Thread: ACE ACSM Certification

ACE is garbage in my opinion. Well, let me rephrase. It is accepted all over the place; it will most likely net you a job. By the same token, the level of expertise required to pass the test is pathetic. It's 100 true/false questions, and I have talked to a couple people who took the exam about how easy it is. If that appeals to you, then go for it.

ACSM is an awesome certification. You need a 4 year degree, or approved 2 year degree program, under your belt to be eligible to take it. The ACSM is a very highly respected organization, and the test requires you actually know a thing or two about training. There is a practical examination involved, so you might even have to study for this one.

hmmm im finishing my BSC Sport and Exercise Science the next year. Lookin at ACE syllabus looks shitty and too much marketing. ACSM looks much more respectful.

Originally Posted by CowPimp

ACE is garbage in my opinion. Well, let me rephrase. It is accepted all over the place; it will most likely net you a job. By the same token, the level of expertise required to pass the test is pathetic. It's 100 true/false questions, and I have talked to a couple people who took the exam about how easy it is. If that appeals to you, then go for it.

ACSM is an awesome certification. You need a 4 year degree, or approved 2 year degree program, under your belt to be eligible to take it. The ACSM is a very highly respected organization, and the test requires you actually know a thing or two about training. There is a practical examination involved, so you might even have to study for this one.

Originally Posted by sicko

hmmm im finishing my BSC Sport and Exercise Science the next year. Lookin at ACE syllabus looks shitty and too much marketing. ACSM looks much more respectful.

If you're looking to get certified right now, then I suggest the NSCA-CPT. After searching around it is what I decided to go with. My reasoning:

You basically get their journal for free if you go this route. NSCA members (Those who receive the journal) get about a $100 discount on the price of the exam, and it costs about $100 to become a member. Their journals are awesome.

It is a prestigious organization. A lot of respected professionals on the subject of exercise physiologyhave an NSCA certification, although it is the CSCS that they go with at that level.

Pricing is very reasonable. You don't have to pay some $600 or anything to get a package including all their study materials and the test, unless you want to. I just bought the textbook (~$70), became a member (~$100), and then registered for the test (~$225 as a member) all at my own pace.

Their CSCS degree is a logical progression. Once you have your 4 year degree and become eligible to take it, you will already be a member and can reap the benefits of taking the certification at a reduced cost. The CSCS is an awesome certification that definitely takes some knowledge to pass.

The information that they want you to learn is relatively complete compared to something like the ACE certification. I picked it beacuse I wanted to learn, not because I wanted the easy way out.


On that note, others to consider are NASM, ISSA, and as you've already looked into, the ACSM certs.