Earning an accredited certification is the crucial first step to becoming a personal trainer or fitness professional. Two major certifying organizations are NCSF and ACE – but which one is better to help you achieve your career goals?
This detailed NCSF vs. ACE comparison examines all the key factors to consider:
- Certification cost and value
- Exam structure and pass rates
- Continuing education requirements
- Career support and job placement help
- Reputation with employers
- Recognition and legitimacy
Read on for an in-depth look at how NCSF and ACE certifications stack up.
A Brief Comparison Table
| Feature | NCSF | ACE |
| Cost | $429 + study materials | $899 + materials |
| Exam Length | 4 hours | 2 hours 20 minutes |
| Exam Pass Rate | 65% first attempt | 90% first attempt |
| Continuing Education | 20 CEUs every 2 years | 2 CEUs annually |
| Employer Recognition | Low, <15% require/prefer | High, 70% require/prefer |
| Career Support | Limited job board | Extensive support and tools |
| Accreditation | DEAC | NCCA, ANSI |
| Recertification | Every 2 years, $99 fee | Every 3 years, $129+ fee |
| Overall Reputation | Budget-friendly basics | Gold standard for career prep |
Overview Of NCSF And ACE Certification Programs
NCSF and ACE are two prominent non-profit organizations providing fitness education and certifications.
National Council on Strength and Fitness (NCSF) was founded in 2003 with the mission to protect consumers and spotlight qualified professionals. They offer several tiers of personal trainer certifications.
American Council on Exercise (ACE) has been certifying fitness pros since 1986. Beyond trainer credentials, they provide consulting services and promote physical activity for public health.
At first glance, NCSF and ACE seem quite similar. But peek beneath the surface, and some key differences emerge that can impact your career.
Comparison Between NCSF And ACE Certification Programs
Certification Cost and Value
The investment required to gain certification inevitably affects your decision. Here’s how NCSF and ACE compare:
NCSF Personal Trainer Certification costs a reasonable $429. Extra study materials are available for $150-$300.
ACE Personal Trainer Certification runs $899. Study guides and practice exams cost $149-$399 more.
So NCSF is significantly cheaper upfront. But let’s break down what’s included with each:
NCSF gives you:
- Study guide and online study portal access
- Full practice exams
- One exam attempt
ACE provides:
- Textbook, online study materials and videos
- One exam attempt
- Access to continuing education for recertification
Overall, ACE delivers substantially higher value for the higher price tag. The lifetime access to CE courses to maintain your credential is especially valuable.
NCSF Vs. ACE Certification: Exam Structure and Pass Rate
The makeup of the certification exam also differs between organizations.
The NCSF-CPT exam features:
- 200 multiple choice questions
- 4-hour time limit
- 70% pass score
The test covers principles like biomechanics, nutrition, program design and more.
By contrast, the ACE exam consists of:
- 150 multiple choice questions
- 2 hours 20 minutes limit
- Passing score not disclosed
The shorter ACE test emphasizes recall and application of concepts rather than memorization.
For pass rates, NCSF sees 65% pass on first attempt, while ACE’s pass rate averages an impressive 90%. The higher ACE exam standards produce qualified trainers.
Continuing Education Requirements
Maintaining your certification requires completing continuing education (CE) regularly:
- NCSF mandates 20 CEUs every 2 years. Their courses cost ~$15-$25 per CEU.
- ACE needs 2 CEUs per year. You can use their free courses plus external training.
ACE recertification is simpler and cheaper thanks to free in-house education. NCSF’s recerts cost $300+ every 2 years.
Certification Recognition and Acceptance
The reputation your credential holds with employers also matters.
According to recent surveys, ACE Certification is vastly more recognized and requested.
Around 70% of fitness employers require or prefer ACE certification. Less than 14% favor or require NCSF credentials.
So while NCSF trains qualified personal trainers, ACE certification far better communicates your skills to prospective employers.
Read More: Comparison Between Lose It And Lifesum.
Career Support Services
Helpful career placement services give you a hiring edge as a newly certified trainer:
NCSF provides:
- Job board with openings from gym partners
- Discounts on liability insurance
ACE offers significantly more support:
- Resume reviews and interview advice
- Online database of gyms hiring ACE trainers
- Free $1 million liability insurance
- Marketing templates and content
- Ongoing workshops and education
ACE invests far more into advancing their certified pros’ careers. Their training and tools empower you to actively market yourself as an ACE trainer.
Reputation and Accreditation
Organizational reputation also signals certification legitimacy:
- NCSF is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission. But they’re a lesser known new player in fitness education.
- ACE has been established for 35+ years. They’re accredited by the NCCA and ANSI for meeting gold standard requirements.
Plus, ACE is endorsed by top industry groups like IDEA, NSCA, and NAFC. NCSF has no such endorsements.
So hiring managers view ACE as the far more authoritative certification body.
Certification Focus and Specializations
The focus and supplemental credentials provided can also guide your choice.
NCSF emphasizes correct form and injury prevention. Specialty certs in areas like nutrition and senior fitness cost extra.
ACE takes a balanced approach covering all facets of training. Their bundles integrate targeted specializations:
- Health Coach program adds nutrition, lifestyle and motivational skills.
- Medical exercise builds expertise for training clients with chronic conditions.
So ACE allows you to expand your offerings and clientele within one bundle.
Certification Renewal and CEUs
Once certified, you must complete CEUs and renew the credential periodically.
We already covered the CEU differences earlier. For recertification timing:
- NCSF certs expire after 2 years. Renewal costs $99.
- ACE renews every 3 years. Renewal runs $129-$349 depending on current CE status.
The longer ACE renewal terms are more beginner-friendly, giving you time to establish your training business. The $99 biennial NCSF renewal nickel-and-dimes new trainers.
Pros And Cons Of NCSF And ACE
To summarize the key trade-offs:
NCSF Certification Pros:
- Affordable initial investment
- Strong focus on biomechanics and injury prevention
- Clearly communicates foundational personal training skills
NCSF Cons:
- Lesser known credential with low employer demand
- Very limited career support
- More frequent, costly recertification requirements
ACE Certification Pros:
- World-renowned with high employer preference
- Comprehensive education materials and exam prep
- Generous recert timing and free CEUs
- Robust career placement services
ACE Cons:
- Higher upfront cost
- More demanding exam with lower first-time pass rate
Overall, the superior reputation, tools, and ongoing support make ACE the winner for career preparation and job opportunities.
But NCSF remains a quality foundational certification, just with less employer recognition.
Also Read: Comparison Between NFPT And NASM Fitness Certification.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Yes, NCSF is a legitimate certification accredited by the DEAC. Their curriculum covers all the essential areas to gain core training competencies. So they are credible for foundational knowledge.
The main issue is low employer awareness of NCSF. So even though the education is sound, the NCSF credential itself doesn’t carry as much real-world credibility and career power.
ACE and NASM are widely considered the most challenging certifications, with lower first-time pass rates on exams. This results from their comprehensive content and testing focus on recall and application rather than just memorization.
Earning a respected ACE or NASM certification proves you can master complex training concepts, not just memorize terms. So increased difficulty improves career upside by better communicating abilities.
ACE and NASM have similar pass rates around 80-90%, so neither is clearly harder in terms of exam difficulty and passing threshold.
The NSCA CSCS certification is likely the overall most difficult. The heavy focus on hard sciences and extremely low pass rate under 55% make it the toughest widely-recognized fitness credential.
The key differences between NASM and NCSF certifications include:
NASM has high prestige and preference among employers. NCSF has low brand recognition.
NASM provides robust career support like resume help and job boards. NCSF lacks placement services.
NASM costs over $500-$800. NCSF runs under $500 total.
NASM recertifies every 2 years. NCSF renews every year.
So NASM gives your career a major boost with recognized elite training. NCSF teaches skills at a budget price, but won’t advance your job prospects much.
Expert Recommendations
Most fitness mentors advise:
- Pursue NCSF if you want a budget-friendly way to gain core personal training knowledge. It builds great skills – just has limited real-world career upside.
- Invest in ACE certification if you plan to actively work as a trainer long-term. The credibility, marketing education, and job matching services are invaluable for employability.
- Alternatively, start with NCSF for solid PT fundamentals, then add ACE later once established to expand opportunities.
So approach NCSF as vocational training, while ACE prepares you for an in-demand fitness career. Choose wisely based on your career direction.