That's up to you! Most people study for around 3-6 months, though many study for longer. One thing to keep in mind is that your exam voucher has a redemption period of 6-months. While you can choose an exam date that's outside of the 6-month redemption period, you'll have to register for the exam before your voucher expires. Most exam sites and online proctoring may post available dates approximately 60 days in advance.

While there are no prerequisites to purchasing a study program, keep in mind that before you can register for the ACE Group Fitness Instructor Exam, you must:

• Be at least 18 years of age
• Hold a current adult CPR and AED certificate with hands-on (in-person or virtual) skills check.* CPR/AED courses without skills check not accepted.
  • *AED only required in USA and Canada
• Have completed high school or the equivalent

See our approved CPR/AED certification training here.

Depending on which Study Program you choose, based on how you like to learn, you'll have the option of learning through:

1. A digital textbook (Basic)
2. A hardcopy and digital textbook (Plus)
3. A hardcopy, digital and audiobook version of the textbook (Advantage)

With all Study Programs, you'll have access to ACE University (our core learning platform) and practice test(s).

With the Plus Study Program, you'll have access to three practice tests and to Live Q&A Webinars.

And with the Advantage Study Program you have access to four practice tests, Live Q&A Webinars, Section Quizzes and Exercise Science 101.

While most people do pass the exam on their first time, it's perfectly okay if you don't! Here are some steps you can take if you need to retake your certification exam:

1. Determine if you have a retake voucher, which you can find in your MyACE Account. If you don't have one, you can purchase an additional exam at a discounted retake fee via MyACE or by contacting one of our ACE Advisors. This price is valid for one year after your initial test date.
2. When choosing a date to retake the exam, we recommend giving yourself about one week of review time for every ten points you are away from a passing score. So if your score is 480 out of a possible 800, for example, (meaning you're 20 points away from the minimum passing score of 500), allow about two weeks of review before your next exam.
3. Reflect on your performance and consider any exam topics you felt underprepared to tackle.
4. Review your exam score report and compare your domain performance to the Exam Content Outline. Review each domain and determine what areas need improvement.
5. Use all your study materials, including videos and exercises, to help build confidence for the exam. Because no two people learn alike, we've provided study material in many different formats, so be sure to use all the resources available to you!
6. Consider what went well during your initial studies and what you might do differently.
7. Create a game plan for everything you want to do before you retake the exam. Writing down your plan may help create accountability.
8. Join the ACE Study Coaches for a live Q&A Webinar to get your specific questions answered.

After becoming an ACE Certified Group Fitness Instructor, you'll have a strong foundational understanding of how to lead, instruct, and design classes across a wide range of modalities. Many ACE Certified Pros also choose to continue their education by taking additional courses that focus on just one modality, such as Indoor Cycling, Yoga, or Pilates, just to name a few.

CELEBRATE! You've now joined the highly respected ranks of 90,000+ ACE Certified Pros and hold the most recognized certification in the industry. Plus, we'll be providing support and guidance throughout your career, so you'll have access to the exclusive tools and resources you need to thrive as a health and fitness pro. Learn more about why it's great to be ACE Certified here.

No, provided you stay current on your continuing education credits (CECs) and renew on time. That means completing 20 hours of ACE-Approved CECs (2.0 CECs) during your two-year certification renewal cycles, or about 10 hours (1.0 CECs) per year. However, if you don't complete your 2.0 CECs and your certification expires, you will have to retake the exam. To avoid that scenario, check out our continuing education catalog and consider signing up for the CEC Power Pass.