Advanced Health + Fitness Specialist Certification

ACE^® Advanced Health & Fitness Specialists provide in-depth preventative and post-rehabilitative fitness programming that addresses common diseases and disorders seen on a daily basis.

The number of overweight and obese individuals in the U.S. continues to increase at a time when our population is also getting older. Coupled with inactivity, poor dietary choices and related health factors, the result is an ever-increasing number of individuals who are at risk for or recovering from cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes and a variety of orthopedic issues. An advanced fitness professional plays a crucial role in the allied healthcare continuum by helping these individuals to decrease risk factors and improve health and fitness following rehabilitation.

The ACE Advanced Health & Fitness Specialist Certification provides fitness professionals with the opportunity to earn an advanced fitness certification that is unparalleled in the industry. It's the only accredited fitness certification with extensive programming for the most common diseases and disorders seen on a regular basis by fitness professionals. According to recent ACE studies and research, these frequently encountered health issues fall into one of the following categories: cardiovascular, pulmonary, metabolic and musculoskeletal — all of which are the focus of this certification. In addition, this credential addresses advanced programming for older adults, youth and pre- and post-natal women; nutrition and business communication and strategy.

ACE introduced the Advanced Health & Fitness Specialist Certification to meet the growing demands of clients and the advanced fitness professionals providing preventative and post-rehabilitative fitness programs. Becoming an ACE-certified Advanced Health & Fitness Specialist will give you the credentials to work with special populations, taking a leadership role in helping them to improve their fitness levels and overall health. You can market your services directly to fitness clubs, community health clinics, hospitals and senior facilities. This is an incredible opportunity that has been largely ignored. The possibility for growth and professional recognition are virtually untapped.

Register Today!

Download the Paper and Pencil Registration Form or the CBT Registration Form to get started.

Am I eligible for Advanced Health & Fitness Specialist certification?
To take the Advanced Health & Fitness Specialist certification exam:

You must be at least 18 years of age.
You must hold a current adult
CPR and AED certificate
- You may sit for the live pencil and paper exam without proof of CPR and AED; however, you will not receive your results until you provide current CPR and AED information.
- You must have a current CPR and AED certificate when registering for the computer-based exam that does not expire prior to the exam date.
- CPR and AED certificates must include a live skills check component. Online only certificates, without a live skills check, are not accepted.
- ACE exam candidates outside of the United States and Canada are required to hold only a current CPR certificate due to differing international laws regarding AED usage.
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You must hold a current ACE Personal Trainer certification or Lifestyle & Weight Management certification; or an NCCA-accredited personal trainer or advanced fitness related certification; or have a four-year (Bachelor’s) degree in an Exercise Science or related field at the time of registration and submit
supporting documentation
- Exam candidates holding degrees in Nutrition, Nursing or Health may be required to submit documentation supporting completion of Exercise Science-related coursework at the time of registration.
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You must have 300 hours of work experience designing and implementing exercise programs for apparently healthy individuals and/or high-risk individuals, as
documented by a qualified professional
- Documentation must be provided by one of the preferred methods:
  1. Verification provided by a qualified allied health professional—This verification can come from former/current employers, supervisors, colleagues or other allied health professionals with whom you work or collaborate.
  2. Verification provided via pay stubs showing personal training hours or copies of weekly training schedules or similar records of training hours—You should not provide any training records the include information (e.g. client names) that would breach a client’s confidentiality and should remove any personal information that you would want to protect (e.g. social security number).
- Self-employed fitness professionals who cannot provide the preferred documentation may provide letters from long time clients that document the length of time and approximate number of accumulated hours they have been trained by you.
at the time of registration.

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ACE Code of Ethics
ACE-certified professionals are guided by the American Council on Exercise's principles of professional conduct.