Thread: Questions for my ACE Group Certified dancers..

Ok - so I am gonna take the plunge and finally order my study materials.

I am going after the group certification because I do not plan to be a personal trainer.

That being said, I am seeing stuff about CEC's. The classes seem rather expensive. More $$

Anyway - how many CECs must a group certified person get a year?

On average, how much do you spend on cecs?

back in the day when i kept up with that, i would take the classes through the local gyms when they held cec's for their staff. i got a much better rate. perhaps look into that with local gyms?

I've let mine expire too. When it was current, I was in college as an exercise and wellness major, and those classes more than met the CEC requirements. My yoga teacher training also qualified.

I think you could get partial CECs just for reading their newsletter and answering a quick online quiz each month! (like .1 or something, but still, it adds up)

Really, they just want to know that you're keeping your knowledge up to date using recognized research/training (rather than something dodgy or new agey). They work with you pretty well on that.

thanks for the info...

how many CECs must a group certified person get a year?

There is nothing on the site about this.

It is 2 CECs but I think you get 2 years to complete them. I just got my GFI cert myself and have been looking over my CEC options and the cost really starts to add up! <sigh>

Anyway, they do have the monthly newsletter quiz which is $15 and .1 CEC.

2 CECs.

Information about renewing the certification is all spelled out on the FAQs

American Council on Exercise - Login

oops, looks like you have to already be a member or least registered on the site to read that! I'll copy/paste that part.

Certification Renewal


Q: How long is my certification good?
A: Your certification is valid for a two-year period.

Q: Why is my certification valid for only two years?
A: This two year period has been established because new research and standards in exercise science and allied healthcare are released every few years. It is imperative for fitness professionals to remain current with the latest scientific literature and best practices to provide safe and effective fitness instruction and to protect the public from harm. In allied healthcare, completing approved continuing education is an accepted standard for professionals to remain current with the latest research and standards. As such, ACE-certified professionals are required to complete 20 hours (2.0 CEC) of ACE-approved continuing education every two years in order to renew their ACE certifications. By completing at least 20 hours (2.0 CEC) of continuing education every two years, ACE-certified professionals are able to provide more effective programming for clients, advance their careers, and uphold the ACE Code of Ethics which includes a promise to “Stay up-to-date on the latest health and fitness research and understand its practical application.”

Q: How do I renew my certification?
A: Complete 2.0 CECs, renew your CPR certificate (and AED beginning January 1, 2009), and submit your renewal application and fee to ACE before your certification expires.

Q: What is the cost of renewing?
A: Renewal rates are scheduled to recognize individuals who hold multiple credentials, and to provide discounts to those renewing online as seen in the table below. Please not that fees subject to change without notice.

Online Mail-in/Fax
One Certification $79 $99
Two Certifications $69 each $79 each
Three Certifications $59 each $69 each
Four Certifications $49 each $59 each

That's not the whole thing, but should cover what you want to know about the costs of maintaining the cert.

wow - it does add up. Thank you. I guess I just gotta make sure that the benefits I receive from this outweigh the costs..

Personally - I think they do but need to be sure...

Number crunching time!!!

Every other year it's 2 CECs plus $79 to renew. (plus keeping your CPR or first aid up, I do that anyway) If you teach for a health club, they'll usually offer you the CPR renewal and often they'll offer you CECs as well.

Maintaining the cert isn't that much money, but in my case I got the certification mainly for the learning (I could've just read the books, but I wanted that outside body to say 'Yes, Lauren, you understand it all OK')

Maintaining the certification beyond the first period just doesn't have any value in my life, so I let it go.