatons out there NASM, ACSM, ACE, etc. Best to find out if the club you'd like to train for has a preference before you begin.

ACE is an adequate "in the door" cert, but i can't really say it prepared me for actually training people in the practical sense. That took years of experience.

I'm AFAA Group exercise certified, and although i had no plans at the time to teach "aerobics" it was a good experience. the practical was actually more helpful than i thought it would be. So .. having said that, if the AFAA PT cert has a practical side to it, it might be a good way to go.

y.

[jsejt]

I'm studing for ACE PT right now. It's gonna take me to 2008 to get it done but I'm taking my time.

[veespin]

Since you're asking ACE or AFAA.....I'd answer ACE.

Way better study material.

Far easier to keep up with CECs.

Vivienne

[amybatt]

I'm studing for ACE PT right now. It's gonna take me to 2008 to get it done but I'm taking my time.

Shannon, what was it about ACE that made you pick it over AFAA?

Thanks for the info so far...it's helping!!!

[Kathleen H]

Has anyone thought of or has done group exercise from one accrediting body and personal trainer from the other? If I remember correctly you can get pt from one and group exercise instructor from the other. Would it be feasible to go "both" ways?

[jsejt]

Shannon, what was it about ACE that made you pick it over AFAA?

Thanks for the info so far...it's helping!!!

There are alot of people I know that have there ACE. I think I heard that the CEC's were harder with AFAA. There both very reputable certs I just personally wen't with ACE because I knew others that had been pleased with them. So far so good......

[amybatt]

Has anyone thought of or has done group exercise from one accrediting body and personal trainer from the other? If I remember correctly you can get pt from one and group exercise instructor from the other. Would it be feasible to go "both" ways?

This is what I was thinking about....in the event I ever think about applying for MI, I would need one from each (at least that's what the app says), so that's another factor.

FWIW, i'm going thru the CES course right now .. i've been ACE PT cert for 6 years. Technically, to get the cert you have to have a few prerequisites, like 115 hours of PT under your belt. Not sure how strictly they adhere to that policy.

How is the CES course? I think the prereqs have increased to 300 hours of PT for that one and it has to be proven by someone.

This is all great info, thanks!

[DanielleF]

Hey Amy,

MDA does not care what the certs are in, group ex, personal training, or nutrition. As long as you have one from ACE and one from AFAA.

Danielle

[amybatt]

MDA does not care what the certs are in, group ex, personal training, or nutrition. As long as you have one from ACE and one from AFAA.


Cool, that's good know! :D

[EuroD]

I have AFAA for my group ex, and again had no plan to teach aerobics/step or the like. It's a requirement of the clubs I teach at that you have to have a group ex. Both are recognized nationally, as are the others mentioned, ASCM, NASM, etc.

AFAA CEUs I found were easy. Attending a single conference had pretty much seen to that. All I did when I re-certed this past April was do a couple of online courses as you need AFAA courses for your re-cert.

It's six of one 1/2 dozen of another; I view it from what will get my foot in the door should I change clubs.