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Deciding between ACE or AFAA... or a better option...

by ang
(WV)

I was wondering if anyone could give me advice on which certification is better. The ACE or AFAA? Or if you would recommend something else? I am all about fitness and love to work out and get other people in shape. I wouldn't mind being a fitness instructor or work one-on-one with people to reach their goals. I am signed up to take a 6 week course for ACE, but just recently saw a 3 day course for AFAA... i didn't want to waste my time on the 6 week program if i didn't have to. Let me know what you'll think!
Thanks!

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ACE of course
by: LC

ACE and AFAA are two different things. ACE is a lot more recognize than AFAA because it requires more study and science knowledge. There are different certifications from ACE. If you want to be a personal trainer go for ACE (in this case). AFAA is not very recognize for personal training and is even consider an easy certification to get because it is more hangs on than knowledge (and that is not good).

Here are the top 5 certifications (Personal trainer not specialist)

ACSM
NASM
NSCA
ISSA
ACE

Good Luck

LC

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AFAA is great
by: Anonymous

I would disagree with your comment on AFAA. I am certified by both AFAA and ACE and I learned much more from my weekend with AFFA than studying alone for the ACE test. AFAA has re-vamped their book and the kinesiology and anatomy portions are great for a beginning trainer. I do not think it was easy at all. I honestly think both are great beginning certifications and think our time spent should not be spent judging the quality certifications, but on the fly-by-the-night certifications you can spend $45 on and get your certification printed on-line.

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disagree
by: Anonymous

I also disagree with the first comment. Even though most say that ACE is more "recognized" I learned WAY more with AFAA not because the material is "easier" but its easier to study. With ACE i was constantly searching for the right answer and the test is more concerned with "tricking you" than actually helping you understand the material. AFAA is outlined and hands-on. I don't know about you but i learn more when everything is clearly outlined and actually comprehensive. Also, it makes more since to have a practical exam along with a written exam for any group X or personal training certification. Any smart person can take the ACE exam but are they actually in the proper condition to be a Group X instructor or a personal trainer?

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Fist Comment Correct
by: Anonymous

ACE IS ABSOLUTELY BETTER. DONT LISTEN TO ME, LIST TO ALL THE OTHER INDIVIDUALS. RESEARCH AND ALL OF YOU WILL EDUCATE YOURSELVES THAT ACE IS FAR SUPERIOR

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trying to choose myself
by: Anonymous

i have decided to become a PT also, and i was having the same complication, ace or afaa. I have decided to go with afaa, simply because with ace you have a written exam and no required workshop. just you and a book. with afaa you also have a written exam but you have a (as i like to call it)"get up and prove it" exam. so you start with the book and study guide, and then you schedule a workshop where you have hands on help (not just reading from a book hoping you get it right), and then you take two exams. afaa is thorough, they pack as much in your brain as they can and teach it to you two different ways-book, and lecture/hands on. i think the tables have turned on the recognition of each cert also, i called golds, the y, and a local gym and asked all of them which one is better and all 3 said afaa. i am more likely to get hired over the ace guy-assuming we have the same experience. bottom line...going with afaa.

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afaa vs ace & exclusivity by each
by: Anonymous

i'm just starting out re getting certified various ways (group fitness personal trainer, etc) and my main beef is, how both afaa & ace exclude each other's trainings from being recognized by the other - utimately hurts us the buyers/students the most; though, eventually, it'll catch up to both of them if they don't start co-operating with each other, and a third group comes and takes the ball game from both of them - just my frustrated (but not surprised) opinion ;-)

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Confused!
by: Anonymous

Hi I am also thinking of becoming a group fitness instructor, maybe a pt down the road. I have been looking at both certifications and am not sure which one to choose. I was hoping you folks could help me by giving me any information you have on the process....Do I just choose one and get the laterials and start studying? I would like to teach body pump or boot camp style classes not so much Zumba or step. Could anybosy give me some advise? Thank you in advance for your time.

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Les Mills
by: Anonymous

To the person who talked about becoming a body pump instructor I'd tell you that the Les Mills programs are amazing. I've been a body pump and body step instructor since 2002 and am still highly motivated by the offerings of Les Mills!!

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Body Pump
by: Nikki

Hello,

I was wondering if you can teach body pump clasess with a Group fitness certification or do you have to get certified through les mills for body pump?

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Les Mills
by: Anonymous

You must be certified through Les Mills to teach any othe their programs.

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AFAA
by: Mb

I am currently a Zumba & Zumba Toning Instructor studying for AFFA Group Fitness Certification. Please note: I do not have my group cert yet. ...but I will tell you I have been researching the same thing & I have come to the conclusion that for me AFAA is better. I have been reading their textbook Fitness: Theory & Practice & I am finding it very informative...I have also called AFAA & they have been very helpful. I will say, also, it is cheaper...about $200...not that you should always take that into consideration, however, when there are 2 groups so close in choice & options, why not go with which is cheaper? Either way, with AFAA or ACE I think you will be pleased, but for me, personally, I chose AFAA.

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Medical Field
by: Anonymous

Coming from someone who hires trainers, you need to know what your overall goal is when becoming a personal trainer. If you are owning your own business or teaching your own classes for the apparently healthy, than either are fine. If you, however, plan on taking this knowledge base/certification and work for a company offering training services especially in the medical field where patients will be in varying degrees of health, than the ACE IS more recognized.

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AFAA vs. others
by: JGO

I think if are thinkning of becoming a group Exercise instructor, AFAA is awesome. I would definately recommend starting with AFAA and if you want to, take other specialties later, but AFAA will give you a solid foundation in how to put together a class that is safe and effective, for all levels of fitness and all types of classes. Because it requires recertification, it makes sure you stay fresh. Unlike Les Mills and many other certifications, aside from the cost of training and recertification, there are no monthly fees. ACE is good as well. I haven't done NETA's basic training, but I was not at all impressed with one of their workshops. For Personal Training, AFAA is excellent, but if you need more hands on training, NASM is probably better, or the courses provided at many community colleges. beware of any training that does not require CEUs or accept other organization's trainings.

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Bottom line.
by: Anonymous

Okay, so bottom line. Truly, it doesn't matter which organization you go through if the facility you wish to work at does not accept them. That's number 1. Number 2, It also doesn't matter which organization you go through because it all boils down to experience. I have been an instructor for almost two years now, and I have found that no one cares where I got my cert, only that I have one. When you are doing your auditions, they are looking at your personality and skill set. I say, pick the one that will work best for your life style and the get out there and start kicking butt!!

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AFAA
by: Olivia

I have been a group fitness instructor for 4 years and I got my certifications through AFAA. Very informative, easy to follow, easy to re-certify and yes, cheaper. I have my Primary Group Exercise and Sunrise Yoga certifications through them. I then chose to complete a 200hr YTT (because I will say, when it comes to yoga, the AFAA information was very basic. Enough for a basic class yes but not if you're extremely serious about yoga). I am completing my Zumba training next weekend and most gyms will require you have a group exercise certification to teach. I am going to pursue personal training through AFAA as well.

Oh! And AFAA's primary group exercise basically prepares you to teach any class format except Spinning/cycling, zumba, boxing, piyo and other specialized training formats. It is simply a general, group exercise course--boot camp style, step, aerobics, maybe water aerobics also (I can't quite remember).

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How many CEU credits do you get
by: Anonymous

How many CEU credits do you get for doing LesMills training with AFAA? I already teach Attack and Grit. I signed up with AFAA and I'm thinking of step after I finish the AFAA class.

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I prefer ACE
by: Fitness Golden Child

It depends on who YOU are and the best method in which you learn. I am an ACE-Certified Personal Trainer and a Certified Group Fitness Instructor. I think ACE better suits people who already know how to "train" people but just need the credentials and to learn all of the science behind it. Many people say that ACE test material is to "trick" you. It isn't at all. It is to make sure that you can decipher between information that seems correct vs information that IS correct.. and also information that is BEST! IT tests you to make sure that you are following the best methods and how to train people across the board, from 100% sedentary to SUPER active.

I personally would never hire anyone who took a weekend course for something so major. There is no way you could learn and understand all of the science behind it in a few hours. You need the KNOWLEDGE! You don't need necessarily need a live skills test if you have the knowledge. It will speak for itself. If you can not DO/APPLY what you have LEARNED at your job, then you should not be a trainer. Trust me, regardless which you get, if you are not able to provide proper training then you will certainly not be a trainer that long. So, basically you have to be able to TALK the TALK and WALK the WALK. Period.

I know a girl who failed ACE 4 times.. went to AFAA and passed the first time. I can tell you that this very day she is not working as a PT or any Fitness Professional. She doesn't seem to know anything about training.. and she straight up said that she took AFAA because she heard it was easy to pass and she wanted a cert. {=^/

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